June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Nominate Your Project Team for the 2025 LCI Design Awards!

Help us recognize Lean design excellence in our community while raising your project’s profile. This is our last call for 2025 LCI Design Award and the 2025 LCI Engineering Design Award nominations.

Winners will be honored at the 2025 LCI Congress Award Ceremony on October 23 in Arlington, Texas.

Due by midnight PT, June 26

Keep in mind: Entries must be submitted by the lead design firm. If the lead design firm is not an LCI corporate member, entries can be co-submitted with a team member who is an LCI member.

The mission of these awards is to encourage the adoption of Lean approaches and methods to improve project outcomes and elevate design. We’re celebrating Lean design and recognizing outstanding project teams, including architects, engineers, designers, clients, and constructors, who collaborate to advance the design and construction process and produce design excellence in the built environment.

Please contact Joan Piccariello with any questions.

Meet a CoP Participant: Mike Grim (Greater Des Moines)

Meet Mike Grim, Preconstruction Manager at The Weitz Company and a dedicated leader within the Greater Des Moines Community of Practice. What started as a simple project pursuit turned into a meaningful Lean journey – one filled with learning, community, and continual growth. For Mike, the most rewarding moments come from sparking curiosity in others and creating space for shared learning.

Why he joined his CoP:
“I got involved to learn how to execute projects better in support of a client pursuit. Since getting involved, I’ve realized the significant impact Lean has had on our industry.”

Favorite CoP Event:
“Our team has spent the past several years reintroducing LCI to the local community. My favorite events are the ones where we help someone learn something new or spark an interest to keep learning. I know that sounds corny, but that’s what I enjoy most!”

How it’s helped his career:
“Being part of the CoP has introduced me to different people and resources I can lean on. Everyone’s Lean practice looks a little different, so it’s helpful to pick others’ brains about how they approach things – it’s definitely broadened my perspective.”

Biggest Lean challenge:
“Staying consistent. Life gets busy with work and family, and it’s easy to slip into old habits or jump to conclusions instead of slowing down, studying intently, and planning for improvement.”

Favorite Lean success story:
“I was recently involved in a project pursuit with a client that was on the verge of canceling a project. By stepping in with a new approach and utilizing a Lean process, we were able to turn the pursuit around for the client and now have it under construction!”

Advice to newcomers:
“Come check us out at one of our monthly meetings. And if the timing doesn’t work, just reach out! We can get you connected with other resources to help you get started.”

Favorite Lean Construction Institute events:
“LCI Congress is a great time to learn about tools and hear real success stories from real people. It’s immersive, and lights a fire of excitement to practice Lean in your daily work.”

Want to explore how the Greater Des Moines CoP can help support your Lean journey? Send us a message or learn more here.

Build Your Lean Knowledge and Network at the 2025 LCI Congress!

Learn the latest in Lean while building connections that matter at Congress this fall. Register now with the lowest rates of the year! The program is filled with actionable takeaways to equip you, your partners, and your organization for Lean transformation. Explore all you can learn in the interactive agenda and stay tuned for exclusive interviews with our speakers.

Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at this year’s Congress? Contact Ilene Goldberg by email or (703) 785-9087 for more information.

Questions about the Congress program? Contact Joan Piccariello for more information.

Member Connections: PDCA: “Doing” the Lean Improvement

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is a fundamental Lean tool that helps drive continuous improvement. Whether you’re brand new to Lean or are looking to refine your Lean practices, PDCA offers a practical framework.

Once you’ve mapped out your improvement strategy in the “Plan” phase, the next step – “Do” –is all about putting that plan into action and testing the changes in real time.

During the “Do” stage, you’ll execute the planned change over the predetermined time. Ensure that the action is properly communicated across your organization and complete any necessary training to get everyone on the same page regarding this organizational improvement.

Make a note of the impact the change is having on the efficiency and productivity of the organization. Ensure that you are using the same measurements outlined in the “plan” phase.

For more information on all parts of the PDCA process – including important LCI resources your team can utilize during the “Do” stage – explore LCI’s new resource now available for LCI corporate members: Getting Started With Lean: A Guide for Organizations New to Lean. In it, you’ll find valuable guides such as an A3 template, a 52-week suggested Lean stand-up schedule, and more!

Download this resource from the Member Hub under “Guides, Reports & Research” on the right-hand side-bar.

Download Resource

Have questions regarding your membership? Email Maryann Fiala. If you’re ready to join as an LCI corporate member, fill out your application today.

Share your Lean journey with others! Peer-to-peer learning is invaluable in helping others grow. Submit your contributions for five questions, project highlight or company recognition!

2025 LCI Congress Exhibitors

2025 LCI Congress Sponsors

field crew huddle youtube channel cover image
Field Crew Huddle

Explore the Field Crew Huddle website to see how community of practice members are contributing to a platform for sharing methods, improvements and lessons learned on project sites or shops. Want to be featured? Now accepting submissions.

Learn More

Lean Assessments

How strong is your Lean knowledge? Take a Lean assessment to determine your current state so you have a baseline for improvement. Lean assessments are available for individuals, teams, and organizations alike. Whether you’re new to Lean or are an experienced Lean practitioner, Lean assessments are a great way to get started at LCI!

TAKE ASSESSMENT
Get Lean Topics at Your Jobsite

You can enhance your job site with a Lean Construction Institute poster! These helpful visuals explain and guide your team through important Lean concepts. The posters are printer ready and can be scaled to your desired dimensions. Print downloads are available as a member benefit to LCI Corporate Members, otherwise are available for purchase.

Jobsite Posters

Upcoming CoP Events

08
Tue
Jul

Collaborative Leadership Behavior / Stakeholder Engagement

Nashville Community of Practice
08
Tue
Jul

An introduction to Lean - FOX VALLEY

Wisconsin Community of Practice
10
Thu
Jul

A Lean Coffee

Ohio Valley Community of Practice
10
Thu
Jul

Heartbeat of Innovation: A Gemba Walk Through Advocate's Cardiology Center

Chicago Community of Practice
11
Fri
Jul

Less Waste, More Wins: Demystifying Lean Construction

Georgia Community of Practice

Upcoming National Events

10
Thu
Jul

Secrets of Lean Success – What You Need That Most Leave Out

Webinar
14
Mon
Jul

Intro to Lean: Build Better with Lean

LCI National
18
Fri
Jul

Mapping Your Pathway to LCI Certification

LCI National
07
Thu
Aug

How to Build a Culture of Planning and Purpose

Webinar
20
Wed
Aug

The Lean Marketplace

LCI National
21
Thu
Aug

The Importance of Aligning Master Schedules & Field Planning

Webinar
22
Fri
Aug

Lean Practitioners Lean Coffee

LCI National
05
Fri
Sep

Introduction to the Last Planner System®

Webinar
05
Fri
Sep

Target Value Delivery in Action: Hosted in a Virtual Big Room Format

LCI National
12
Fri
Sep

LCI A3 Thinking: Continuous Improvement in Action

Webinar