Lean Built

Month: March 2025

Key Factors For Choosing A National Commercial Construction General Contractor

Posted on by Danny Jiménez⁩

How to Choose the Right National Commercial Construction General Contractor

Selecting a general contractor for a national commercial construction project is a high-stakes decision. The right choice leads to smooth execution, while the wrong one results in delays, cost overruns, and frustration. In this blog, we’ll break down the different types of general contractors, their working styles, and how to determine which one aligns with your project’s needs.

Types of General Contractors:

Not all contractors operate the same way. Some prioritize planning and consistency, while others rely on aggressive tactics or flashy innovations. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:

  1. The “Wild, Wild West” Contractors:

These contractors somehow grow into massive firms without solid systems for preconstruction planning, project management, or trade coordination. Instead, they rely on hiring experienced individuals to compensate for their lack of structure.

Warning Signs: Minimal planning, inconsistent execution, and over-reliance on trade partners to “figure things out.”

How to Spot Them: Ask trade partners about their experiences. If projects seem chaotic or unpredictable, it’s a red flag.

  1. The “Turn & Burn” Contractors:

Large, high-volume contractors that win projects due to their size and buying power. However, they’re always behind schedule, understaffed, and stuck in reaction mode. They often pay trade partners late and use brute force to push projects forward.

Warning Signs: Constantly firefighting, strained trade relationships, and a reputation for being difficult to work with.

How to Spot Them: Trades often have unflattering nicknames for these companies. Listen carefully to how they describe working with them.

  1. The “Old School Consistent” Contractors:

These contractors might not be the flashiest, but they get the job done. They stick to traditional methods, maintain structured processes, and focus on reliable execution. While they may not be early adopters of new tech or methodologies, they deliver steady results.

Why Choose Them? If you value reliability over innovation, this type is a safe bet.

How to Spot Them: Look for companies with a long-standing reputation for delivering projects on time and within budget, even if they’re not using the latest industry buzzwords.

  1. The “Planners”:

Planning-focused contractors invest time in preconstruction, risk mitigation, and workflow efficiency. They aren’t reactive—they anticipate challenges before they arise. While they may not be the lowest bid, they ensure smoother execution and fewer surprises.

Why Choose Them? They deliver high-quality projects with fewer headaches.

How to Spot Them: They emphasize preconstruction planning and can clearly articulate how they’ll execute your project.

  1. The “Progressives”:

These contractors embrace the latest trends, cutting-edge tools, and modern business models. However, they often lack consistency—some projects run smoothly, while others are chaotic. Their effectiveness depends largely on the specific team assigned to your project.

Warning Signs: Over-reliance on technology without strong foundational processes.

How to Spot Them: If every project they deliver varies drastically in quality, you may be dealing with a progressive but inconsistent firm.

  1. The “Total Package” Contractors:

The rarest breed—these contractors combine planning, consistency, innovation, and strong trade relationships. They invest in training, have structured systems, and always staff their projects adequately. If you find one, you’re working with a top-tier firm that consistently delivers excellence.

Why Choose Them? They balance structure, adaptability, and efficiency, ensuring smooth project execution.

How to Spot Them: Look for companies with well-documented processes, long-term trade partnerships, and a reputation for excellence across multiple projects.

How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Project:

To make the best decision, follow these steps:

  • Talk to trade partners. They’ll tell you more about a contractor’s real-world performance than any marketing pitch.
  • Visit current project sites. Seeing a contractor in action will give you a clear picture of how they operate.
  • Create a scoring system. Develop a list of criteria to evaluate contractors based on your project’s priorities.

Key Takeaway:

Choosing the right national commercial general contractor isn’t just about price—it’s about aligning with a firm that fits your project’s needs. Whether you prioritize planning, consistency, or innovation, evaluating a contractor’s track record, trade partner relationships, and execution style will help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure project success.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

 

 

On we go

CPM or Critical Path Method: How CPM Disrespects People

Posted on by Danny Jiménez⁩

How CPM Disrespects People in Construction

The Critical Path Method (CPM) has been a widely used scheduling tool in construction, but what if I told you, it fundamentally disrespects people? In this blog, we’re going to break down exactly how CPM fails teams, creates inefficiencies, and ultimately hurts project outcomes.

What is CPM?

CPM structures a project as a sequence of activities tied together with logic. The algorithm determines a “critical path,” meaning any delay in these tasks pushes the entire project timeline. While this may sound effective, the reality is far from it.

The Lack of Collaboration:

One of the biggest flaws of CPM is how it’s created. Instead of being a collaborative effort involving the whole team, it’s often developed in isolation—usually by a scheduler or superintendent. This leads to several issues:

  • The team lacks visibility into the plan.
  • There’s no opportunity for fresh eyes to catch errors.
  • The complexity makes it nearly impossible to understand once there are hundreds of activities.

By removing human input and relying solely on a computer algorithm, CPM strips teams of the ability to create realistic, practical plans.

CPM as a Tool for Control, Not Success:

Another major issue is how CPM schedules are used on-site. Instead of serving as a flexible planning tool, they are often forced upon trade partners with no room for adjustments. Teams are told to follow the plan or face liquidated damages, cure notices, and other penalties.

The problem? CPM schedules have a hit rate of only 15-40%. They aren’t realistic, yet they are used to control, restrict, and even punish teams rather than support them.

The Reality of CPM Scheduling:

When CPM algorithms run their calculations, they artificially compress activities. This results in:

  • Trade stacking: Multiple trades working in the same space, causing inefficiencies.
  • Crew burnout: Overloaded schedules that demand excessive overtime.
  • Material chaos: Excess materials on-site, leading to clutter, damage, and unsafe conditions.
  • Financial strain: Unnecessary costs for both the project and the trade partners.

What’s worse, CPM doesn’t actually speed up projects. When you push work beyond the capacity of available resources, the project ultimately takes longer—despite all the rushing and scrambling.

A Better Approach:

Rather than relying on CPM, construction teams should focus on flow-based planning. Keeping work in line with trade capacity ensures steady progress, better quality, and a healthier work environment. When planning is collaborative and transparent, everyone benefits—from workers in the field to project owners.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

 

On we go

How Does CPM, Takt, and Last Planner Tie Together?

Posted on by Danny Jiménez⁩

How CPM, Takt, and the Last Planner System Work Together

Many construction professionals struggle to see how different scheduling and planning methodologies connect. Critical Path Method (CPM), Takt Construction Theory (TCT), and the Last Planner System (LPS) are often viewed as separate and unrelated. However, they function as parts of a unified system when structured correctly.

This blog provides a clear breakdown of how these systems integrate and why understanding their connections is essential for successful project management.

Takt Planning as the Foundation:

Takt Planning should serve as the foundation of an effective scheduling system. When implemented properly, it naturally incorporates key principles from multiple scheduling methods, including:

  • Location-based scheduling.
  • Line of balance scheduling.
  • Concepts from Gantt charts.
  • Elements of CPM.
  • Lean principles and the Theory of Constraints.

Takt Planning brings all these elements together into a streamlined system, creating a structured, flow-based schedule that optimizes work execution.

The Importance of Preconstruction Planning:

Preconstruction planning has long been recognized as a critical factor in project success. A well-developed plan ensures that every aspect of the project is mapped out before construction begins. The book How Big Things Get Done emphasizes that projects do not fail midway; they fail from the start due to poor planning.

By using Takt Planning in preconstruction, teams can establish a clear production plan that minimizes disruptions once work begins in the field.

The Role of CPM in the System:

Despite its widespread use, CPM often receives criticism for being impractical as a real-world scheduling tool. However, since CPM remains a contractual requirement on many projects, it is important to understand how to use it effectively.

  • CPM should function as a summary schedule rather than a detailed execution plan.
  • The Takt Plan should be developed first, with key data exported into CPM to satisfy contractual requirements.
  • CPM should be used primarily for AS-built reporting, tracking completed work rather than managing future tasks.

Traditional CPM analysis methods, such as forensic delay analysis and fragmenting, often provide little actionable insight beyond confirming that a project is behind schedule. The typical CPM-based responses—adding labor, increasing overtime, or crashing the schedule—rarely lead to meaningful improvements.

Integrating the Last Planner System (LPS):

LPS focuses on collaborative short-term planning with trade partners, ensuring that work is ready before execution begins. However, for LPS to function properly, it must be supported by:

  • A solid preconstruction plan.
  • A Takt-based production schedule.

LPS integrates with Takt Planning in the following ways:

  1. Six-week lookahead: Upcoming tasks are filtered from the Takt Plan to align with trade partner coordination.
  2. Weekly work plan: Selected tasks are converted into commitments from trade teams.
  3. Daily planning: On-site work is tracked in real-time, ensuring alignment with the overall production schedule.

Since the Takt Plan itself is developed collaboratively with trade partners, the LPS process is not about enforcing a rigid schedule. Instead, it ensures that the plan aligns with how the trades have agreed to work.

When implemented with Takt, LPS allows for more effective tracking of key performance indicators, such as:

  • Perfect handoff percentage.
  • Roadblock removal efficiency.
  • Remaining buffer ratio.

The Role of Advanced Work Packaging (AWP):

AWP ensures that trade teams have everything they need before beginning their work. This includes:

  • Defining clear work areas and paths of construction.
  • Aligning supply chains with work execution.
  • Providing installation work packages to foremen.

Since Takt Planning already incorporates location-based scheduling and procurement alignment, AWP naturally fits into the system, further reducing downtime and inefficiencies.

Using Scrum for Problem-Solving:

Scrum provides a structured approach to problem-solving within the project management team. It involves maintaining a Scrum board with four key categories:

  1. Backlog.
  2. Sprint backlog.
  3. Work in progress.
  4. Completed tasks.

The project team, including project managers, superintendents, project engineers, and field engineers, conducts daily stand-up meetings to move tasks through these stages.

While LPS focuses on production planning, Scrum ensures that project management issues are resolved quickly and efficiently, improving overall workflow on-site.

Bringing It All Together:

Rather than viewing these methodologies as separate, they should be seen as layers of an optimized system:

  • Takt serves as the foundation, providing a structured, flow-based production plan.
  • CPM functions as the summary schedule, fulfilling contract requirements without dictating daily execution.
  • LPS drives short-term coordination, ensuring that trade partners are aligned and prepared.
  • AWP optimizes work execution, reducing inefficiencies through better planning and procurement.
  • Scrum enables rapid issue resolution, keeping project management teams focused and efficient.

When combined effectively, these systems create a cohesive, efficient, and highly productive approach to construction scheduling.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

 

 

On we go