Encouraging your boss to Buy into Last Planner®

The biggest fear of implementing Lean, is that the front end planning will only serve to increase the cost of the project. It is true that the initial Lean planning is more expensive than traditional models. However, the time and money put into planning creates big savings in both over the life of the project. Lean is a long term strategy.

Where do the savings come from?

• Fewer Bottlenecks. Last Planner® allows you to identify the places where work stoppages are likely to occur. When you know where a problem will exist, you can plan accordingly and avoid it. The planning system allows you to work out the contingencies and prevent idle time on site.
• Smarter allocation of Project Capital. Last Planner® also makes sure that you are not spending money on resources until they are immediately necessary for the task at hand. This system wide approach is far more effective at lowering your cost, because it eliminates waste along the entire production stream as opposed to at individual points or problem areas.
• Reduction in the amount of Rework. Work is done at the last appropriate moment. Once the project has begun these savings continue because we complete work only when it is required. This prevents damaged product that would require rework or replacement.
• Correct staffing numbers. The system works because it relies on the expertise of crew leaders to set the work timelines and numbers. This improves predictions of labour required, and prevents you from having to call in more people, or send guys home.

Last Planner® System Reduces Supervisor Stress

Talk to your boss about all the ways Last Planner® will make his job easier. Lean construction takes a lot of the headaches out of the construction process. It does this in the following ways:

• It identifies potential problems before they become obstacles in the project
• Makes sure that bad news is learned at the earliest possible time
• Uses social pressure to motivate teams for faster completion
• Develops supervisory skills among subcontractors, which in turn
• Reduces the load on management

All of these benefits serve to create a more predictable and reliable production program.