Lean Construction Posts
What is Lean Construction? Lean Construction is a combination of operational research and practical development in design and construction with the adoption of Lean manufacturing principles and practices to the end-to-end design and construction process. Projects are building complex construction cheaper, with higher quality, and more efficiently. Through Lean principles such as respect for people and continuous improvement, you can achieve client satisfaction and profitability while delivering on time.
March 28, 2026
PPC - The Number on the Whiteboard
Every week, teams write down their PPC number. It goes on the whiteboard. It lands in a spreadsheet. Someone circles it, maybe comments on it, and then the meeting moves on. That has been the pattern for a long time. The metric exists. The follow-t…
Feb. 26, 2026
I Built a Team of AI Agents. Here's What They Taught Me About Construction.
Yesterday I showed my friend Marcus something I’ve been building. Not a building — though that’s still my day job. I showed him my Mission Control. He stared at the screen for a minute and said,“Wait… this is all running on your computers?” Y…
Feb. 26, 2026
Ten Misconceptions in Traditional Construction Changed by Lean
By Victor Ortiz I have always been interested in Psychology – the study of the human mind. Early in my career, I learned this important truism: Success and failure in life are the result of the solutions we choose to deploy. Life's challenges com…
Feb. 26, 2026
What Velocity Really Means on Your Construction Project
Stop Guessing How Fast Your Team Is Moving — Start Measuring It Inspired by Mike Cohn's work on velocity at Mountain Goat Software. Translated for the jobsite by Felipe Engineer-Manriquez. If I asked you right now, "How fast is your project team…
Feb. 25, 2026
From 96 Hours to 4.5: The 100-Hour Dividend of Lean + AI
You can’t automate chaos. You systematize first — then you accelerate. I was talking to my son Noah the other morning about bookkeeping. And it hit me how far this journey has come. This isn’t a hypothetical AI story. This is real work. Real hours…
Feb. 24, 2026
When the Plan Lies to You: What #NoEstimates Taught Me About Construction Scheduling
I’ve been in construction long enough to watch a perfectly color-coded Gantt chart crumble on contact with reality. We’ve all been there. The schedule looks beautiful. The baseline is locked. The client is nodding. And then Week Two happens — and yo…
Feb. 21, 2026
Calm Leadership in a Loud AI Moment
A 26-Day Experiment in Lean Systems Thinking On January 23, 2026, I started an experiment. Not because I’m fascinated with AI.Not because I felt behind.Not because I wanted to chase the latest tool. I started because I feel responsible. For …
Feb. 5, 2026
Stop Losing Schedule Days: 30 Years of Last Planner System Failures (and How to Make Sure Your Project Isn’t Next)
Learn what over 30 years of LPS implementation failures taught Victor Ortiz, and how to avoid them on your project. If you've ever struggled to implement the Last Planner System on your projects — or wondered why your "LPS" doesn't feel like real…
April 12, 2024
Unveiling the Transformative Power of the LCI Congress
Discover, Connect, and Grow at the Lean Construction Institute Congress From the moment I first stepped into the Lean Construction Institute Congress, I knew this wasn't just another industry event. It was the beginning of what would become one of …
Nov. 16, 2023
Integrando Sostenibilidad y Lean: Principios, Prácticas y Sinergias en la Construcción
A lo largo de mi carrera, frecuentemente he estado involucrado en proyectos que buscan objetivos de sostenibilidad como la certificación LEED (Liderazgo en Energía y Diseño Ambiental) en Estados Unidos. La última parte de mi carrera ha involucrado l…
June 21, 2023
Effective Leadership Strategies for Construction Project Managers: Insights from Laura Cooley | The EBFC Show 079
In the fast-paced world of design and construction, project managers play a crucial role in ensuring successful project outcomes. However, becoming an effective leader in this industry comes with its own set of challenges. To shed light on this topi…
June 7, 2023
Capital College and Career Academy: Bridging the Skills Gap for Construction Careers | The EBFC Show 078
In my recent interview with Kevin Dobson, the founder of Capital College and Career Academy (CCCA) in Sacramento, California, I was inspired by the institution's commitment to equipping young people with tangible skills for successful careers. Here …
May 24, 2023
The Art of Communication and Leadership in Construction | Insights from James Gable | The EBFC Show 077
As a construction professional, I understand the critical role that effective communication plays in the success of a project. That's why I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview James Gable, a seasoned consortium superintendent, on our p…
April 26, 2023
Lean Moonshine Secrets with Steve B. Martin | The EBFC Show 075
Steve B. Martin is a wholly genuine process engineer and respected leader in lean/continuous improvement. In this podcast episode, we explored the vital role that respect for people plays in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement processes. …
April 12, 2023
Mastering Lean: Insights from Jake Harrell’s Food Industry Experience | S4 The EBFC Show 074
If you're looking for ways to improve processes, communication, and personal growth, look no further than Lean principles. And who better to learn from than Jake Harrell, Director of Lean Transformation in the food processing industry? In this episo…
March 29, 2023
Trying Improvement on Purpose with Tatsuya “Tats” Nakagawa | S4 The EBFC Show 073
If you're someone who's interested in continuous improvement, entrepreneurship, and innovation, then this podcast interview is a must-watch. Felipe Engineer-Manriquez interviews Tatsuya "Tats" Nakagawa, the co-founder of Castagra Products, and the h…
Aug. 19, 2022
ProjectPro Influencer Insights on Construction Technologies
Digital transformation in the construction industry is inevitable. With most organizations encountering ongoing safety concerns, reducing labor productivity levels, and project inefficiencies, the need to execute the right tools in your construction…
July 4, 2022
Top 3 Schedule Problems
I have yet to meet a person or team that acted to aid the late delivery of a construction project. In fact, professionals often expend heroic levels of effort and creativity towards improving their schedules. Best efforts using standard management r…
Dec. 19, 2021
Visual Management Basics for Construction Teams
One of the most critical aspects of successful construction teams is communication. When I'm working with teams, communication is one of the first factors I seek to understand before recommending any improvement changes. Communication is crucial to …
Sept. 24, 2021
Use Self Reflection to Increase Innovation
One of my mentors asked me what is the most significant factor preventing me from spending more time forgetting the past (unlearning) and innovating today for the future. "Innovation? I hadn't thought about it." That was my instant response. As an…
Sept. 7, 2021
Many Designers Dislike Schedules, But Welcome Pull Planning
"Design is an iterative process." That's the phrase I most often hear when architects and engineers respond to how long some design deliverables will take to complete. When pushed, you may get a response, but it won't be accurate. Contractors have …
Aug. 20, 2021
Apply A3 Thinking to Improve Project Delivery
Since the popularization of quality circles in the 1960s, companies around the globe continue engaging front line employees to improve their work using variations of PDCA, a scientific method for problem-solving using four steps: Plan…
Aug. 17, 2021
Five Most Asked Questions About LEED and Lean
Lee este blog en español haciendo clic aquí. Throughout the course of my career, I've often been involved with projects pursuing sustainability goals like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification across the United St…