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 LPS — you're not alone. Construction teams across the industry face the same challenges: resistance from crews, inconsistent adoption, and results that don't match the promise.

That's why I sat down with Victor Ortiz for an in-depth, multi-part conversation spanning over four hours of hard-won lessons. Victor has spent years helping construction teams transform their project delivery through genuine Last Planner System implementation. He knows what works, what fails, and most importantly — why.

This page gives you one place to access the entire series. Bookmark it. Share it with your team. Come back to it when you need a refresher.

Meet Victor Ortiz

From left to right: Sully Sullivan, Tom Martin, Victor Ortiz

Victor Ortiz is a Lean Construction practitioner and consultant who has helped hundreds of construction teams implement the Last Planner System. His approach cuts through theory and focuses on practical, field-tested strategies that actually work on real projects.

What makes Victor different? He doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges. In this series, he speaks openly about resistance, “fake” implementations, and the hard work required to make LPS stick. In this photo, Victor is receiving the LCI NorCal Lean Rockstar Award in recognition of his contributions to the chapter and the global Lean Construction community.

The Video Series

Bonus: Thinking About How to Think — Lean Construction Mindset

Duration: 54 minutes

Before the main series, Victor and I recorded this foundational conversation about the mental models behind Lean Construction. If you want to understand the why behind the tools, start here.

Key topics: The thinking behind Lean principles. Why mindset matters more than tools. Building a learning organization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbAhBnyIksw

Part 1: Transforming Construction — Last Planner System Foundations

Duration: 51 minutes

In this opening episode, Victor and I lay the groundwork. We explore what the Last Planner System really is (and what it isn't), why it matters for modern construction, and how to begin the transformation journey with your team.

Key topics: The core principles behind LPS. Common misconceptions that derail implementations. Setting realistic expectations for your team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDpDLN4OUJw

Part 2: Fake Last Planner System — Spotting the Imposters

Duration: 51 minutes

This might be the most important episode in the series. Victor pulls no punches as we discuss the difference between genuine LPS and the watered-down versions that give it a bad name. If your current implementation isn't delivering results, this episode will help you understand why.

Key topics: Signs your LPS is "fake." Why going through the motions doesn't work. How to course-correct a struggling implementation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3MvIVtxymA

Part 3: Turning Resistance into Results — Mastering the Human Side

Duration: 51 minutes

Let's be honest: the biggest challenge with LPS isn't the system itself — it's the people. In Part 3, we tackle resistance head-on. Victor shares strategies for winning over skeptics, building buy-in, and creating the cultural shift that makes LPS sustainable.

Key topics: Understanding why people resist change. Practical tactics for building buy-in. Turning skeptics into champions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJH8VVjEEJY

Part 4: Mastering the Last Planner System — Advanced Strategies

Duration: 1 hour 21 minutes

Our longest episode goes deep. With the foundations in place, Victor and I explore advanced techniques, troubleshooting common problems, and strategies for taking your implementation to the next level. This is where theory becomes mastery.

Key topics: Advanced facilitation techniques. Troubleshooting common problems. Sustaining momentum over the long term.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pszowd2Bx8

Coming Soon: Deeper Dive

Victor and I are recording more episodes. We'll go even deeper into advanced implementation strategies and answer questions from the community. Subscribe to The EBFC Show so you don't miss them!

How to Use This Series

If you're new to LPS: Start with the Bonus episode on mindset, then work through Parts 1–4 in order.

If you're struggling with implementation: Jump straight to Part 2 (Fake LPS) and Part 3 (Resistance). These will help you diagnose and fix your current approach.

If you want to level up: Part 4 is your deep dive into advanced strategies.

Share with your team: Send them this page. Having everyone watch the same content creates shared language and alignment.

Ready to Go Deeper?

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Have questions about LPS or want to share your implementation story? Reach out — I'd love to hear from you.

Felipe Engineer-Manriquez
Host, The EBFC Show