What are the benefits and challenges of implementing the last planner system in your projects?

2 Benefits of LPS

LPS can bring numerous advantages to your projects, including improved communication and coordination among the project team, reduced waste and variability, increased flexibility and adaptability, enhanced quality and safety, and higher customer satisfaction. LPS encourages continuous improvement and learning from mistakes, which leads to more efficient use of resources and time while also enabling faster response to changes and unforeseen events. Ultimately, LPS promises to deliver projects on time, on budget, and according to specifications.

3 Challenges of LPS

LPS is not a one-size-fits-all solution and comes with its own set of challenges. You may encounter resistance to change, as LPS requires a shift in mindset and culture from traditional top-down planning to bottom-up involvement and empowerment. Additionally, LPS demands new skills and tools for effective planning and execution, such as pull planning, PPC, root cause analysis, and constraint removal; however, you may lack the training and support to do so. Scaling up can also be difficult, as LPS can become complex when applied to large projects requiring more coordination and integration across different levels and phases. Additionally, LPS is dependent on external factors, such as suppliers and subcontractors who may not share the same vision or commitment.

4 How to implement LPS

Implementing LPS in your projects is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing journey that requires planning, preparation, and perseverance. To get started, you should educate yourself and your team about the principles and practices of LPS, selecting a suitable pilot project for LPS with a supportive owner and a willing team. Involve all the relevant stakeholders in the planning process, using pull planning to create a master plan, phase plan, and lookahead plan. Have weekly work planning sessions and daily huddles with the team to track the PPC and any deviations or issues that arise. Review and analyze the results and feedback from the team to identify opportunities for improvement or corrective actions. Celebrate successes and learn from failures, sharing lessons and best practices with other projects and teams.

5 Tips for success

In order to make LPS successful for your projects, it is important to have a proactive and positive attitude, as well as follow certain tips for success. Be clear about the purpose and advantages of LPS and communicate them to the team and stakeholders. Additionally, remain open to feedback and suggestions, and encourage collaboration from everyone involved. It is necessary to be realistic about goals and expectations, while also being flexible and adaptable when adjusting plans and actions according to changing conditions. Moreover, you should be consistent and persistent in adhering to the LPS process and routines, even when faced with opposition. LPS is a powerful tool that can help improve project planning and delivery, but it requires effort and commitment from you and your team. If you understand the benefits and challenges of LPS, as well as follow the steps for implementation, you can make it work for your projects and achieve better results.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?