Here’s the deal. People ask me what I want the future of the construction industry to look like in 10 years. I love this question. My answer comes down to people, clean jobsites, Takt planning, and the freedom to stop.
Short answer: The future of the construction industry I want to see in 10 years has training programs that take a chance on people, no subpar bathrooms on any jobsite, and Takt planning on every project. Owners take pride in caring for people. Anyone can stop work without shame when it is not safe, not quality, or not ready. Clean sites make that possible. Elevate people, and you elevate quality.
Training That Takes a Chance on People
In 10 years, I want people to be calling me and saying, I actually got considered by that recruiter. I actually got that interview. They actually took a chance on me. This company has an amazing training program, and I am getting everything I need.
Why Do Jobsite Bathrooms Matter for the Future of Construction?
I want to go to every project site and see no subpar bathrooms. If there are nice bathrooms everywhere, and the site is clean, safe, and organized, I will know that the workers and the foremen are being taken care of. I have written before about how my own Lean journey started in the bathroom.
Takt Planning on Every Project
I want to see Takt plans and Takt planning, and the theory of Lean construction, on every project site. I want owners to realize that, yes, it is faster to build the Lean way, but also to take pride in taking care of people.
What Does Stopping Work Without Shame Look Like?
I want to see an industry where people will actually stop. I was asked this question recently at the Lean Solutions Global Summit, where I was a speaker and got to be on a panel. It was a really great experience. They asked what I want to see in the future. I said I want to see people in the United States stopping work when it is not right, without shame. If somebody can say:
- We are going to pause. This isn’t safe.
- We are going to pause. This isn’t quality.
- We are going to do a little bit of planning. We’re not ready for tomorrow.
- Hey, we need to stop this process. This is dangerous.
Then I will know that we are truly Lean. Stopping without shame takes psychological safety, where the person who raises their hand is thanked, not punished.
Why Does a Clean Jobsite Make It Easier to Stop?
The other thing I never want to see is uncleanliness. You might wonder where I am going with that. You can only see to stop things if the site is clean. I do want to see us stopping to get things right, and if a jobsite is messy or chaotic, you will never stop.
| On a clean, organized jobsite | On a messy, chaotic jobsite |
|---|---|
| You can see what is wrong | Problems hide in the mess |
| People stop to get it right | People never stop |
| Safety and quality hold | People get hurt and quality suffers |
If we never stop, people get hurt. If we do not stop, we deliver a product that is not quality.
Elevate People, Elevate Quality
If the United States is going to continue to be a global competitor, it will come down to quality, whether in manufacturing or construction. And if we want to elevate quality, we have to elevate people. Then we elevate the focus on quality, and that affects the overall nation, because the nation is what it produces.
That is what I want to see in the future of the construction industry, 10 years from now.
So here is the challenge. Pick one part of this vision and make it real on your project now. Take a chance on someone in training, upgrade the bathrooms, start a Takt plan, or tell your crews they can stop without shame when it is not safe, not quality, or not ready.
Bottom line: Elevate people, and you elevate quality, because the nation is what it produces.
If your project needs superintendent coaching, project support, or leadership development, Elevate Construction can help your field teams stabilize, schedule, and flow.
Want your team trained on this? See our Last Planner® System and Takt training.
On we go.
FAQ
What does Jason want the future of the construction industry to look like?
I want training that takes a chance on people, no subpar bathrooms, Takt planning on every project, owners who take pride in caring for people, and crews who can stop work without shame.
Why do jobsite bathrooms matter?
If there are nice bathrooms everywhere and the site is clean, safe, and organized, I know the workers and foremen are being taken care of.
What does stopping work without shame mean?
It means anyone can say, we are going to pause, because it is not safe, not quality, or not ready, and nobody is embarrassed for doing it.
Why does a clean jobsite make it easier to stop?
You can only see to stop things if the site is clean. On a messy or chaotic jobsite, people never stop, so people get hurt and quality suffers.
How does construction quality affect the nation?
The nation is what it produces. If we elevate people, we elevate the focus on quality, and that affects the whole country.
People Also Read:
Why I Care About Lean Construction
Clean, Safe, and Organized: The Foundation of a High-Performing Job Site
Psychological Safety
If you want to learn more we have:
-Takt Virtual Training: (Takt Virtual Training)
-Check out our YouTube channel for more info: (Elevate Construction on YouTube)
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Elevate Construction Podcast)
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Training Programs and Certifications)
-The Takt Book: (The Takt Book on Amazon)
Discover Jason’s Expertise:
Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction. As the company’s Founder and COO, 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.