Ep.279 - Fanatical Roadblock Removal - Integrated Production Control System Series

Jason continues the Integrated Production Control System series with roadblock removal—the primary focus of any project team. Recording from the "Rattle hog" with his kids, Jason explains why roadblock removal is the main job of PMs, supers, and executives. The system: Create visual roadblock maps where foreman and project management teams huddle daily, track number of roadblocks found, average time before impact to production, and average time from identification to resolution. Use the six-week make ready look ahead to identify work that's not ready and bring roadblocks to the surface. Collect roadblocks in afternoon foreman huddle and morning worker huddle, then bring to team daily huddle as first priority. Roadblock removal is a leading indicator system, PPC and other metrics are lagging indicators. The escalation analogy shows how to scale issues appropriately: handle at location level first, escalate to superintendent/PM if needed, call in executives only for critical roadblocks. When you become fanatical about this and make it a science, you clear the path for work and create flow.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why roadblock removal is the main job of PMs, supers, and executives—not just a side task

• The visual roadblock tracking system: what to track (number of roadblocks, time before impact, time to resolution) and where to huddle daily

• How commitment surfaces roadblocks: trades won't identify issues until they're committed to Takt plans, Last Planner weekly work plans, or visual schedules

• The escalation framework: handle at location level → escalate to superintendent/PM → call in executives for critical roadblocks (like cartel hierarchy analogy)

• Why roadblock removal is a leading indicator while PPC and performance metrics are lagging indicators

If a project manager or super asks what's their main job: roadblock removal, baby.

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Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw