Pull Planning/Lean Construction

Draper Was Pull Before Pull Was Cool

The concept of Lean Construction has become a popular buzzword within the construction industry in recent years.

Lean production techniques originally became popular in the 80’s – 90’s within the production and manufacturing industries and these techniques are now being applied to multiple other industries including construction project delivery.

Job Coordination Meetings (JCM)The primary goals of Lean Construction include:

  • Increased productivity
  • Reduce waste
  • Enhance quality
  • Smoother Flows
  • Proactive vs Reactive – less fire fighting
  • Reduced Costs

One of the key principles of Lean Construction is the application of Pull Planning also known as the Last Planner ® System.  The goal of Pull Planning is to manage inventory and in-process work to ensure that the materials and information needed for a smooth flow of work are available.  Pull Planning stresses the collaborative development of the project plan by using input from project participants to develop the durations and sequence of the project activities.

With his background in aerospace engineering and manufacturing, Gary Draper began applying these techniques to construction in the late 1960s.  Draper has been using this approach and refining the tools to implement it for over forty (40) years.  Our scheduling procedure manual reads like a “How To” for translating the theories and the strengths of Pull Planning theory into a workable set of methods for implementation.

Over the past four decades, Draper’s consultants have spread the gospel of Pull theory.  And, although thousands of successful projects and satisfied clients can attest to the outcomes, we just called it the Draper System.  Others have now seen the value in this approach and have given it another name.  But call it what you will, it works, and we are the firm that brings it to life.

When you choose Draper & Associates, your consultant brings with them a proven system that assists you in the implementation of the concepts of Pull Planning.  Your consultant will utilize the Draper system to constantly look for opportunities to bring forward activities to improve the schedule as well as identifying risks that could impact the schedule.  Our system breaks down silos to promote collaboration and focusing on goals as a team.

Contact Us today to learn how Draper & Associates can work with your team to efficiently and effectively implement the techniques of Lean Construction and Pull Planning.

Clients’ Testimonials

“In my 40 years in construction, I have not experienced this level of support.  This information is extremely valuable in helping me plan effectively, prioritize appropriately, and gain a clear understanding of what lies ahead.  The Draper System provides a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in front of us.”

“I have recommend Draper & Associates for anyone seeking reliable and expert construction scheduling services.  Over the course of our projects, their team demonstrated exceptional attention to detail, professionalism, and deep knowledge of construction timelines and project coordination.

They consistently delivered accurate schedules, identified potential delays early, and offered practical solutions that kept our project on track and within budget.  Communication was clear and proactive – every update was timely and informed by real insight into our project needs.  What sets them apart is their combination of technical expertise and hands-on experience in the construction industry.  Their scheduling tools, progress tracking, and collaborative approach made them an invaluable partner from start to finish.

I would gladly work with them again and recommend their services to any organization looking for a dependable, results-driven scheduling partner. ”

“Draper has been an invaluable asset to our organization, assisting Kast with its preconstruction service needs, project strategy, scheduling services and other aspects of our business. Frankly, I’m not sure what we would have done in the absence of having Draper serve as a member of our team. Clearly I would recommend Draper to any firm who is seeking high caliber professional scheduling services.”

“I’ve relied on Draper & Associates for scheduling and project controls for 15 years — both at Morgan Group and at my previous company. Across multiple multi-family developments in Florida and Texas, their CPM schedules are sharp, their critical-path analysis is reliable, and they communicate clearly with both project management and field teams. They’re the kind of partner you want on a complex job.””

“Every project that the Draper system was fully implemented on was delivered on time or early. Every project they were not on or fully implemented those projects did not deliver on time. Financially it is a no brainer when you measure the cost of their services versus the costs of delivering one day late.”

“I’ve been using Draper on all of my projects for the last 3 years. They work with our in-house teams to set up the OPS and then work throughout the project with our team and our Subcontractors to make sure everyone is working efficiently towards meeting the project’s goals. Draper’s scheduling makes it very easy for me to look at a monthly report to quickly know the status of every project I have under construction, and the look-ahead schedules are very easy for everyone in the field to know where they are and where they need to be at any given time.”

“Draper has been an integral part of our team for the last few years. Their schedules are very easy to read and make the field team’s job much easier when scheduling the subs. The bi-weekly meetings are a great tool to use for keeping the subcontractors engaged with the flow of the job. I firmly believe that Draper is one of the most important tools we use in keeping the jobs on schedule.”

As a Senior Project Manager who has worked for both G.C.’s and Owner/Developers, I can unequivocally say that Draper & Associates are a key factor in the success of the Multi-Family Projects I’ve been a part of. These projects range from garden style to high-density wraps, up to high rises.

A project that is scheduled with Draper affords the user the flexibility to present the data to the Subcontractor’s and the Development Team in multiple formats (both overall and near term projections). The schedules are logic-based like primavera and other predecessors, however, they are much more visually appealing and easy to decipher for field personnel. Draper’s hands-on tailored approach lends itself to production in the field, reduces the opportunities for miscommunication, and ensures your project has a strong administrative base to support all functions of the construction process.

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