Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Lean to Limitless: How to Evolve Past the Last Planner System
When “Doing Lean Right” Still Isn’t Enough
You’ve invested in Lean. Your teams are running the Last Planner System. The whiteboards are full, the commitments are logged, and the meetings are on time.
And yet.
Deadlines still slip. Communication still breaks down. People still fall back into silos. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, that data shows that the tools work, up to a point. However, adding in the human element and using tools such as the Midion Method leads to 30% faster schedules and 20% cost savings.
“You can have the perfect plan on paper, but if people aren’t aligned in mood, trust, and coordination, execution will stall."
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion
The Last Planner System’s Ceiling
The Last Planner System (LPS) is an excellent framework for improving workflow reliability. It builds accountability, supports better planning, and helps teams visualize commitments. But for large, complex projects, LPS alone can’t address three persistent challenges in construction project management:
- Cultural Misalignment – Teams arrive with different norms, priorities, and ways of communicating.
- Leadership Gaps – Technical skills are high, but leadership and coordination skills are uneven.
- Systemic Complexity – Supply chain volatility, multiple delivery partners, and shifting owner requirements make alignment harder.
And here’s the kicker: these challenges aren’t process problems. They’re human coordination problems.
Related Reading:
Why Leaders Are Looking Beyond Lean
Forward-thinking construction leaders are discovering that Lean and LPS, while valuable, were never designed to shift the underlying moods, trust levels, and collaborative norms that drive execution.
“You can’t manage your way out of a human coordination problem with technical tools alone. You need to influence how people show up, listen, and work together.”
Klaus Lemke, Principal, Midion
This reality is why many owners and construction executives are now seeking integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches. IPD delivery models emphasize shared risk, shared reward, and early collaboration. But even IPD has its limits when cultural alignment and leadership skills aren’t actively developed.
Related Reading:
The Midion Method: From Lean to Limitless
While Lean principles can improve collaboration and reduce waste, the truth is that they often aren’t enough to handle the unpredictability and scale of large, complex projects on their own. Gaps emerge in coordination, decision-making, and adaptability, leading to delays, overruns, and missed opportunities.
The Midion Method builds on Lean principles by grounding project delivery in the human dimension: moods, communication, and coordination. Rather than relying solely on tools, it transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together. Using this proprietary system helps ensure that complex, large-scale projects stay on track and truly thrive.
“Rather than relying solely on tools, (the Midion Method) transforms how commitments are made, conversations happen, and teams learn together.”
The Midion Method builds on the strengths of Lean and the Last Planner System while filling in the gaps that cause most projects to plateau.
01. Success is Human
Coordination in construction is social, cultural, and emotional. The Midion Method addresses this reality directly through practices that align teams beyond the technical plan.
02. Moods Are Central
Project success depends on the emotional climate. Leaders need to learn to read, influence, and shift moods to support trust and action.
03. No Quick Fixes
Leaders navigate uncertainty through resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, there are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
04. New Ways to Be
By introducing new coordination practices, leaders transform how teams make commitments and follow through.
05. Learning Is Essential
Mistakes become opportunities to strengthen team capability and deliver more predictable operations.
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
Proof in Action: When Projects Get Unstuck
Consider a large healthcare facility build where the Last Planner System was in place, but execution had stalled. Midion was brought in to address team distrust, late decisions, and escalating costs. Within six months:
- Schedule variance dropped by 38%
- Coordination reliability improved by 41%
- Owner satisfaction scores increased
From Tool to Transformation
If your team is already practicing Lean and using the Last Planner System, but still encountering delays, rework, and burnout — unfortunately, you’re in good company. The difference between just doing Lean and limitless project delivery comes down to one thing: how well you mobilize people.
It’s time to evolve from Lean to Limitless. Let’s mobilize your team, together.
