1. Introduction
vPlanner is a comprehensive visual production planning solution built around the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) continuous improvement concept. It fully supports all phases of the Last Planner System® as well as takt planning all through an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Designed specifically for the design and construction industry, vPlanner offers the flexibility to plan and re-plan even the most complex projects with speed and efficiency.
Sample Applications of vPlanner
Understanding vPlanner and the Last Planner System®
vPlanner is not a Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling tool and should not be used as such. To fully leverage vPlanner’s capabilities, a foundational understanding of the Last Planner System® (LPS) of Production Control is essential.
Over the years, LPS has evolved from a system focused primarily on near-term planning to a comprehensive framework that spans all phases of a project. This includes:
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Project Execution Strategies to define key milestones, production strategies, takt, and phase plans.
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Make Ready Planning (or Lookahead Planning)
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Commitment Management
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Tracking Metrics and Continuous Improvement
Unfortunately, there are widespread misconceptions in the industry about how to properly implement LPS. Many lean coaches continue to promote outdated versions of the system from several decades ago. If you're new to LPS, or if your experience is based on the original, analog approach, we strongly recommend reaching out to our management consulting services team to discuss how to best reintroduce your team to the modern LPS approach before adopting vPlanner.
For a high-level overview of how vPlanner supports a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of LPS, we invite you to watch a webinar presented by Samir Emdanat, President and Co-Founder of vPlanner offered in collaboration with the Lean Construction Institute. The recording of this webinar is provided below.