What Qualifies as a Takt plan?
I think sometimes we are too strict about Takt planning formats. We should be strict about Takt planning standards, but the format is very flexible. Let’s see what I mean…
This is what a typical Takt plan looks like:
It is beautiful and well organized.
So, here is a question for you:
“Is this a Takt plan?”
To find out, let’s look at the definition of a Takt plan:
To be a Takt plan, your schedule must…
Be a visual schedule showing time and space
Show work, trade, and logistical flow
Be scheduled on a rhythm
Be planned with the appropriate buffers
Stabilize the pace of work with one-process flow and limiting work in process
Have a reasonable overall project duration
If your plan does not meet these requirements, it is not a Takt plan.
So, does our last visual meet the criteria? YES!!! See the visual below to see how.
Additionally, if you collapsed the bar chart into a single row, you would see it in this format:
It looks a lot like a Takt plan to me. So, what makes this different than most look ahead schedules the industry uses? I will tell you:
1. It is color-coded by trade
2. The format does not show weekends
3. The schedule was planned first by breaking out areas or zones
4. It meets all the requirements of a Takt plan
If it was black and white, with weekends, without area breakouts, and not planned on a rhythm with buffers, I would not call this a Takt plan. Below we describe the difference between a normal industry Bar Chart and a Multi-row Takt plan.
Bar Chart Definition:
Multi-row Takt Plan:
A Multi-row Takt Plan is a simple schedule and shows a graphical presentation of work activities categorized by a time scaled bar line AND zone location. Crews and scopes of work are color codes so you can see trade flow. So, why does this matter?
In order to allow Takt to fully scale throughout the industry, we have have to be open to more dynamic formats while staying true to Takt planning best practices. I hope this has been insightful as you travel along your Takt journey.
If you want to learn more we have:
-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here)
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here)
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
–The Takt Book: (Click here)
Discover Jason’s Expertise:
Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, 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.
On we go!
