Do you want a better way to manage your exterior? In this episode, Jason unpacks how to plan and execute building exteriors like a pro. You'll learn the Blue Beam exterior tracking system from DPR's Banner Good Samaritan Tower (polygons with status and colors matching the Takt plan showing daily updates and roadblocks), why exteriors are like site work (spatial/interface/rhythm management), how to do an exterior flow analysis (break into Takt zones, schedule Takt trains, plug in constraints, identify flow, it's all about interfaces not production), the critical steps from design development through testing, and the one rule that will save your project: never fail an exterior water test with your owner.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Exterior flow analysis is everything: Break exterior into production areas/Takt zones by types/scopes/interfaces, schedule Takt train, plug in constraints, pick bottleneck trades, do flow analysis, then align procurement with that sequence or you're in trouble
Start in design development: Bring trade partners on early, start procurement ASAP, plan 8-9 months for curtain wall, do mock-ups at Field Verified location early (performance/design mockups not just assembly, 10% of cost), start bi-weekly coordination meetings
Points of release management: Schedule every point of release as Outlook meeting (dye release, glass release, shop fabrication start, field measurements), show up Monday and call to confirm it happened
Get drawings from trade partners: Field measurements vs standard dimensions, unitized vs stick-built, lead times written on drawings (8 weeks, 6 weeks, 20 weeks), transitions/constraints, staging/logistics—all the data to plan/schedule/manage
Never fail owner testing: Pre-test yourself first with Field Verified or similar, pay extra money to test before owner sees it (unlean but necessary)—buildings leak at intersection of contracts AND at fluctuation of crews, need flow and consistent crews
"Do not ever fail an exterior water test with your owner. Ever. As soon as you fail a test, they're like 'The whole thing is wrong.' I once failed some tests and they made me test every stinking window on the building. Do not lose their trust. Pre-test yourself first, pay extra money if you have to. That waste is a million times more tolerable than losing the owner's trust."
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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
