Pull Planning: Constructing An Alternative To Critical Path

Efficiency is critical to meeting deadlines and keeping customers happy, and the construction industry is no different. Inefficiency in this market can not only have severe financial consequences, but legal ones as well—when a project completion date is missed, for example.

That’s why sound planning is a critical element of every project, regardless of size or scope. Of course, there is more than one way to plan and execute building projects. Each has its own pros and cons, which can vary depending on various factors, including the competency of the personnel responsible for the planning.

While there are a number of planning options, construction companies have traditionally relied on the critical path method (CPM) to manage progress. As explained in CIO Magazine, CPM is a step-by-step methodology used for projects with interdependent activities. It is focused on maximizing project activities and finding the shortest path (timeline) to task and project success using a work-breakdown structure (WBS) and a timeline to complete, as well dependencies, milestones, and deliverables. However, even this time-tested technique doesn’t always deliver the results that construction companies expect. For this reason, industry leaders are looking at a newer process called pull planning—an alternative methodology that has shown dramatic results in running projects more efficiently. You’ve probably heard the term, but you may not be familiar with how pull planning works—or the advantages of this emerging method. Or perhaps you can see the benefits of pull planning, but you’re unsure how to implement it within your own construction business. In this article, we will explain the concept of pull planning, focusing on:
• What pull planning is
• The benefits of pull planning over traditional construction planning methods
• How to implement pull planning in your next building project

Pull Planning Explained

Pull planning takes the opposite approach of the CPM method. It breaks down construction projects into smaller, more dynamic phases with an overall objective. Each phase is built out from the last job completing that objective—working backwards to sequence what must be completed before the next phase can begin. This mindset shift forces companies to consider when work can actually start, based on demand. It optimizes productivity, as nobody’s hanging around waiting for the previous task to finish, or unable to start a job because materials are not yet available on site. The pull planning process isn’t just dynamic; it’s collaborative as well. All key stakeholders, from architects to subcontractors, come together for regular planning sessions to identify milestones and organize tasks. Some companies will use sticky notes to sequence workflows in these sessions. However, there are collaborative task management software packages that make pull planning easier to manage effectively. Here’s a good analogy for traditional construction planning vs pull planning. Imagine you’re planning a road trip using a printed map instead of planning your route on real-time navigation software. Both will get you to your destination, but only one will instantly react to unknown factors like traffic, weather,
and road closures that you encounter along the way. Now imagine you’re meeting someone at your destination to hand over something important. With your static map, that person will have to wait around from the time you predicted you’d get there. In contrast, you can update them on your actual ETA with dynamic software so they set off at precisely the right time to meet you.

The Benefits of Pull Planning

Here’s why pull planning techniques can help construction projects run more smoothly:

Less waste. Pull planning minimizes waiting times and idle resources by focusing on task completion rather than a fixed schedule. This reduction in wasted time and effort improves overall project efficiency.

Closer collaboration. Everyone’s input is equally valued in the pull planning process, encouraging open communication. Increased cooperation leads to better problem-solving and greater accountability among team members.

Earlier identification of problems. Not only are existing problems solved quicker, but breaking the planning process into phases can help project teams predict potential issues and find a resolution.

Greater adaptability. Even with preemptive problem-solving, construction projects can encounter unexpected challenges like weather delays and material shortages. Pull planning allows teams to adjust and reprioritize tasks quickly rather than laying down their tools until the issue is solved.

Transparency and trust. Pull planning is more of a team effort than CPM, as everyone oversees how their tasks fit into the wider project. Everyone feels they are working together to complete the project on time and within budget.

How to Implement Pull Planning

Hopefully, you’ve found the aforementioned benefits compelling, and you’re ready to try pull planning in a future construction project. So, how do you make this happen? The first step to implementing pull planning is ensuring that your whole team is on board. Collaboration is crucial to this methodology. Your architects, designers, engineers, and contractors must understand what pull planning is and buy into its benefits. With everyone behind you, the next step is to identify key project milestones around which you can create construction phases. From here, you can involve the wider team with the actual pull planning—breaking each phase into manageable and logical tasks. Once you’ve created your initial pull plan, you’re ready to commence work. But it’s crucial that you don’t forget to review your plan regularly. The next phase can’t begin until you’ve completed the previous task list, so pull planning works best if it’s continually monitored and improved.

The Bottom Line

The construction industry is under pressure to deliver better results with fewer resources. Pull planning can help meet both objectives, as it helps companies improve collaboration, increase efficiency, and deliver smarter outcomes. Executed correctly, pull planning will reduce waste, enhance adaptability, and encourage productivity. And with some form of collaboration software in place to manage the move from push to pull, you will be substantially improving your chances for project success.

This article was published at: https://www.on-sitemag.com/features/the-year-of-ai-exploration/