BONUS Episode: September is National Suicide Prevention Month in the USA. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.

In this special bonus episode of The EBFC Show, host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez digs deeper into the critical issue of mental health and suicide awareness in the construction industry. Featuring guests Brian Winningham and Thomas LeMay, the episode spotlights the tragic story of Alberto, a construction worker who took his own life, and explores the immense pressures faced by workers in the construction sector. Join us as we discuss actionable steps to foster a safer, more compassionate workplace and share personal experiences that underline the urgent need for mental health awareness.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:28 Meet the Guests: Brian and Thomas

01:50 Brian's Journey in Construction

04:38 Thomas's Path to Construction Leadership

11:47 The Story of Alberto's Suicide

21:38 Mental Health in Construction: A Hidden Crisis

29:45 Recognizing the Signs and Taking Action

54:59 The Power of Small Gestures

56:33 Military Insights: After Action Reviews

58:19 Leadership and Worker Safety

01:00:24 The Importance of Mental Health in Construction

01:00:54 Challenges Faced by Women in Construction

01:02:23 The Reality of Construction Work

01:09:55 The Impact of Sleep and Substance Use

01:22:39 The Role of Therapy and Self-Care

01:44:58 Building Community in Construction

01:46:37 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24/7. Visit their website to connect with trained counselors who are ready to listen and offer help: https://988lifeline.org/

A Construction Suicide - Ranger Winnie Read this heartfelt article sharing the personal story of a construction worker's tragic suicide and the urgent need for mental health awareness in the industry: https://www.rangerwinnie.com/post/a-construction-suicide

Gatekeeper Program at Boldt Learn how The Boldt Company’s Lean Health Gatekeeper Program is proactively addressing mental health on construction sites through training and support initiatives: https://www.theebfcshow.com/lean-health-renee-wolf/

Thomas LaMay's Previous EBFC Show Interview For more insights into Lean Construction, check out Thomas LaMay’s earlier interview where he discusses overcoming constraints in construction projects: https://www.theebfcshow.com/Constraints-Thomas-LaMay/

Connect with Brian via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fielddrivenlean/

Connect with Thomas via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslamay/

Connect with Felipe via

Construction Scrum (book & audiobook) via https://constructionscrum.com/

Social media at https://thefelipe.bio.link

Subscribe on YouTube to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

Explore the transformative potential of AI in the construction industry in this episode of The EBFC Show, hosted by Felipe Engineer Manriquez and featuring AI expert Marcus Turner. Dig into how AI technologies like Stanford's Storm (a powerful analytics tool) and Claude's Artifacts (AI-driven solutions) are revolutionizing construction workflows. Marcus discusses practical applications from enhancing safety and streamlining processes to ensuring first-time permit approvals. Learn how AI is not only reshaping compliance and efficiency but also how it impacts teaching and research within the industry. The conversation also addresses the challenges of workforce displacement and the unique competitive edge AI provides to smaller firms. Tune in for a comprehensive look at the future of AI in construction and join the discussion on how we can navigate this technological evolution together.

Connect with Marcus via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/iammarcusturner/

Connect with Felipe via

Construction Scrum (book & audiobook) via https://constructionscrum.com/

Social media at https://thefelipe.bio.link

Subscribe on YouTube to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

---

Today's episode is sponsored by the Lean Construction Institute (LCI). This non-profit organization operates as a catalyst to transform the industry through Lean project delivery using an operating system centered on a common language, fundamental principles, and basic practices. Learn more at https://www.leanconstruction.org

Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.

In this episode, we "Scrum" our way through a series of enlightening discussions with Kevin L. Ball, distilling his extensive expertise into actionable insights. We explore pivotal moments in his career journey that shaped his path as a Scrum Master and transformation expert, dig into the leadership qualities essential for effective organizational change, and tackle the challenges of implementing agile methodologies in various industries. Highlighting case studies and personal anecdotes, Kevin shares strategies for overcoming complex challenges with strategic thinking. Tune in to catch all the highlights from our conversation and discover how you can apply these lessons to enhance your leadership skills in the design and construction industry.

Connect with Kevin via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlball/

Book: “The Invisible Visible Us: See Ourselves as Others See You” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4c7jdrI

Connect with Felipe via

Construction Scrum (book & audiobook) via https://constructionscrum.com/

Social media at https://thefelipe.bio.link

Subscribe on YouTube to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

---

Today's episode is sponsored by the Lean Construction Institute (LCI). This non-profit organization operates as a catalyst to transform the industry through Lean project delivery using an operating system centered on a common language, fundamental principles, and basic practices. Learn more at https://www.leanconstruction.org

Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.

In this episode of the EBFC Show, host Felipe Engineer Manriquez welcomes Geoff Gosling, an industrial and product designer and one of the founders of DIRTT. Geoff shares fascinating insights into the evolving world of adaptive construction and how embracing uncertainty can lead to better project outcomes.

Geoff discusses the importance of designing for change and uncertainty, drawing parallels between command and control environments and modern construction. He delves into the concept of layered modularity and how DIRTT's innovative approach allows for continuous adaptation and evolution in built environments.

Learn about the challenges and opportunities in the construction industry, the role of technology in transforming practices, and the importance of making design more human-centric. Geoff also highlights the potential of DIRTT to revolutionize residential and commercial spaces, making them more flexible and responsive to changing needs.

Tune in to explore how DIRTT's systems can make work easier, better, and faster, and why embracing technological advancements can lead to a more sustainable and adaptable future in construction.

Connect with Geoff via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-gosling-3112314/

Connect with Felipe via

Construction Scrum (book & audiobook) via https://constructionscrum.com/

Social media at https://thefelipe.bio.link

Subscribe on YouTube to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

---

Today's episode is sponsored by the Lean Construction Institute (LCI). This non-profit organization operates as a catalyst to transform the industry through Lean project delivery using an operating system centered on a common language, fundamental principles, and basic practices. Learn more at https://www.leanconstruction.org

Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.

Dig into the Theory of Constraints with Thomas LeMay in this compelling episode. Get an in-depth insight into the management tool introduced by the renowned physicist, Eliyahu M. Goldratt, which has revolutionized business strategies. Thomas kicks off by recommending Goldratt's breakthrough book, The Goal, providing insights into Goldratt's ideas and how to apply them using the constraint log tool. This episode explores understanding, identifying, and managing constraints in different contexts and how this leads to effective project completion.

Discover real-world examples of constraint management in complex situations such as infrastructure design and logistics. Understand how physical and non-physical constraints, if not managed effectively, can escalate into significant problems, leading to cost overruns, delays, and safety hazards. The discussion also highlights the importance of employing strategies and tools such as constraint logs to effectively mitigate these issues.

From understanding work-life balance to mastering construction skills, the episode explores various facets of constraint management. It emphasizes the importance of leadership, hands-on training, and an understanding of constraint management in achieving mastery in construction skills. Discover how visual mapping of non-physical constraints can give foremen and site supervisors a clearer picture of potential obstructions.

The episode concludes with a critical discussion of mental health issues in the construction industry. We normalize the need for mental health via continuous dialogue, organizational support, and practical resources to address mental health effectively. Learn how different theories and techniques, such as Goldratt’s theories and Scrum Patterns, can be integrated to manage constraints effectively and aid in personal and professional improvement.

Connect with Thomas via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslamay/

Connect with Felipe via

Construction Scrum (book & audiobook) via https://constructionscrum.com/

Social media at https://thefelipe.bio.link

Subscribe on YouTube to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

---

Today's episode is sponsored by the Lean Construction Institute (LCI). This non-profit organization operates as a catalyst to transform the industry through Lean project delivery using an operating system centered on a common language, fundamental principles, and basic practices. Learn more at https://www.leanconstruction.org

Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.

In this episode of The EBFC show, Felipe Engineer-Manriquez and Jason Schroeder dig into the challenges that the construction industry faces due to the 'bungee effect' – poor planning leading to volatile work schedules and frequent disruptions. They share their expertise on adopting lean and scrum methodologies and maintaining workflow on the job site, discussing their practical strategies for overcoming unpredictable situations.

Through comprehensive conversation, Jason and Felipe shed light on the wider implications of ineffective project management. They share how poor work management practices can lead to increased stress, decreased work pride, and a compromise in project quality. Understanding these facets, the duo stresses the value of adopting efficient planning strategies for enhancing work quality and productivity.

The popular traditional paradigm that 'bigger is always better' has major drawbacks. Instead, you can implement reduced batch sizes and right-sized teams to realize the benefits of frequent and consistent delivery of work. Real-world insights are shared, highlighting the benefits of experimenting with systems and understanding them to make necessary adjustments.

The episode also broadens to reflect on systemic issues affecting the industry, including housing scarcity and a declining workforce driven by socioeconomic conditions. Changemakers are at work to create conditions to serve as flagship examples and emphasize the importance of making structural changes to progress toward a productive and brighter future.

Navigate this transformative episode to gain a nuanced perspective on the construction industry, lean management, and systemic challenges. Learn how to beat the 'bungee effect' and adopt effective strategies to reinforce the resilience of your projects.

#Leanconstruction #respectforpeople #takt #scrum

Referenced Show Links:

Lean Takt via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

Website at https://www.elevateconstructionist.com/takt-planning/

Takt Guide Website at https://www.taktguide.com/

Connect with Jason via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonschroederelevatingconstruction/

Connect with Felipe via

Construction Scrum (book & audiobook) via https://constructionscrum.com/

Social media at https://thefelipe.bio.link

Subscribe on YouTube to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

---

Today's episode is sponsored by the Lean Construction Institute (LCI). This non-profit organization operates as a catalyst to transform the industry through Lean project delivery using an operating system centered on a common language, fundamental principles, and basic practices. Learn more at https://www.leanconstruction.org

Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.