Systems, Life & Pink Flags with Thomas LaMay (Episode 87)

About this episode

Adam Hoots and Thomas LaMay discuss Lean systems and the importance of caring for people in construction.

In this no-bullshido episode of Hoots on the Ground, Adam Hoots hangs out in Kyoto, Japan, with the one and only Thomas LaMay, a project leader at DPR Construction who's got Lean systems and people-first thinking down to a science. What starts as a chat about bucket list experiences at the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) turns into a full-on masterclass on designing better production systems—and better lives for the people doing the work. Thomas dives into the importance of caring for the people on the job, from the simple things (like clean port-a-potties and shaded break tents) to big ideas like integrating Mental Health First Aid, and team health assessments. The two explore how systems thinking, Last Planner System®, Takt planning, and location-based management aren't just tools—they're opportunities to make construction more human. Key takeaways include: Respect for people starts with the basics — Clean toilets, shaded break areas, and rest show genuine care for those doing the work. Design your system or someone else will — Intentional production systems (with flow, visual signals, and collaboration) beat chaos every time. Mental health is a safety issue…

People in this episode

Host: Adam Hoots

Guest: Thomas LaMay

Topics covered

• Lean construction
• Mental health in construction
• Production systems
• People-first thinking
• Systems thinking

Keywords

• Lean systems
• construction
• mental health
• production systems
• team health assessments

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: DPR Construction

Books & works: Last Planner System®

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