CASE STUDY no. 2

Problem

 

Solution

 

Results

 

Hyperscale and colocation datacentre programmes demand predictable delivery, high productivity, and absolute transparency, particularly through peak construction and commissioning phases. Traditional programme only controls often struggle to provide early warning of risk, leading to late corrective action during commissioning and handover.

On a complex data centre project, McHugh Lean Construction implemented a Leanled, digitally enabled production control system, using Planned Percent Complete (PPC) and live dashboards to provide objective, realtime insight into delivery performance.

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Digital Dashboards as a Single Source of Truth

To support PPC and production control, McHugh Lean Construction deployed live digital dashboards integrated with the Last Planner® System and field reporting.

These dashboards were reviewed daily and weekly in collaborative sessions and formed the backbone of the project’s digital command room.

 

Figure 2. Weekly Work Plan & PPC Dashboard

The dashboards provided:

• Live PPC performance by week

• Status of Weekly Work Plan commitments

• Visibility of constraints and makeready actions

• Clear linkage between planning, execution, and learning

This ensured that decisions were based on current site reality, not lagging reports.

From Reporting to Control

The integration of PPC and dashboards shifted the project culture from retrospective reporting to active production control:

• PPC dips automatically triggered rootcause discussions

• Reasons for noncompletion were captured and reviewed

• Learning was fed directly back into lookahead planning

• Overcommitment was identified and corrected before impacting commissioning milestones

This closedloop control cycle significantly improved workflow stability during peak delivery.

Integration with Commissioning & Handover

PPC and dashboard visibility played a critical role during the commissioning (Cx) phase, where late changes traditionally create programme risk.

 

Figure 3. Commissioning Readiness / Quality Dashboard

Dashboards integrated:

• Construction completion status

• Quality inspections and Conditions of Satisfaction (CoS)

• Equipment readiness for Integrated System Testing (IST)

• Tradetotrade and constructiontocommissioning handovers

This ensured commissioning activities were only released when all prerequisites were demonstrably complete, protecting flow and avoiding late rework.

Value for Hyperscale & Colocation Clients

Programme Certainty

• PPC provided an early warning system for reliability issues

• Dashboards enabled rapid corrective action before milestones were affected

Transparency & Confidence

• Objective performance data shared across all stakeholders

• Clear audit trail supporting commercial and operational decisions

Scalability

• Commissioning and FM teams gained early visibility of readiness status

• Reduced disruption during energisation, IST, and phased handover

Operational Readiness

• Repeatable PPCled dashboard approach suitable for: 

  • Multihall delivery

  • Phased campus expansion

  • Portfoliowide standardisation

Why This Matters

This case demonstrates that digital tools alone do not deliver certainty.
By embedding PPC and dashboards within a Lean, Last Planner®led production system, McHugh Lean Construction delivers:

• Reliable commitments

• Predictable outcomes

• Smoother transition from construction to operations

Conclusion

Through the integration of PPC performance management and live production dashboards, McHugh Lean Construction delivered a transparent, reliable, and commissioningready datacentre project.

This approach provides hyperscale and colocation clients with control, confidence, and repeatability—critical to protecting timetorevenue and longterm operational performance.