Nialli launches Nialli™ Visual Planner to simplify digital transformation of lean construction processes

Planning and production control system based on principles of Lean Construction Institute’s Last Planner^® System

Calgary, Alberta  — Nialli Inc., a SaaS collaboration company, announces its first product, Nialli Visual Planner, a cloud-based application that makes it easy to digitally transform the paper-based planning processes used in lean construction. Nialli Visual Planner is modeled after the Lean Construction Institute’s Last Planner System (LPS), a production control system that follows principles such as just-in-time delivery, value stream mapping and pull planning. Nialli Visual Planner can be used by all project stakeholders on any device and from any location, providing the flexibility of having any combination of co-located and remote participants during planning sessions. The solution can also be used on large interactive surfaces such as the Nureva^® Wall, to replicate the paper-based big wall experience with which many construction teams are familiar. By making the process digital, Nialli Visual Planner increases visibility into team progress, and the status of a single task or activity can be updated on the spot, with all data being captured for post-analysis. This saves time and eliminates waste compared to paper-based processes. Because the application is modeled after the Last Planner System and mirrors the same workflow, it is easy for anyone familiar with LPS to understand and adopt the solution quickly.

A key principle of the Last Planner System is to support the conversations that take place between trade foremen, superintendents and management to identify milestones, spot issues early and keep projects on track. Nialli Visual Planner allows teams to keep those conversations going whether teams are in the same space, in a construction trailer or on the jobsite. Using a personal device or interactive display, teams can produce and track progressively elaborate work plans that outline what needs to occur each week. Digital cards can be marked done with a diagonal line or crossed out to close the task. Cards can be assigned a color to indicate the trade working on a task and can be tilted with a red line across to indicate the reason for variance – all to replicate the analog pull planning process. Refer to the Additional product details section to learn more about the features and functionality.

“We’ve been working closely with a major North American general contractor over the past few years, which has enabled us to get a deep understanding of the intricate details involved in a project and how to bring it into a digital realm,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nialli’s CEO. “We are delighted to share the results of that work with construction companies aiming to digitally transform.”