Knowledge is Negotiating Power
Go beyond lump sum bids. Analyze your four selected purchasing categories with Lump Sum Analyzer and Should Costing methodologies. Discover true costs, challenge pricing with data, and negotiate from knowledge—not assumptions.
Schedule Your WorkshopThe homebuilding industry has operated on high-waste practices for decades. With increasing material costs and competitive pressures, you can no longer afford to ignore waste.
Not a traditional lecture—engage in hands-on exercises, real-world case studies, and collaborative problem-solving throughout the day.
Learn how different departments impact each other and work together to eliminate waste across the entire organization.
Leave with a concrete 90-day implementation plan and the tools to immediately start reducing waste in your operations.
Based on Toyota Production System principles adapted specifically for the unique challenges of homebuilding.
Break down any lump sum bid into granular components: materials by SKU, labor by task and hours, equipment, consumables, overhead allocation, profit margin, and contingency. Know what you're really buying.
Create independent cost estimates from the bottom up. Research market prices, estimate labor hours using industry standards, add appropriate margins, and validate or challenge bid pricing with data.
Map the complete supply chain for each category. Understand who adds value where, typical margins at each level, and alternative sourcing models like builder-supplied materials or direct purchasing.
Learn what questions to ask manufacturers, distributors, and trade contractors to discover true costs. Gain confidence to request transparency and validate assumptions with specific, informed inquiries.
Use analysis to identify cycle time improvements and quality enhancements. Discover which tasks take longest, where delays occur, and where warranty issues originate to negotiate holistic improvements.
Build a repeating discipline, not a one-time event. Create category champions, maintain living Should Cost models, and never stop looking for ways to improve your cost position in the market.
Workshop foundation and methodology overview. Learn how to deconstruct lump sum bids into SKUs, quantities, labor tasks, and costs. Hands-on exercise with first selected category using your actual bid documents and pricing.
Build bottoms-up cost models from market intelligence. Understand complete supply chain (manufacturer → distributor → trade). Learn questions to ask each participant. Build Should Cost model for Category #1, compare to actual bids, identify variances.
Groups divide to work on two additional categories simultaneously. Apply both methodologies with increased speed and confidence. Group presentations, variance analysis, negotiation questions identified, and cross-group learning on emerging patterns.
Rapid analysis of fourth category at accelerated pace. Turn insights into action: when to use analyses, how to present findings collaboratively, negotiating for price/cycle time/quality. Establish continuous improvement process and personal action plans.
This advanced workshop is designed for procurement professionals and leaders who negotiate with trade contractors and want data-driven negotiation leverage.
Contact us today to schedule this transformative workshop for your team
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