Production builders obsess over process, organizing construction so that each phase happens in a predictable, repeatable order.
Greg Bennett, CEO of regional builder Smith Douglas Homes, says his schedule is akin to a virtual assembly line: homes are slotted into the schedule and built in that order; it never changes. If one house falls behind, they all fall behind. And while it’s tremendous pressure on the trades to perform, he says he’s carefully selected his network and assembled a “starting lineup” of the best, making it a culture where the trades are “competitive, but team oriented.”
Why it matters: For custom builders, the principle isn’t to replicate an assembly line but to plan and sequence trades thoughtfully, so projects flow smoothly and clients see progress in a predictable way. The more you can streamline behind the scenes, the more bandwidth you have for creativity and service. Efficiency offers reassurance and trust with smoother builds and fewer surprises.
What struck me most at the conference wasn’t the differences between production and custom, but the similarities. What I’m excited to watch is how custom builders, architects, and designers work to meet these same pressures and consumer demands, and interpret them in the way you do best: at a higher level of craft and service.