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Blog March 11, 2026
More Power Than You Think: Why Your Project Is Stalling (and How to Fix It)
By Angie Sabourin, Partner
Updated: March 11, 2026 | 2 min read
Project launches are longer and more expensive than ever—but you have more power than you think to change that. Here are the main points I’ve observed over the years and exactly how I’d handle them to get the results you actually want:
1. The “What”
- The Problem: Projects aren’t thought out, and the scope is being defined while you’re already moving. You’re basically engineering the project as it goes and constantly adding to the pile.
- What to do about it: Define your scope before starting. Think about where you want to go and what you want to replace or improve. Do an inventory of what you have, what you want to keep, and what you want to get rid of (processes, material, workforce, etc.).
- The Results: No surprises during completion that result in extra timeline or backtracking. Remember: the more information we have, the better the solution we can offer you.
2. The WHO
- What we’re seeing: On average, project teams have 17 to 20 people divided into departments with no oversight of the entire project. They don’t know HOW they’re supposed to collaborate—the bridge is missing. This leads to a total lack of accountability.
- What to do about it: Identify your decision-makers. Bring that number back down to 4 or 5 people who should be in every session and understand the entire process.
- The Results: Expectations are clear and people know when they should be making decisions. This means a shorter time to decision and a much faster project. The clearer the progress, the more harmony in your team.
3. The WHY
- What we’re seeing: There’s a lack of ownership of the future system. Keep in mind that for the team working on this, it isn’t their main job—it’s temporary. They have to make time for it, and it gets frustrating if it isn’t handled smoothly alongside their other tasks.
- What to do about it: Create a culture where you’re embracing the future software and your team actually wants to contribute. Hire help for your team to execute their current tasks so they have the space to focus on this implementation.
- The Results: Less overwhelm and tension among the team. You’ll get a quicker ROI and the autonomy to go-live. Best of all? You’ll be able to say bye-bye to those consultants rather sooner than later.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s about taking back control of the process before it takes control of your bank account. Following these guidelines could make the difference between your estimated budget and an addendum of $200k+. It’s about being proactive rather than reactive, making sure your team is supported, and keeping your eyes on the finish line from day one. By tightening the scope and the team, you’re setting yourself up for success instead of a headache.
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What exactly does your Distribution Center Design service cover?
Designing a warehouse isn’t just about drawing blueprints — it’s about making every square foot work harder.LIDD’s Distribution Center Design service includes facility sizing, layout optimization, automation strategy, and operational modeling. Our engineers draw insights from your historic data to simulate storage, process flows, and labor performance.This approach ensures that your facility supports future growth, not just today’s volume. Learn more about how our team blends engineering and operations expertise in our supply chain consulting practice.
We’re not hitting our throughput targets, can you help us understand why?
Through our supply chain audit services, we diagnose where productivity is lost — whether it’s layout constraints, slotting inefficiencies, or outdated workflows. Our consultants perform on-site operational audits, model alternative configurations, and identify quick wins that can unlock measurable gains in throughput and labor efficiency. Learn more about our projects in our case studies (link to insights)
How do your consultants help reduce unnecessary capital spending?
Before investing in new automation or real estate, we make sure you actually need it.Our engineers conduct feasibility studies, capacity models, and sensitivity analyses to test every major investment. By aligning design and financial justification early, we’ve helped clients avoid multimillion-dollar expansions by optimizing what they already have. This method — combining engineering precision with supply chain technology consulting — ensures that every dollar invested delivers measurable returns.
How do you approach network design for multi-site or multi-country operations?
Network design starts long before the building phase.We evaluate demand patterns, service levels, and transportation costs across regions to define the optimal number and placement of facilities. Using advanced modeling tools, we simulate how shifting a single DC can affect total landed cost and delivery times. Our experts combine on-the-ground logistics experience with digital modeling to guide expansion decisions. For complex multi-country operations, we also leverage our logistics automation expertise to ensure consistency across sites.
Can you help us validate a third-party design or quote before we commit?
Absolutely. Many clients come to us after receiving proposals from automation vendors or contractors and want a second opinion. As a vendor-agnostic partner, we review technical drawings, assumptions, and cost models to confirm whether the design meets your performance goals – without any bias. Our objective analysis can reveal oversizing, missing constraints, or inflated ROI claims — helping you negotiate confidently. If needed, we provide independent design validation and benchmarking based on our experience in distribution center design projects worldwide.
We’ve already invested in automation, can your team still support us?
Yes. We frequently work with organizations that have existing automated systems but need help fine-tuning or expanding them. Our specialists integrate new processes or technologies with what’s already in place, ensuring compatibility and optimal flow. Whether you’re adding a new conveyor zone or ASRS, we make sure automation works for you and your objectives —. See similar transformation results in our success stories.