Delivering Lean Excellence on PAR11 with VisiLean: Mercury’s Digital Approach to Data Centre Construction

Background 

Mercury, a European leader in complex engineering and construction solutions, was appointed to deliver the PAR11 data centre project in Paris for a global technology client. The 19.6 MW facility was a high-spec, fast-track build, involving complex MEP systems, strict commissioning requirements, and multiple specialist trades operating under a compressed programme. 

To maintain delivery certainty and uphold its Lean Construction principles, Mercury partnered with VisiLean to strengthen planning reliability, improve trade coordination, and enable real-time execution control across the project. 

Challenges 

The PAR11 project presented several execution challenges typical of large-scale data centre developments: 

• Coordinating multiple MEP-intensive trades within tight programme milestones 

• Managing complex design and material flows without disrupting site progress 

• Limited visibility of constraints and dependencies across zones and trades 

• Manual, time-consuming progress reporting and fragmented planning tools 

• Risk of waiting time, rework, and trade conflicts impacting programme certainty 

Mercury required a digital platform that could support structured Lean planning while enabling live collaboration between site teams, subcontractors, and the client. 

Solution 

Mercury implemented VisiLean as a digital execution platform to support its Lean initiative across planning, coordination, and control. 

Key elements of the solution included: 

• Digital Last Planner® System
  Structured weekly planning sessions were conducted using VisiLean, allowing all stakeholders to collaboratively agree on work sequences. Updates were instantly visible across the project, preventing outdated plans from being executed. 

• Lookahead Planning & Programme Management
  The master programme was broken down into trade-specific lookahead plans aligned to site conditions. Live updates enabled rapid resequencing when delays or opportunities arose. 

• Constraint Management
  All constraints, from material availability to permits, were logged with clear ownership and target resolution dates. This ensured early intervention and uninterrupted workflow across zones. 

• Live Reporting & Dashboards
  Automated dashboards replaced manual reporting, providing real-time visibility of progress, plan reliability (PPC), constraints, and trade performance. 

• Collaboration & Transparency
  Site teams, subcontractors, and the client worked from a single source of truth. BIM integration enabled visual progress tracking and improved coordination across critical work areas. 

Outcomes & Impact 

The integration of Lean principles with digital execution delivered measurable improvements across the PAR11 project: 

• Early completion: Practical completion achieved three months ahead of the contract deadline 

• Planning reliability: PPC improved from 52% at project start to a consistent 85–90% 

• Reduced waiting time: Trade waiting time reduced from 18% to less than 8% of available hours 

• Reporting efficiency: Weekly reporting time reduced from 6 hours to virtually zero 

• Improved programme agility: Rapid resequencing prevented downtime and resource waste 

• Cost avoidance: Reduced rework and improved coordination helped avoid high potential costs 

Key Learnings 

• Real-time visibility drives accountability and proactive problem-solving 

• Digital Lean tools significantly improve agility on fast-track projects 

• Transparent, shared data eliminates blame culture and strengthens collaboration 

• Standardised digital planning enables repeatable success across future projects 

Based on the success of PAR11, Mercury has committed to using VisiLean across future projects to replicate improvements in programme control, collaboration, and reporting efficiency. 

To download the complete Mercury’s Digital Approach to Data Centre Construction Case Study, please fill the form below.