Tim Faller owns Field Training Services in Westerly, R.I., a firm committed to training production staff in good jobsite management, helping companies develop training programs for their field staff, and assisting companies with their production systems.
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The market slowdown has made job security a real concern for many remodeling professionals. If you foresee slowdowns, I suggest these practices for shoring up morale:
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The never-ending, final list -- the list that drives us all crazy because it's the little things. How do we get carpenters to care?
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Carpenters and other field employees tend to think in terms of the quality of their work, and good remodelers wouldn't have it any other way. The downside is that carpenters' quest for excellence sometimes distracts them from the company's bottom-line goals and needs, and their attention to detail...
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Even after hours, anything that happens on the jobsite is the responsibility of the remodeler. From a burst pipe to a door left unlocked, a long list of catastrophes can destroy an otherwise good relationship with a homeowner.
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The next time the sales team hands off a job to production, examine the job package, and if it doesn't clearly explain the following, get some clarification.
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Job-cost reports are invaluable tools for keeping projects on schedule and on budget, and for improving remodeling processes. If a report shows that the project is starting to lose money, try these constructive responses.
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Find what you need, when you need it.
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Thought for the day: The client is paying you and your crew to produce a product and to manage your job well. To work efficiently and intelligently, I suggest a daily planning period: a half-hour at the same time each day in which the lead carpenter or project manager sets up activities, people...
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Wasted time accounts for 2% to 3% of annual sales at most remodeling companies. Do the math, and you'll see how poor time management can erode your net profit.
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I'm often asked about the use of communications technologies on the jobsite. My answer is simple: small steps. Although a few lead carpenters are using wireless laptops and/or BlackBerries, the biggest technology trend appears to be jobsite fax machines.