Tim Faller

Contributions from Tim Faller

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.

• Difficult Clients: Understand warning signs: Get the boss involved

  To paraphrase an old saying, "Clients: Can't live with 'em; can't live without 'em." And don't be afraid to insist the boss become more involved with the really tough clients.

• Lead carpenter accepts responsibility in exchange for freedom

  The lead must know where the job stands at all times, especially as it relates to labor and materials. This information should be constantly updated to allow him to make good decisions about how to spend the remaining money in each phase.

• Ideas to shorten punch lists

  The contract needs to state when the punch list work is completed and when warranty work begins.

• Best way to present change orders to clients

  Even though your job is in the field, when you're working with a client, you become a salesperson for the company.Otherwise, clients may assume the change is free or won't affect the schedule.

• Continuing learning and education

  If you need help getting started, ask your employees or your boss. Yearly goals can include attending a trade show, attending a business conference unrelated to construction, and enrolling in a college, community college, or trade school.

• Estimating change orders that minimize losses

  Change orders can be difficult to estimate because they involve items that are usually not apparent at the current stage of construction. Here are some rules for estimating change orders that should minimize your losses:

• Benefits of Lead Carpenters writing change orders

  Here are some benefits to having lead carpenters write change orders.

• Labor Projections

  Last month, we used a spreadsheet to calculate how much a lead carpenter should produce in a month. In the following examples, we'll assume a revenue growth goal of $500,000 (to a total of $2 million) and the same "givens" as last month.

• How much a lead must produce to reach profit goals

  Last month we calculated that the three leads at our hypothetical company need to produce $40,000 each per month to meet our yearly projected sales volume of $1.5 million. To decide, you need to find out how much a lead must produce per month to reach your profit goals.To do this, we need to know...

• Setting benchmark goals for lead carpenter production

  Many remodelers are curious about the benchmark for how much dollar volume a lead carpenter can produce in one year. Trying to complete $1 million by doing 20 small projects is next to impossible.