Top 10 Habits of Field Installation Managers (Crew Chiefs)

Mark Eatherton1

I've been doing what I do for over 30 years. I still don't know everything there is to know. No one does. As my late pappy used to say, "If you don't learn something new every day, you were either "A", on vacation and were gone fishing, or "B" Weren't paying attention, and if you WERE "A" gone fishing, and you didn't learn something new, then you "B" weren't paying attention."...

He also used to say, if you knew everything there was to know, it was time for you to retire...

With that said. I'd like to thank God for my freedoms as an American (on Independence Day Weekend), and I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dan and the Lovely Mary Anne for this wonderful information exchange web site. If this post benefits you, send a few bucks in to buy some bricks. They're the foundation of the future. I know I will...

OKay, Top 10 habits of highly effective Crew Chiefs.

1. Take notes when the GC or homeowners are talking. Thermostat placement, zone considerations, EVERYTHING.

2. Maintain a book of notes. Put your personal name on it, that way , if it comes to a law suit, the admission of your notes is optional.

3. Take notes when the boss is talking. This shows dedication to your job and future.

4. If you know you are within an hour of finshing the job, stay an extra hour to avoid the tear down and set up expenses. It will come back to pay you in the form of increased productivity, which relates to profit, which should equate to your share of profit sharing. Don't just work 8 hours because thats all thats expected of you... 8 hour men are a dime a dozen. Dedicated employees are worth their weight in gold.

5. Take notes at then end of the day about what your goals and expectations are for the next two days. Make sure the necessary materials and tools are in place to complete your tasks. Think ahead, a minimum of two tasks. Take notes regularly.

I'm still conjuring up additional habits, but want your feedback to start immediately. Don't hold back. If I offended you, bring it on. Let' discuss it.

If I inspired you, tell US more. We WANT to know what inspires you.

Open to suggestions...

TIA

ME

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Bill Nye

Hey Mark

Paperwork comes to mind. Keep a file folder for each job and put EVERYTHING in it.

Trim parts for shower valves always seem to get lost between the rough in and the finish. Put them in a box and LABEL the box with a job name. Do not leave it on the job site. The laborers love to throw this stuff away.

Plans change, other trades may cause you not to be able to do what you planned to do. Always have a plan "B" or other job you can fall back on to keep your men productive.


Have the materials delivered in advance and check the job the day or night before you send your crew. Too many times I have been at the mercy of the supply house waiting for a delivery. Either my boss forgot to place the order or the driver got lost etc. My partner and I have waited 5 hrs for a boiler once or twice. makes for an awful long day.

Weezbo

thanks:)

it is a real deal or is that Ordeal? when the guys think they are working with you thats one thing if they think they are working FOR you Then it wont be long before they are thinking how to work AGAINST you...

Mark Eatherton1

Good point Weezey...

That belongs in the group of sayings like "If you train them, they'll leave you and go to work for another company..." As DH says, maybe if you DON'T train them, they'll stay??

Thanks for the input,

ME

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Mark Eatherton1

Thanks Cous...

as usual, your input is valid. We mantain numerous sub files on every job. The purchasing agent has one. The field chief has another, and the sales/installation manager has everything, in duplicate.

It IS a paper chase to say the least, but its the only way you can track costs. It has to be done at all levels in order for it to work.

I figure we kill about 1/2 a tree per job...

In an effort to elinate dead trees, many of our employees have resorted to PDA's to keep track of thier stuff. It has it;s advantages. "Let me beam you my needed materials list for you to transfer to Brian (purchasing agent). I get it via Infra Red transfer, and forward it via e-mail to the PA without so much a looking at a writing instrument (pen, pencil, Crayola Crayon, Big Chief Tablet, etc..)

The disadvantage is that if you don't back it up on a daily basis (rare for even myself), if it crashes, which they do, you lose everything prior to your last backup. Which in my experience, can be a LOT... Back it up evey day. I like the ones that require base charging. you HAVE to keep it plugged in, and as long as you're plugged in, you might as well hit the Backup button...

Good to see your words:-)

ME

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Dale

Repeat the order

This one dates from the British navy in the 1700's at least. If you give someone verbal instructions ask them to repeat them , sounds silly at first until you realize about 80% of business communication has some errors. And, fax or email everything to avoid phone orders, maybe text messageing is the way to go.

lchmb

How about

If you are doing swap out's how about a couple photo's. May seem silly but if someone know's he has a mess to deal with and can see 2 or 3 shot's in advance of walking in he can better prepare...On top of if the salesman think's it's two zone's and the pic show's 3...been there done that..

Unknown

Great point

We rarely get to see the job before we show up , but when we do , pictures beforehand give us the ability to pick out exactly what we need .

Our salesmen always mess up the zone sizes . Time for some pocket rockets .

lchmb

actually

what with the new technology out there, I purchased a digital camera for $250 and it was the best buy ever! Our company can download pic's and view them instantly and you can even zoom to some degree if something make's you curious. When you do before and after shot's and show the customer they flip!!

jackchips_2

Would

some type of chain of command apply here, Mark?

Everyone who works for someone else must know who their boss is. Paul Ridilla is the most vocal I've read on this subject but it has also been stressed by most of the other experts on management and project management.

Mark Eatherton1

Flow chart of responsibility.

The owner is on top, and it is pyramid shaped from there down. Everyone knows who their boss is. Typical for a small company.

ME

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Mark Eatherton1

Additional points...

Document each and every jobs status BEFORE leaving the job. YOU might not be the party responsible for finishing the job, and no two people view the job the same. Write down your intentions while they're fresh in your head. Keep someone else from trying to read your mind.

Copy ALL field paper work to the master file for the job. It is absolutley useless in the wrong place.

Communicate with your superiors on a regular basis. At a minimum, twice per day. Once at noon and once at the end of the day to make sure that things are going as planned, and that the job will be finished in a timely manner.

If something crops up that was not anticipated, notify your superiors immediately. They have a need to know that goes well beyond your scope (Change orders, scheduling etc..)

This is all I could conjur up for now. I'll keep ruminating whilst out on my E-boat (Li'l Sparky) trolling for the wiley salmon this weekend...

Thanks to all for their input. I intend to copy all of these thoughts and print them out for hand outs at my next staff meeting.

ME

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