Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/231234
WORLD FENCE NEWS • JANUARY 2014 • company resources, for example, every time they use the company gas card for their own personal use, and unintentionally waste gas when they don't work efficiently in the field and have to make multiple trips for something that could have been done correctly the first time. Both examples waste time, materials and money, but for now let's focus on the latter, and how we can work smarter to be more efficient. Some examples of unintentional waste in a company are: In the office: • Limit time on the cell phone to company business only, with the obvious exception of a family emergency. • No web surfing for personal business on the computer. Use your time productively, for company business only! • If you are responsible for purchasing, get at least three competitive bids so you know you are not paying too much for raw materials. • Find ways to do your job better and more efficiently. No one can really tell you the best and most efficient way to do your work – you know better than anyone – but let the office manager know any ideas you may have on how to improve ways to do the work in the office. In the field: • Try to find ways to do your job better and more efficiently. If your company has established labor standards, comply and try to actually improve them. • Let your boss and your coworkers know about any time saving ways to do your job. Share your methods on how to "build a better mouse trap" and get rewarded in the process. • Finish your job in the field before your crew returns to the shop whenever possible, especially when you are far away and only need a little more time to complete the job. Call in to your supervisor if you are uncertain whether or not to finish in the field, but be efficient in your work. • If you have a company truck and/or gas card, be efficient in your use of the company car/truck and the company gas card. This is designated for company related travel only, not for personal use. • Limit time on the cell phone to company business only, with the obvious exception of a family emergency. In the shop and/or yard: • As above, find ways to do your job better and more efficiently. If your company has established production standards, comply and try to actually improve them. • Conserve materials, limit cut offs and reduce scrap. You do the job and know the best way for this to happen. Tell your supervisor if you have an idea on how to reduce waste in the shop/yard. In the sales team: • If your company has a gas card or similar policy, be efficient in your use of the company car/truck and the company gas card. This is designated for company related travel only, not for personal use. • Consolidate sales calls and collections calls. Meet weekly and talk to each other, help each other and cut down on drive time whenever possible. • Develop cold call ideas. If you have no cold call initiatives in the company, you be the first to start one. Begin to use door knockers, call on developers and/or GCs you may see or meet in the field. Talk up the company in social circles – network, network, network! Also remember in your quest to reduce waste and improve efficiencies, motivation of your employees is a key factor. Monetary rewards work, but there are many other ways to motivate your employees with desirable effects other than money. The recognition of effort, for example, is one that more managers need to concentrate on. Managers always seem to find time to tell the employee when a mistake is made, but too often are too busy to express appreciation of a job well done on a specific assignment. This often leads to a decrease in moral. Try to catch your employees "doing something right!" Comment on 29 their good work and compliment them on their effort. God bless you all in this New Year. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and remember to try to be thankful for all you have and not envious for what you don't. Please try to pass that sentiment on to everyone else in your company. Just a note: if you are planning to attend FENCETECH this year in Las Vegas, please try to make it to one, or better yet, both of my two educational seminars that I will be giving there. On Thursday, March 6, I will be speaking on "Setting Achievable Labor and Production Standards for the Shop, Yard and Crews" and on Friday, March 7, I will speak on how to continued on page 72 SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS O fence installation Olation fast st installa on instal a a atio for VFN1 / VNF2 Malco picket and rail notchers for vinyl fence create high profile louver-shaped projections for "better-than-factory" pull-out resistance. t se lecrethet! l Coenti FP1 / FP2 Legendary sleek fencing pliers! Malco's highly maneuverable 8-in. and high leverage 10-in. pliers feature 3 gripping areas and 3 cutters. HRP5 / HRA5 / HRS5 Magazine fed 9-ga. hog rings and pliers system features 9-ga. aluminum and exclusive collated 9-ga. galvanized steel rings. VRR1 Reliable, safe and easy vinyl rail removal. Use this Malco tool to remove and rework or replace fence rails without damaging rail or post! Scan the Smart Phone QR code for a 30 second video speed test of our HRP5 Hog Ring Pliers vs. traditional pliers! Visit us at AFA FenceTech ®• Las Vegas, NV March 6-8, 2014 • Booth #953 Malco Products, Inc. | Annandale, Minnesota, U.S.A. | www.malcotools.com | ©2014