EquipmentWorld.com | October 2014
31
maintenance
|
by Tom Jackson
|
TJackson@randallreilly.com
T
he biggest challenge facing the heavy
equipment industry is the lack of qualified
workers in any skill area. The problem is
not impossible to solve but as with foot-
ball or any other sport, winning requires
preparation, planning, goal setting, training and men-
toring. This is more work than many contractors and
fleet managers anticipate and certainly more than what
brought results in the past.
Carl Uhinck, CEM, asphalt equipment manager for
Kokosing Construction, recently gave a presentation to
the Association of Equipment Management Profession-
als on his company's "circle of retention" as they call
it. This company-wide process is taught and practiced
by all managers and results in better quality new hires,
better engagement with them and ultimately better
retention.
The circle of retention graphically represents a
continuous loop of activity. The process never stops
moving from recruiting to training to engagement to
development, and the ultimate goal, the career of well-
trained, highly-motivated employee who works at the
What a win looks like
in technician recruiting
and retention
Engagement is key to retention
and that means group meetings
as well as one-on-one talks.
