การเลือกใช้อุปกรณ์ช่วยในการขนถ่ายวัสดุ
ผู้ประกอบการบางรายอาจไม่เห็นถึงความสำคัญของการเลือกใช้อุปกรณ์การขนถ่ายวัสดุที่เหมาะสม เนื่องจากอาจเห็นว่าการลงทุนในอุปกรณ์การขนถ่ายวัสดุนั้นไม่ได้ช่วยเพิ่มค่า (Add value) แก่ผลิตภัณฑ์ หากในความเป็นจริงแล้วการเลือกใช้อุปกรณ์การขนถ่ายวัสดุที่เหมาะสมจะช่วยให้เกิดประโยชน์มากมาย เช่น เพิ่มความคล่องตัวและทำให้เกิดความต่อเนื่องในการผลิต ช่วยลดความเสียหายที่อาจเกิดขึ้นต่อวัสดุในระหว่างขนถ่าย เป็นต้น ซึ่งทั้งนี้ จะมีผลกระทบไปสู่คุณภาพของผลิตภัณฑ์ และนำไปสู่การลดต้นทุนในการผลิตและผลกำไรโดยรวม
อุปกรณ์ประเภท Material handling นั้น พูดง่ายๆ ก็คืออุปกรณ์ที่ใช้ช่วยในการเคลื่อนย้าย หรือขนถ่ายวัสดุ (ในที่นี้จะพิจารณาเฉพาะวัสดุประเภทของแข็งเท่านั้น) ที่เป็นนิยมใช้โดยทั่วไปนั้น สามารถจำแนกคร่าวๆ ได้ 7 ประเภท และแต่ละประเภทมีความเหมาะสมกับการเคลื่อนย้ายที่แตกต่างกัน
เลือกอย่างไรให้เหมาะสมกับการใช้งาน
1. Conveyor อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้มีอยู่หลายรูปแบบ เช่น รางส่ง ลูกกลิ้ง โซ่ส่ง สายพาน ฯลฯ ลักษณะของการใช้งานเพื่อให้มีการเคลื่อนย้ายอย่างต่อเนื่องในเส้นทางที่ไม่เปลี่ยนแปลง (แต่อาจมีการเปลี่ยนทิศทางได้) โดยปกติมักใช้ในงานที่มีการเคลื่อนย้ายบ่อยๆ แต่ระยะในการเคลื่อนย้ายไม่ไกลจนเกินไป ทั้งนี้เนื่องจากค่าใช้จ่ายในการติดตั้ง และค่าอุปกรณ์ ประเภท conveyor จะขึ้นกับชนิด และความยาวของระยะทางด้วย สำหรับการติดตั้งอุปกรณ์ conveyor จะมีทั้งแบบติดเพดาน (เหมาะกับการย้ายชิ้นส่วนขนาดใหญ่) แบบติดตั้งบนพื้น (เช่น ใช้ขนย้ายกล่อง หรือตู้คอนเทนเนอร์) การเคลื่อนย้ายอาจอาศัยแรงโน้มถ่วง หรือเป็นแบบที่ใช้พลังงานขับเคลื่อน (เช่น มอเตอร์)
2. Industrial Vehicles อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้ มีทั้งที่แบบลากจูง ใช้แรงดัน หรือขับเคลื่อนด้วยมอเตอร์ เช่น รถเข็น รถลากจูงแบบมีขบวนพ่วง รถยกปากส้อม ฯลฯ อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้สามารถใช้เคลื่อนย้ายทั้งแบบหนึ่งจุดเริ่มต้น-หนึ่งจุดหมาย (single load) หรือหลายจุดเริ่มต้น-หลายจุดหมาย (multiple loads) การเคลื่อนย้ายแบบ single load หมายถึง การขนย้ายแต่ละครั้งมีจุดเริ่มต้น และที่หมายเพียงอย่างละจุดเท่านั้น อุปกรณ์ที่ใช้อาจเป็นรถเข็น หรือรถยกปากส้อม ส่วนแบบที่เป็น multiple load นั้น อาจมีหลายจุดเริ่มต้น และหลายจุดหมายในแต่ละครั้งของการขนย้าย เช่น อาจมีการหยิบของจากหลายๆ จุด ไปส่งยังหลายๆ ที่ โดยอุปกรณ์ในการขนย้ายได้แก่ รถลากจูงแบบมีพ่วง (ลักษณะคล้ายรถไฟ ที่มีหลายตู้ขบวนติดๆกัน) หรือรถเข็น (เช่น ใช้ในลักษณะงานเหมือนการเลือกของในซูเปอร์มาเก็ต) อุปกรณ์ประเภท Industrial Vehicles เหมาะกับการใช้ขนย้ายแบบที่สามารถเปลี่ยนแปลงเส้นทางได้ ทั้งนี้ ในการเลือกใช้อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้ต้องคำนึงถึงความกว้างของช่องทางด้วย
3. Automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS) อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้มักใช้ในการขนย้ายวัสดุ โดยการนำวัสดุไปเก็บ (store) และนำวัสดุออกมา (retrieve) แบบอัตโนมัติ จากที่จัดเก็บประเภทหิ้งจัดเก็บ (storage rack) โดยมีตำแหน่ง/บริเวณที่เครื่อง AS/RS มารับวัสดุไปจัดเก็บ (pickup station) และจุดที่นำวัสดุจากหิ้งจัดเก็บไปส่งเมื่อวัสดุนั้นถูกเรียกใช้ (deposit station) อย่างชัดเจน อุปกรณ์แบบ AS/RS เหมาะกับงานที่ต้องการการจัดเก็บและเรียกใช้วัสดุหลากหลายแบบ ในหิ้งจัดเก็บที่หนาแน่นมากๆ การเลือกใช้อุปกรณ์แบบ AS/RS จะมีทั้งแบบใช้ AS/RS เครื่องเดียวต่อการจัดเก็บ 1 ช่องทาง (aisle) ใช้ AS/RS เครื่องเดียวต่อการจัดเก็บหลายช่องทาง หรือใช้ AS/RS หลายเครื่องในการจัดเก็บ 1 ช่องทาง ทั้งนี้ขึ้นอยู่กับความหนาแน่นของพื้นที่จัดเก็บ ความถี่ในการจัดเก็บและเรียกใช้วัสดุ โดยทั่วไปแล้วปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อความสามารถในการจัดเก็บและเรียกใช้ของอุปกรณ์แบบ AS/RS จะพิจารณาจากลักษณะโครงสร้างของหิ้งที่ใช้จัดเก็บ ความเร็วในการเคลื่อนของอุปกรณ์ AS/RS ทั้งในแนวดิ่งและแนวราบ
4. Carousels อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้มีลักษณะการเคลื่อนคล้ายกับประเภท Conveyor คือ เคลื่อนไปเรื่อยๆ อย่างต่อเนื่อง เพียงแต่อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้จะหมุนวนรอบ เช่น การเคลื่อนย้ายที่มีหิ้งหรือชั้นเก็บของไปตามสายพานเป็นรอบ ลักษณะการเคลื่อนมีทั้งแบบหมุนวนในแนวราบและในแนวดิ่ง อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้ถูกนำมาใช้ในการจัดวัสดุเป็นชุด หรือใช้แยกวัสดุ ลักษณะของอุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้คล้ายกับสายพานลำเลียงกระเป๋าเดินทางตามสนามบิน ที่วนไปเป็นรอบ
5. Automated guided vehicle systems (AGV) อุปกรณ์ประเภท AGV มีลักษณะคล้ายอุปกรณ์ประเภท Industrial Truck แตกต่างที่ AGV ถูกควบคุมโดยคอมพิวเตอร์ และถูกกำหนดเส้นทางการเดินทางที่ชัดเจน ไม่ต้องใช้คนขับ การเลือกใช้อุปกรณ์ประเภท AGV มักต้องลงทุนสูง ทั้งค่าคอมพิวเตอร์ที่ใช้ควบคุม การติดตั้งเส้นทางซึ่งอาจมีการฝังสายไว้ใต้พื้นตามเส้นทาง และตัวรถ AGV เอง การควบคุมอุปกรณ์ประเภท AGV สามารถควบคุมได้หลายๆ คันโดยใช้คอมพิวเตอร์ควบคุมเพียงชุดเดียว และ AGV แต่ละคันสามารถสื่อสารถึงกันได้ เช่น เพื่อหลีกเลี่ยงการชนกันเอง หรือเพื่อป้องกันการกีดขวางการจราจร หากอีกคันยังอยู่ในจุดรับส่งวัสดุ
6. Cranes and hoists หรืออุปกรณ์ประเภทปั้นจั่นและลูกรอก อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้จะมีความเหมาะสมกับลักษณะงานที่มีความจำกัดสำหรับพื้นที่ในแนวราบ การขนถ่ายกระทำเป็นครั้งคราวไม่จำเป็นต้องทำอย่างต่อเนื่องสม่ำเสมอ และวัสดุที่ถูกขนถ่ายมีรูปร่างที่แตกต่างไม่แน่นอน ตัวอย่างการใช้งานของอุปกรณ์ประเภทปั้นจั่นและลูกรอกได้แก่ การขนย้ายชิ้นส่วนขนาดใหญ่ในโรงงานที่มีพื้นที่ในแนวราบที่จำกัดสามารถใช้ลูกรอกติดตั้งบนเพดานเพื่อการขนย้าย ในบางครั้งอุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้สามารถใช้ในการขนย้ายวัสดุที่มีน้ำหนักมาก เช่น แม่พิมพ์ขนาดใหญ่ รวมถึงการเคลื่อนย้ายเครื่องจักรในโรงงาน สำหรับตัวอย่างของอุปกรณ์ในประเภทนี้จะได้แก่ Overhead Traveling Crane, Gantry Crane, Jib Crane และ Hoist เป็นต้น
7.Robots หรือที่เรามักเรียกว่าหุ่นยนต์ อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้อาจถูกตั้งโปรแกรมให้ทำงานได้หลายๆ แบบ เช่น ใช้เคลื่อนหรือหมุนวัสดุในการเชื่อมชิ้นส่วน การใช้หุ่นยนต์มักเป็นการเคลื่อนย้ายทีละชิ้นงานมากกว่าที่จะเป็นการเคลื่อนย้ายวัสดุจำนวนมาก อุปกรณ์ประเภทนี้มักต้องลงทุนสูง ซึ่งการใช้งานอาจต้องคำนึงถึงความจำเป็นต่างๆ ประกอบ เช่น ความปลอดภัย หรืองานที่ต้องการความแม่นยำสูง เป็นต้น
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การเลือกใช้อุปกรณ์ชนิดต่างๆ จักต้องดูปัจจัยหลายๆ อย่างประกอบกัน โดยต้องคำนึงถึงราคาและต้นทุน ชนิดของอุปกรณ์ ลักษณะ ขนาดและปริมาณของชิ้นงาน พื้นที่และผังโรงงาน ความบ่อยและความต่อเนื่องของการขนถ่าย รวมไปถึงความยืดหยุ่นของเส้นทางที่ใช้ในการลำเลียง จึงจะเหมาะสมและมีประสิทธิภาพที่สุด
คำไข เคล็ดลับ-วิธีการ / การขนถ่ายวัสดุ / Material Handling / การบริหารการผลิต
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การเลือกใช้รถยก รถลาก ในสถานประกอบการ
ในสถานประกอบการหรือโรงงานต่างที่ผลิตสินค้าทั้งหลายจำเป็นที่จะต้องเคลื่อนย้ายสินค้าในโรงงานและจัดเก็บที่มีประสิทธิภาพ จึงต้องมีเครื่องมือขนย้ายที่มีประสิทธิภาพเพื่อสะดวกรวดเร็วและปลอดภัย รถยก forklift truck จึงเป็นเครื่องจักรกลสี่งแรกที่นิยมใช้กันอย่างกว้างขวาง แต่บางหน่วยงานไม่ทราบว่าจะเลือกรถยกอย่างไรให้เหมาะกับสถานประกอบการหรือโรงงาน ดังนั้นทางผู้เขียนขอแนะนำการเลือกซื้อรถยกมาใช้ในโรงงานอย่างง่ายๆดังนี้
รถยกแบ่งออกเป็น 2 ประเภทตามชนิดของเครื่องจักรกล
- ประเภทที่ใช้เครื่องยนต์เป็นเครื่องต้น กำลังมักนิยมใช้ในในโรงงานหรือคลังสินค้าที่เป็นระบบเปิด มีการระบายอากาศที่ดีหรือขนย้ายภายนอกอาคาร มีให้เลือกทั้งเป็นเครื่องยนต์ดีเซล เบนซินและใช้ LPG เป็นเชื้อเพลิงเพราะว่าสามารถรับงานหนักได้ดี มีความแข็งแรงสูง ประหยัดทั้งค่าเชื้อเพลิงและมีการบำรุงรักษาง่าย ทนทานต่อพื้นทางวิ่งที่ขรุขระได้ดี
- ประเภทที่ใช้มอเตอร์ไฟฟ้าเป็นเครื่องต้นกำลัง และใช้กำลังไฟจากแบตเตอรี่ เหมาะสำหรับโรงงานหรืออาคารที่เป็นระบบปิด ห้องติดแอร์ห้องเย็นแช่แข็งต่างๆ เพราะรถยกไฟฟ้าไม่มีมลพิษทางอากาศ ในโรงงานผลิตอาหารที่ต้องการความสะอาดเป็นอันดับแรก ใช้วิ่งในพื้นที่แคบๆได้ดี ไม่มีเสียงดังรบกวน แต่ก็มีข้อจำกัดเหมือนกันเช่น พื้นทางการวิ่งต้องราบเรียบไม่ขรุขระเพราะจะทำให้แบตเตอรี่ชำรุดเสียหายหรืออายุการใช้งานลดลง ซึ่งรถยกไฟฟ้ามีให้เลือกหลายแบบ เช่น แบบนั่งขับ ยืนขับเหมาะกับการวิ่งในทางแคบๆ และแบบขับเคลื่อนขนย้ายในแนวระนาบเท่านั้น
มาตรฐานการเลือกใช้ให้ถูกต้องตามประเภทความอันตรายของแต่สถานประกอบการเช่น ในมาตรฐาน NFPA 505 แบ่งไว้ 3 ระดับดังนี้
1 ประเภทรถยกเครื่องยนต์ดีเชล
• Tye = DD มีระบบป้องกันเพลิงไหม้ในมาตรฐานขั้นต่ำสุด
= DS มีระบบป้องกันที่ท่อไอเสีย ระบบเชื้อเพลิงและระบบไฟฟ้า
= DYไม่มีระบบไฟฟ้าระบบจุดระเบิดและมีการติดตั้งชุดจำกัดอุณหภูมิ
2 ประเภทรถยกเครื่องเบนซินและ LPG
= G\LPมีระบบป้องกันเพลิงใหม้ในมาตรฐานต่ำสุดตามความจำเป็น
= G\LPSมีระบบป้องกันเพลิงใหม้โดยเพิ่ม ระบบป้องกันที่ระบบไอเสีย ระบบเชื้อเพลิง ระบบไฟฟ้า
3 ประเภทรถยกไฟฟ้า
• Tye = E มีระป้องกันเพลิงไหม้และไฟฟ้าดูดในขั้นมาตรฐานต่ำสุด
= ES เพิ่มระบบป้องกันการเกิดประกายไฟจากระบบไฟฟ้าและจำกัดอุณหภูมิที่พื้นผิวเครื่อง
= EE มอเตอร์ไฟฟ้าและอุปกรณ์อื่นๆจะมีการห่อหุ้มอย่างมิดชิด
= EX ออกแบบมาเพื่อใช้ในสภาพแวดล้อมที่มีไอระเหยของสารไวไฟ
เมื่อทราบวิธีการเลือกแล้ว ถ้าจะซื้อหรือเช่ารถยกก็จะได้ประสิทธิภาพที่ดี สดวกในการใชงานและก็ปลอดภัย ถ้ามีใช้อยู่แล้วก็สามารถตรวจสอบว่ารถยกที่มีอยู่เหมาะกับสภาพการใช้งานของโรงงานมากน้อยเพียงใด
ขอบคุณที่มา
http://she.cpportal.net/tabid/1384/Default.aspxUNEXPECTED COSTS IN LOG HOME CONSTRUCTION
You won't go far without hearing horror stories about log home owners who went way over budget, ran out of money before the project was through, and generally had a terrible building experience. I'm sure there are as many tales as there are people, and I'm just as sure I haven't even heard most of them. Assuming that your initial construction budget is realistic, here are a few points that might make the unexpected a little easier to plan for. A good builder will have already taken care of many of these suggestions, but it couldn't hurt to be certain that the costs are covered in the original quote.
WEATHER: Weather delays are probably the biggest bugaboos. Time is money, and every week that your house sits in the rain and snow is another week you are paying interest on your construction loan (we won't even talk about exposure). Ideally, you should plan the log delivery so that, bare minimum, your roof is on and windows are installed before winter hits. Is waiting until Spring a good idea? Well, April showers create a sea of mud that could bog down the heavy equipment. The mud will be inevitable, but perhaps waiting for a dryer summer would speed things along?
EASE OF ACCESS: Some of the more isolated properties can be inaccessible by a 55-foot truck. First of all, make sure your local bridges are designed to take the weight of a laden truck (and no, you can't divide the total weight in half because only one axle is on the bridge at a time). If the truck can't navigate the curves, incline, or surface of the road, you might have to offload the logs onto a smaller vehicle. This necessitates another forklift (one for the big truck, one for the little truck). In the worst case scenario, a helicopter comes into play.
JOB SITE PREPARATION: You might be tempted to throw down a quick-and-dirty layer of gravel to accommodate the machinery, but in the end you may be creating even bigger problems. If the trucks get stuck on an inadequate surface, you may be the one to pay for towing... and again, you'll experience delays. Especially if using a gravel driveway, have the full driveway laid in first with the riprap as a foundation. If it gets chewed up a bit, repairing it will be cheaper in the long run than the alternative. When laying down the gravel driveway, make sure you add a section at least 50x50 sq. ft. for the logs to sit. Then cover that section with thick plastic sheeting. The last thing you want is to see your beautiful logs dumped in the mud.
If you decide to take the whole house delivery at once, including lumber, plywood, windows and all, you're going to need to store them. You may have to rent one or more trailers to protect your stuff from the elements (and dare I suggest, theft?). If at all possible, take delivery in more than one shipment, even if the initial expense is higher.
Also, make sure provisions are made for a dumpster and portable potties; you won't regret it.
TARPS: You're going to find yourself acting like a log baby-sitter for a while. Whenever possible, the logs should be protected by tarps, nicely fastened with bungie cords against the wind. But you'll be amazed at how many tarps you're going to need. I've even seen builders cover the whole unfinished structure with tarps, though that's the exception rather than the rule.
POWER: Most builders will give you a few days' allowance for power, but after that, you may get charged for that expensive generator. Instead, you can arrange for the electric company to erect a temporary panel on site for the power tools. They have to bring the power lines to your house anyway. Make provisions for this way ahead of time. Also verify way ahead of time whether the telephone company has service on your street.
CHAIN-SAW WORK ON SITE: This is a little difficult to prepare for, since we usually don't know what questions to ask. I know of one person who was completely unaware that the stair timbers needed to be cut on site. Also, not every log home company sizes the window holes exactly. One side might line up, but the other side might need to be cut to measure. Another couple I knew was surprised to discover that an inside archway through a solid log wall needed to be cut on site. They were not skilled enough to attempt the task, and had to track down a person willing to take the responsibility - for a big price. Sometimes logs need to be notched on site. All these things get added to the bill.
ALLOWANCES: This can be a big budget buster. Whenever possible, pick out and budget your own fixtures, kitchen, flooring, countertops, etc. rather than take an allowance from the builder. The likelihood of finding something in the price range allowed for the item is pretty slim. If you start far enough ahead, you can buy certain expensive appliances and luxuries and put them into storage. Try to have all the items ready for installation before they are needed. Remember to plan ahead for extra light fixtures; this item is one of the most frequently neglected necessities in the house.
CHANGE ORDERS: If you want to stay in budget, NEVER make a change after the work has been done. Change orders make the cash register sing. Try to stay ahead of the project, so if you perceive a change while still in the planning stage, a good builder will work with you at no extra charge.
WHO DOES WHAT? In our experience, the only time things went really astray is when we tried to bring in our own trades, who inevitably clashed with the builder's subs. The biggest fight was who would wire the septic pump: the electrician or the excavator. We hired the excavator, and the electrician walked off the job because he refused to wire the excavator's pump. We were flabbergasted, and it took over a month to get another (inferior) electrician to finish the house... another month's rent, another month's interest.
Not all problems can be foreseen, but conventional wisdom tells us to add a 10-20% slush fund to the budget to allow for unexpected cost over-runs. Bare minimum, you may need to tap into this fund to bridge the gap between the subs getting paid and your next construction loan draw. Planning this buffer is not going to be easy, but in the end, it might save you a whole lot of headaches - and an ulcer or two.
About the author: Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha Log Home dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She designed her own log home which was featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide of Log Home Living magazine. You can learn more about log homes by visiting www.JerseyLogHomes.com.
WEATHER: Weather delays are probably the biggest bugaboos. Time is money, and every week that your house sits in the rain and snow is another week you are paying interest on your construction loan (we won't even talk about exposure). Ideally, you should plan the log delivery so that, bare minimum, your roof is on and windows are installed before winter hits. Is waiting until Spring a good idea? Well, April showers create a sea of mud that could bog down the heavy equipment. The mud will be inevitable, but perhaps waiting for a dryer summer would speed things along?
EASE OF ACCESS: Some of the more isolated properties can be inaccessible by a 55-foot truck. First of all, make sure your local bridges are designed to take the weight of a laden truck (and no, you can't divide the total weight in half because only one axle is on the bridge at a time). If the truck can't navigate the curves, incline, or surface of the road, you might have to offload the logs onto a smaller vehicle. This necessitates another forklift (one for the big truck, one for the little truck). In the worst case scenario, a helicopter comes into play.
JOB SITE PREPARATION: You might be tempted to throw down a quick-and-dirty layer of gravel to accommodate the machinery, but in the end you may be creating even bigger problems. If the trucks get stuck on an inadequate surface, you may be the one to pay for towing... and again, you'll experience delays. Especially if using a gravel driveway, have the full driveway laid in first with the riprap as a foundation. If it gets chewed up a bit, repairing it will be cheaper in the long run than the alternative. When laying down the gravel driveway, make sure you add a section at least 50x50 sq. ft. for the logs to sit. Then cover that section with thick plastic sheeting. The last thing you want is to see your beautiful logs dumped in the mud.
If you decide to take the whole house delivery at once, including lumber, plywood, windows and all, you're going to need to store them. You may have to rent one or more trailers to protect your stuff from the elements (and dare I suggest, theft?). If at all possible, take delivery in more than one shipment, even if the initial expense is higher.
Also, make sure provisions are made for a dumpster and portable potties; you won't regret it.
TARPS: You're going to find yourself acting like a log baby-sitter for a while. Whenever possible, the logs should be protected by tarps, nicely fastened with bungie cords against the wind. But you'll be amazed at how many tarps you're going to need. I've even seen builders cover the whole unfinished structure with tarps, though that's the exception rather than the rule.
POWER: Most builders will give you a few days' allowance for power, but after that, you may get charged for that expensive generator. Instead, you can arrange for the electric company to erect a temporary panel on site for the power tools. They have to bring the power lines to your house anyway. Make provisions for this way ahead of time. Also verify way ahead of time whether the telephone company has service on your street.
CHAIN-SAW WORK ON SITE: This is a little difficult to prepare for, since we usually don't know what questions to ask. I know of one person who was completely unaware that the stair timbers needed to be cut on site. Also, not every log home company sizes the window holes exactly. One side might line up, but the other side might need to be cut to measure. Another couple I knew was surprised to discover that an inside archway through a solid log wall needed to be cut on site. They were not skilled enough to attempt the task, and had to track down a person willing to take the responsibility - for a big price. Sometimes logs need to be notched on site. All these things get added to the bill.
ALLOWANCES: This can be a big budget buster. Whenever possible, pick out and budget your own fixtures, kitchen, flooring, countertops, etc. rather than take an allowance from the builder. The likelihood of finding something in the price range allowed for the item is pretty slim. If you start far enough ahead, you can buy certain expensive appliances and luxuries and put them into storage. Try to have all the items ready for installation before they are needed. Remember to plan ahead for extra light fixtures; this item is one of the most frequently neglected necessities in the house.
CHANGE ORDERS: If you want to stay in budget, NEVER make a change after the work has been done. Change orders make the cash register sing. Try to stay ahead of the project, so if you perceive a change while still in the planning stage, a good builder will work with you at no extra charge.
WHO DOES WHAT? In our experience, the only time things went really astray is when we tried to bring in our own trades, who inevitably clashed with the builder's subs. The biggest fight was who would wire the septic pump: the electrician or the excavator. We hired the excavator, and the electrician walked off the job because he refused to wire the excavator's pump. We were flabbergasted, and it took over a month to get another (inferior) electrician to finish the house... another month's rent, another month's interest.
Not all problems can be foreseen, but conventional wisdom tells us to add a 10-20% slush fund to the budget to allow for unexpected cost over-runs. Bare minimum, you may need to tap into this fund to bridge the gap between the subs getting paid and your next construction loan draw. Planning this buffer is not going to be easy, but in the end, it might save you a whole lot of headaches - and an ulcer or two.
About the author: Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha Log Home dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She designed her own log home which was featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide of Log Home Living magazine. You can learn more about log homes by visiting www.JerseyLogHomes.com.
Lessons I’ve Learned from the Amish
During the past five years my online log furniture store has bought literally truckloads of furniture built by Amish suppliers. One of the more interesting fringe benefits of my job as a log furniture retailer has been to become acquainted with the Amish way of life. While certainly not an expert on Amish life, I have learned some valuable lessons from my Amish friends: *
Lesson #1: Time isn’t Everything
The Amish log furniture builders I know certainly do know how to meet a deadline. If I have a rush order, they’ll bend over backwards to kick it out on time. They do this for a couple of reasons. Since I order a lot of rustic furniture from them, they want to keep me happy. Also, I don’t ask them to hurry very often.
I don’t ask them to hurry very often because one of their belief tenets is against a “rushed” way of life. If I asked them to do rush orders all the time, you can be sure they would bridle against it. By respecting their unhurried ways and limiting my rush orders to one or two per month, I am able to get my Amish suppliers to help me out when a customer is leaving their lake cottage in a week and we really need to deliver.
Although my Amish furniture builder has been willing to drop everything to help push out an order for me, it’s obvious that he is committed to an unhurried way of life. He wouldn’t think of working on Sunday, or even Good Friday, for that matter. The other day when I drove to his place to see about an order (you can’t call him, because he doesn’t answer the pay phone), he was just returning from a family canoe trip.
Lesson #2: Drawing a line in the sand
The Amish commitment to a simple way of life certainly is admirable. Every belief system seems to have its “rules and regulations” that work out the details of how that belief system is applied to practical life, and the Amish are no exceptions.
My main Amish furniture builder wouldn’t think of using electricity, but his entire log furniture building shop is powered by an air compressor. He won’t allow a phone in his building, but he has a pay phone outside. He rides a horse and would never consider driving a car, but he hoists log armoires and dressers around with a forklift truck. When I asked him about this, he said that was O.K. because the forklift truck was powered by propane. He wouldn’t touch my digital camera with a ten foot pole (I know, because I asked him to snap a picture of some log bunk beds for me), but he doesn’t mind me snapping pictures all over the place and even offered to pay me to take some for him.
While some people may find the above list of seeming contradictions to be somewhat less than admirable, I keep going back to the old saying “stand for something or you will fall for anything”. The Amish have a core value of simplicity, a value they believe in so deeply that they’re willing to take a stand. Although I live life differently than the Amish, I believe in the simple life too, and admire the soft-spoken kindness and unhurried manner I’ve seen in Amish craftsmen.
Lesson #3: Take Time to be Social
The Amish are big on auctions, and will close their businesses at the drop of a hat to go to one. Don’t count on finding them at work on the first day of hunting season, either. They even put that on their answering machine. “This is the first day of hunting season and we won’t be in!”
One day I drove for an hour to pick-up a van load of Amish furniture. When I got to my supplier’s, I learned I would have to wait for loading because the “hired man” wasn’t yet back from lunch. This seemed strange since it was 2:30 in the afternoon, and I couldn’t help saying so. The Amish furniture maker was quick to explain, with an amused little smile on his face, that the hired man had gotten married just two weeks earlier, and ever since then, had been taking long lunches—“very long lunches”.
The Amish supplier I do the most business with right now has four small children. They are amazingly quiet and well-behaved, although I can’t see any evidence that he is ever unkind to them. He speaks to them very gently, and they seem to love him very much—yet they are very obedient. This is particularly refreshing, given the challenging behavior that is exhibited by so many children today.
My great uncle, who was born in the early 1900’s, used to say that he never wanted to go back to the “good old days” because they really weren’t so good after all. He remembered a lot of outhouses and hard work.
I don’t envy my Amish supplier for having an outhouse, but do believe there is much we can learn from his simple way of life. People who drive buggies don’t usually have road rage. People who don’t watch TV or play video games have more time to cook, take canoe trips, enjoy long lunch hours with their beloved, and spend with their children. If you don’t have electricity, you generally go to bed when the sun goes down. Perhaps we, like the Amish, should slow down a bit—and “take time to smell the roses”.
About the Author:
Cari Haus sells log beds and other log furniture on her website, http://www.logcabinrustics.com.
Lesson #1: Time isn’t Everything
The Amish log furniture builders I know certainly do know how to meet a deadline. If I have a rush order, they’ll bend over backwards to kick it out on time. They do this for a couple of reasons. Since I order a lot of rustic furniture from them, they want to keep me happy. Also, I don’t ask them to hurry very often.
I don’t ask them to hurry very often because one of their belief tenets is against a “rushed” way of life. If I asked them to do rush orders all the time, you can be sure they would bridle against it. By respecting their unhurried ways and limiting my rush orders to one or two per month, I am able to get my Amish suppliers to help me out when a customer is leaving their lake cottage in a week and we really need to deliver.
Although my Amish furniture builder has been willing to drop everything to help push out an order for me, it’s obvious that he is committed to an unhurried way of life. He wouldn’t think of working on Sunday, or even Good Friday, for that matter. The other day when I drove to his place to see about an order (you can’t call him, because he doesn’t answer the pay phone), he was just returning from a family canoe trip.
Lesson #2: Drawing a line in the sand
The Amish commitment to a simple way of life certainly is admirable. Every belief system seems to have its “rules and regulations” that work out the details of how that belief system is applied to practical life, and the Amish are no exceptions.
My main Amish furniture builder wouldn’t think of using electricity, but his entire log furniture building shop is powered by an air compressor. He won’t allow a phone in his building, but he has a pay phone outside. He rides a horse and would never consider driving a car, but he hoists log armoires and dressers around with a forklift truck. When I asked him about this, he said that was O.K. because the forklift truck was powered by propane. He wouldn’t touch my digital camera with a ten foot pole (I know, because I asked him to snap a picture of some log bunk beds for me), but he doesn’t mind me snapping pictures all over the place and even offered to pay me to take some for him.
While some people may find the above list of seeming contradictions to be somewhat less than admirable, I keep going back to the old saying “stand for something or you will fall for anything”. The Amish have a core value of simplicity, a value they believe in so deeply that they’re willing to take a stand. Although I live life differently than the Amish, I believe in the simple life too, and admire the soft-spoken kindness and unhurried manner I’ve seen in Amish craftsmen.
Lesson #3: Take Time to be Social
The Amish are big on auctions, and will close their businesses at the drop of a hat to go to one. Don’t count on finding them at work on the first day of hunting season, either. They even put that on their answering machine. “This is the first day of hunting season and we won’t be in!”
One day I drove for an hour to pick-up a van load of Amish furniture. When I got to my supplier’s, I learned I would have to wait for loading because the “hired man” wasn’t yet back from lunch. This seemed strange since it was 2:30 in the afternoon, and I couldn’t help saying so. The Amish furniture maker was quick to explain, with an amused little smile on his face, that the hired man had gotten married just two weeks earlier, and ever since then, had been taking long lunches—“very long lunches”.
The Amish supplier I do the most business with right now has four small children. They are amazingly quiet and well-behaved, although I can’t see any evidence that he is ever unkind to them. He speaks to them very gently, and they seem to love him very much—yet they are very obedient. This is particularly refreshing, given the challenging behavior that is exhibited by so many children today.
My great uncle, who was born in the early 1900’s, used to say that he never wanted to go back to the “good old days” because they really weren’t so good after all. He remembered a lot of outhouses and hard work.
I don’t envy my Amish supplier for having an outhouse, but do believe there is much we can learn from his simple way of life. People who drive buggies don’t usually have road rage. People who don’t watch TV or play video games have more time to cook, take canoe trips, enjoy long lunch hours with their beloved, and spend with their children. If you don’t have electricity, you generally go to bed when the sun goes down. Perhaps we, like the Amish, should slow down a bit—and “take time to smell the roses”.
About the Author:
Cari Haus sells log beds and other log furniture on her website, http://www.logcabinrustics.com.
Looking for A Reason to Swap your Old PBX for a VOIP Hosted PBX -- How About Eight Great Reasons!
1. Lower CAPEX Costs: Buying a traditional phone system is like buying a new car, it significantly depreciates the day you place it in service. Plus, you own a piece of equipment that you'll have to one day replace. You can put that money to better use by spending less up- front by intstalling a VoIP Hosted PBX system.
2. A VoIP Hosted PBX is Dynamically Scalable: Up-size and Down-size on the fly. VoIP Hosted PBX Service lets you buy the exact number of users you need right now - later you can add users when you actually need them. This helps preserve capital in comparison to guessing what size PBX system you need to buy today to support the number of users you think you'll have in 3 - 5 years.
3. A VoIP PBX Significantly Reduces Depreciation Losses: Traditional PBX systems depreciate almost 70% the day you take them out of their box. With a VoIP Hosted phone service, you won't have to worry about depreciation since you're not purchasing equipment.
4. A VoIp Hosted PBX is Cheaper, Easier to Maintain and Update: Moves, Add's and Changes no longer require on-site changes to your phone system. Most VoIP Hosted PBXs can be remotely configured by the vendor, thus the flexibility to add, change, delete or move users within hours. Your expenses will be reduced by eliminating costly monthly maintenance contracts or the high labor cost required to have a tech onsite for every change you need.
5. A VoIP Hosted PBX Uses Non-Proprietary Components: When you buy a traditional PBX phone system, you're locking your company into a long term commitment to a proprietary architecture that may or may not keep pace with technological changes. Bottom line, you are betting your company's future that the proprietary technology will remain compatible with evolving industry standards. In the future, there's a good chance with a traditional PBX you'll be at the manufacturer's mercy for repair and expansion since only their parts will work with your purchase. Make sure your VoIP Hosted PBX system works with multiple phone manufacturers. So if you decide to move to a different system, a forklift upgrade won't be necessary.
6. A VoIP System Eliminates Technology Obsolescence: Since you're not purchasing a phone system, you don't have to worry about the equipment becoming obsolete. Updates and new features are automatically available to you with REIGN-FREE Hosted PBX service.
7. Disaster Recovery/ Emergency Protection: A hosted PBX product will protect your company's calling infrastructure the same way you protect your website and email - with specialized, secure off-site hosting. Make sure if you are considering a VoIP hosted PBX that the vendor provide security and redundancy so you don't have to worry about the physical requirements and support of your phone system.
8. Improved Features for Improved Productivity: Most enterprise VoIP Hosted Voice service providers include advanced calling features that are not available with traditional phone systems. Features that will improve the way you control your calling, like Visual Voicemail, unique DID's, Find-Me/Follow-Me, Click-to-Call and Outlook Integration.
by.www.articlecity.com
2. A VoIP Hosted PBX is Dynamically Scalable: Up-size and Down-size on the fly. VoIP Hosted PBX Service lets you buy the exact number of users you need right now - later you can add users when you actually need them. This helps preserve capital in comparison to guessing what size PBX system you need to buy today to support the number of users you think you'll have in 3 - 5 years.
3. A VoIP PBX Significantly Reduces Depreciation Losses: Traditional PBX systems depreciate almost 70% the day you take them out of their box. With a VoIP Hosted phone service, you won't have to worry about depreciation since you're not purchasing equipment.
4. A VoIp Hosted PBX is Cheaper, Easier to Maintain and Update: Moves, Add's and Changes no longer require on-site changes to your phone system. Most VoIP Hosted PBXs can be remotely configured by the vendor, thus the flexibility to add, change, delete or move users within hours. Your expenses will be reduced by eliminating costly monthly maintenance contracts or the high labor cost required to have a tech onsite for every change you need.
5. A VoIP Hosted PBX Uses Non-Proprietary Components: When you buy a traditional PBX phone system, you're locking your company into a long term commitment to a proprietary architecture that may or may not keep pace with technological changes. Bottom line, you are betting your company's future that the proprietary technology will remain compatible with evolving industry standards. In the future, there's a good chance with a traditional PBX you'll be at the manufacturer's mercy for repair and expansion since only their parts will work with your purchase. Make sure your VoIP Hosted PBX system works with multiple phone manufacturers. So if you decide to move to a different system, a forklift upgrade won't be necessary.
6. A VoIP System Eliminates Technology Obsolescence: Since you're not purchasing a phone system, you don't have to worry about the equipment becoming obsolete. Updates and new features are automatically available to you with REIGN-FREE Hosted PBX service.
7. Disaster Recovery/ Emergency Protection: A hosted PBX product will protect your company's calling infrastructure the same way you protect your website and email - with specialized, secure off-site hosting. Make sure if you are considering a VoIP hosted PBX that the vendor provide security and redundancy so you don't have to worry about the physical requirements and support of your phone system.
8. Improved Features for Improved Productivity: Most enterprise VoIP Hosted Voice service providers include advanced calling features that are not available with traditional phone systems. Features that will improve the way you control your calling, like Visual Voicemail, unique DID's, Find-Me/Follow-Me, Click-to-Call and Outlook Integration.
by.www.articlecity.com
Forklift Procurement - How To Choose The Right Lift Truck For The Job
Lift trucks are nowadays commonly used for lifting anything from stock in a warehouse to people required to perform tasks at a certain level (for example: breaking and picking stock). Warehousing managers have a wide choice of lift trucks to choose from. Modern technology allows not only for convenience and safety but also productivity in a warehousing or storage area. Procuring a suitable lift truck for a specific operation might sound easy, but we found a couple of common factors to be excluded when deciding which lifting equipment should be acquired for specific tasks.
What are the properties of the materials that have to be lifted?
We recommend that the decision maker take the following factors into consideration:
Understand the properties (load) of the materials that have to be lifted. Lift truck capacity is affected by the height that the materials have to be lifted and the size of the load. It is also important to include the dimensions of the load, as this will affect the size of the truck selected.
How will the materials be stored?
The way materials are stored also plays a role in determining the type of lift truck that would be required. Potato farmers are required to store heavy loads at high levels in extreme conditions such as uneven terrain, plenty of dust and temperature controlled environments, which does not allow for much room to move. This differs vastly from a warehouse requiring storage at a high level where pickers are hoisted to break bulk in order to select merchandise.
How will the materials be received and shipped.
Shipping materials from a loading dock allows for more space than materials that have to be received and shipped from a cold room. This will affect the size, lifting capacity and maneuverability of the lift truck required.
What is the weight of materials that have to be lifted?
Bigger is not always better in the materials handling business. One could easily reason that you just get a bigger truck for heavier loads. Bigger trucks require more space to move and may cost more, making it not the most suitable solution where heavy materials in small spaces have to be moved.
At which height must the materials be stored?
Lift height and load size determines the capacity of a lift truck. A bigger load size moves the lift truck´s center of gravity, reducing the lifting capacity, making the height at which the materials that have to be stored just as important as the load.
Once the properties of the materials are determined, the capabilities and options of the lifting equipment should be evaluated. How the lift truck is powered (petrol, diesel, electric), mast options, aisle type, safety features and many more factors have to be taken into consideration when determining which lift truck supplier to use. In our next article we will take a look at the various types of lift trucks available and the features that play a role in determining the right materials handling equipment for the specific job at hand.
by.www.articlecity.com
What are the properties of the materials that have to be lifted?
We recommend that the decision maker take the following factors into consideration:
Understand the properties (load) of the materials that have to be lifted. Lift truck capacity is affected by the height that the materials have to be lifted and the size of the load. It is also important to include the dimensions of the load, as this will affect the size of the truck selected.
How will the materials be stored?
The way materials are stored also plays a role in determining the type of lift truck that would be required. Potato farmers are required to store heavy loads at high levels in extreme conditions such as uneven terrain, plenty of dust and temperature controlled environments, which does not allow for much room to move. This differs vastly from a warehouse requiring storage at a high level where pickers are hoisted to break bulk in order to select merchandise.
How will the materials be received and shipped.
Shipping materials from a loading dock allows for more space than materials that have to be received and shipped from a cold room. This will affect the size, lifting capacity and maneuverability of the lift truck required.
What is the weight of materials that have to be lifted?
Bigger is not always better in the materials handling business. One could easily reason that you just get a bigger truck for heavier loads. Bigger trucks require more space to move and may cost more, making it not the most suitable solution where heavy materials in small spaces have to be moved.
At which height must the materials be stored?
Lift height and load size determines the capacity of a lift truck. A bigger load size moves the lift truck´s center of gravity, reducing the lifting capacity, making the height at which the materials that have to be stored just as important as the load.
Once the properties of the materials are determined, the capabilities and options of the lifting equipment should be evaluated. How the lift truck is powered (petrol, diesel, electric), mast options, aisle type, safety features and many more factors have to be taken into consideration when determining which lift truck supplier to use. In our next article we will take a look at the various types of lift trucks available and the features that play a role in determining the right materials handling equipment for the specific job at hand.
by.www.articlecity.com
วันอังคารที่ 10 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552
It's a Training Issue!
There’s a common phrase used by Organizational Development and Human Resource professionals, when identifying kinks in the growth of an organization or company - “It’s a training issue.” The same phrase can be applied to almost any group of human beings that are working together to achieve a common goal. When progress stagnates and obstacles appear, you can retrace the path of movement and discover that things started to go wrong when someone wasn’t trained properly.
Have you ever experienced any of the following situations?
Fast Food Nightmare:
You pull up to a fast food drive through window and a voice, with a foreign accent quickly spews out some inaudible words that you assume are probably akin to “May I take your order?”
The waitress from hell:
After being seated for thirty minutes at a local restaurant, a waitress finally approaches your table and asks if you’d like to order. When you politely explain that you’re frustrated because you’ve been waiting thirty minutes, she condescendingly responds with a sigh, “The kitchen is backed up and I just had a party of fifteen in the other room.”
Know-nothing Receptionist:
You miss a much anticipated call from service person you’ve been trying to reach about a product you purchased that doesn’t work correctly. When you call the person back, a receptionist says the person is not in and you should try back later. The receptionist is not sure when would be the best time and – no – the person you seek doesn’t have voice mail.
Travel Trauma:
After being on the road for twelve hours, you arrive at the hotel where you have a reservation for the night. The check in time is posted as 3:30 pm. You arrive at 4:30 pm but the room is not ready. You are politely encouraged to check back in about an hour to see if the room is available. The front desk clerk has no idea what you should do with the hour of “kill time” and can’t guarantee that the room will even be ready in an hour.
Office Chaos:
You work in an office and have a large amount of administrative tasks that bog you down. There is an administrative assistant working ten feet from your desk who is supposed to offer support to your team. His understanding of “support” and yours differ. It appears that some members of your team get more support from this guy than others. You express the inequity of support to your boss who sees the conflict as “personality differences.” You just want your darn copies made in a timely fashion.
All of the instances above show poor service and mismanagement – in some cases “abuse,” but it all could undoubtedly be corrected through proper training. Thus, the root of these corporate and retail nightmares are addressed as “training issues.”
“Training” is such a bland word. The mere mention of the word conjures up visions of boring classroom environments, unenthusiastic training instructors and wasted time having concepts that common sense has already taught you rammed down your throat. Few people are ever excited about training.
My husband, who is an iron worker, recently went through training mandated by OSCA that instructed all the workers on his team in the safety procedures for operating a forklift truck. One of the most crucial training points was that “one should never leave the driver’s seat of the forklift while the motor was running and the forklift was in gear.” Duh!
Despite the negative karma training has gained in the corporate world, and the hype it was granted during the dot.com boom, the simple truth is that training is not merely dispensing information about technique and skill. It is also communicates expectations and requirements of the job. People need to be told what is expected of them in clear terms, and relaying that expectation is a part of the training process. Training lays the foundation for affirming performance as well as correcting mistakes.
In all of the examples above, the “untrained” employee has emotionally disconnected themselves from the person they are employed to serve. Each has personal issues foremost in their minds which override their willingness to adequately serve others. If you were to get their side of the story, you’d hear some of the following responses:
"Everything moves so fast around here. It’s all I can do to keep up. No one really tells me what to do; they just tell me if I’m doing something wrong.”
“I could do my job if those I depended on could do theirs.”
“I’m tired of taking the hits for the poor performance of my superiors.”
“No one ever told me exactly what my job is. I guess they think I’ll figure it out. What I know of my job expectation has been mostly communicated by others telling me what I’m doing wrong. It’s every man for himself around here”
Poor service is not due to poor employees, but poor employers.
The bottom line is that lack of service = lack of growth, lack of productivity, lack of profits. Your company’s lack of service will pay a high price in the world of your competitors. You will have to continually compensate with special promotions, additional advertising, increased hiring and give-aways to disgruntled customers. Good service is linked to happy, valued employees that provide the service. Training is a crucial tool in helping employees feel valued in the work environment.
How do you use training to solve the problems mentioned above? It’s all about having a training program that is set in place and held as a priority. Don’t fall into the “training out of desperation” category and only offer training when you have to put out a fire. Remember that training can be a form of giving your employees attention and recognition. If done well, they will appreciate it and feel affirmed.
Always have some type of training scheduled. It can be as infrequent as once a quarter or as frequent as once a week. You can do it in house or outsource it. Having scheduled training opportunities will prevent the development of service problems that cost you big time in the long run.
New Hire Orientation
The most important training you’ll ever do with an employee will be when he or she first comes on board. Here’s an example of training to put in place for new hires.
1. As a company policy, be sure to have specific, written job descriptions for each employee, and a system established for continually updates. Job descriptions should focus on competencies rather than functions.
2. Develop an Orientation Training Program for each new employee that is hired. The program can last anywhere from one half a day to a week, but it should include the following:
Introduction to the rest of the staff.
Thorough review of the job description and company policies with the direct report, clearly laying out expectations and processes for recognition and correction. Allow time for questions and answers.
Site tour – where are the bathrooms, kitchen, parking spaces, emergency exit, etc.Employee paperwork – W4, benefit forms, waivers, copy of Personnel Regulations and job description, etc.
New hire should be given a thorough briefing on what the organization does, its goals, its vision, who it serves and the role of the new hire’s position in the grand scheme of things.
If possible, assign another staff person to be on call for questions that arise by the new hire.
Be nice and have that staff person or yourself take the new hire to lunch their first day.
Have a 30 day review set up (mark it on your calendar) where you will evaluate the new hire’s performance and inquire about their feelings and frustrations related to the job. NOTE: If you reschedule or cancel this 30 day review, you'll send that employee a clear message about the priority you place on their training and development. This meeting is crucial to the new hire and they anticipate it with great expectation.
A training program, aside from being a way to continually dispense needed information to your employees is also one of the most effective methods for gaining information about how to improve company infrastructure. It is a safe environment for workers to share thoughts, feelings and ideas on how to improve the company. In addition, training – when done properly – affirms employees, helps them to develop a sense of loyalty to the company, reduces turnover and creates a prime opportunity for building consensus.
Training and development is an investment, not a cost.
Fortune 500’s lists on top companies, Best Small Businesses, Best Companies to Work For and Best Bosses have repeatedly displayed interest in employee satisfaction as well as training and development. Edward Jones, a stockbrokerage out of St. Louis, MO was rated #1 for the second consecutive year on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
According to Fortune it spends 3.8% of its payroll on training, with an average of 146 hours for every employee, and new brokers get four times that much. When asked why it spends so much on training managing partner John Bachmann replied, “In order to grow, you have to be trained or you get trapped in the present.” One administrative assistant at Edward Jones was quoted by a Fortune journalist saying, “I’ve never experienced working for a company that has so many satisfied employees.”(#)
A training program is an ideal starting point to take action to decrease turnover, improve employee performance and initiate loyalty. It is also a strong foundation for developing affective communication within the company or organization. If you have no training program currently established, start with an orientation training program or look to your local university or community college for training opportunities. Start a training library by ordering books, videos and periodicals that address competencies you want to develop in your staff. Beginning or improving a training program shows employees that you care.
by.www.articlecity.com
Have you ever experienced any of the following situations?
Fast Food Nightmare:
You pull up to a fast food drive through window and a voice, with a foreign accent quickly spews out some inaudible words that you assume are probably akin to “May I take your order?”
The waitress from hell:
After being seated for thirty minutes at a local restaurant, a waitress finally approaches your table and asks if you’d like to order. When you politely explain that you’re frustrated because you’ve been waiting thirty minutes, she condescendingly responds with a sigh, “The kitchen is backed up and I just had a party of fifteen in the other room.”
Know-nothing Receptionist:
You miss a much anticipated call from service person you’ve been trying to reach about a product you purchased that doesn’t work correctly. When you call the person back, a receptionist says the person is not in and you should try back later. The receptionist is not sure when would be the best time and – no – the person you seek doesn’t have voice mail.
Travel Trauma:
After being on the road for twelve hours, you arrive at the hotel where you have a reservation for the night. The check in time is posted as 3:30 pm. You arrive at 4:30 pm but the room is not ready. You are politely encouraged to check back in about an hour to see if the room is available. The front desk clerk has no idea what you should do with the hour of “kill time” and can’t guarantee that the room will even be ready in an hour.
Office Chaos:
You work in an office and have a large amount of administrative tasks that bog you down. There is an administrative assistant working ten feet from your desk who is supposed to offer support to your team. His understanding of “support” and yours differ. It appears that some members of your team get more support from this guy than others. You express the inequity of support to your boss who sees the conflict as “personality differences.” You just want your darn copies made in a timely fashion.
All of the instances above show poor service and mismanagement – in some cases “abuse,” but it all could undoubtedly be corrected through proper training. Thus, the root of these corporate and retail nightmares are addressed as “training issues.”
“Training” is such a bland word. The mere mention of the word conjures up visions of boring classroom environments, unenthusiastic training instructors and wasted time having concepts that common sense has already taught you rammed down your throat. Few people are ever excited about training.
My husband, who is an iron worker, recently went through training mandated by OSCA that instructed all the workers on his team in the safety procedures for operating a forklift truck. One of the most crucial training points was that “one should never leave the driver’s seat of the forklift while the motor was running and the forklift was in gear.” Duh!
Despite the negative karma training has gained in the corporate world, and the hype it was granted during the dot.com boom, the simple truth is that training is not merely dispensing information about technique and skill. It is also communicates expectations and requirements of the job. People need to be told what is expected of them in clear terms, and relaying that expectation is a part of the training process. Training lays the foundation for affirming performance as well as correcting mistakes.
In all of the examples above, the “untrained” employee has emotionally disconnected themselves from the person they are employed to serve. Each has personal issues foremost in their minds which override their willingness to adequately serve others. If you were to get their side of the story, you’d hear some of the following responses:
"Everything moves so fast around here. It’s all I can do to keep up. No one really tells me what to do; they just tell me if I’m doing something wrong.”
“I could do my job if those I depended on could do theirs.”
“I’m tired of taking the hits for the poor performance of my superiors.”
“No one ever told me exactly what my job is. I guess they think I’ll figure it out. What I know of my job expectation has been mostly communicated by others telling me what I’m doing wrong. It’s every man for himself around here”
Poor service is not due to poor employees, but poor employers.
The bottom line is that lack of service = lack of growth, lack of productivity, lack of profits. Your company’s lack of service will pay a high price in the world of your competitors. You will have to continually compensate with special promotions, additional advertising, increased hiring and give-aways to disgruntled customers. Good service is linked to happy, valued employees that provide the service. Training is a crucial tool in helping employees feel valued in the work environment.
How do you use training to solve the problems mentioned above? It’s all about having a training program that is set in place and held as a priority. Don’t fall into the “training out of desperation” category and only offer training when you have to put out a fire. Remember that training can be a form of giving your employees attention and recognition. If done well, they will appreciate it and feel affirmed.
Always have some type of training scheduled. It can be as infrequent as once a quarter or as frequent as once a week. You can do it in house or outsource it. Having scheduled training opportunities will prevent the development of service problems that cost you big time in the long run.
New Hire Orientation
The most important training you’ll ever do with an employee will be when he or she first comes on board. Here’s an example of training to put in place for new hires.
1. As a company policy, be sure to have specific, written job descriptions for each employee, and a system established for continually updates. Job descriptions should focus on competencies rather than functions.
2. Develop an Orientation Training Program for each new employee that is hired. The program can last anywhere from one half a day to a week, but it should include the following:
Introduction to the rest of the staff.
Thorough review of the job description and company policies with the direct report, clearly laying out expectations and processes for recognition and correction. Allow time for questions and answers.
Site tour – where are the bathrooms, kitchen, parking spaces, emergency exit, etc.Employee paperwork – W4, benefit forms, waivers, copy of Personnel Regulations and job description, etc.
New hire should be given a thorough briefing on what the organization does, its goals, its vision, who it serves and the role of the new hire’s position in the grand scheme of things.
If possible, assign another staff person to be on call for questions that arise by the new hire.
Be nice and have that staff person or yourself take the new hire to lunch their first day.
Have a 30 day review set up (mark it on your calendar) where you will evaluate the new hire’s performance and inquire about their feelings and frustrations related to the job. NOTE: If you reschedule or cancel this 30 day review, you'll send that employee a clear message about the priority you place on their training and development. This meeting is crucial to the new hire and they anticipate it with great expectation.
A training program, aside from being a way to continually dispense needed information to your employees is also one of the most effective methods for gaining information about how to improve company infrastructure. It is a safe environment for workers to share thoughts, feelings and ideas on how to improve the company. In addition, training – when done properly – affirms employees, helps them to develop a sense of loyalty to the company, reduces turnover and creates a prime opportunity for building consensus.
Training and development is an investment, not a cost.
Fortune 500’s lists on top companies, Best Small Businesses, Best Companies to Work For and Best Bosses have repeatedly displayed interest in employee satisfaction as well as training and development. Edward Jones, a stockbrokerage out of St. Louis, MO was rated #1 for the second consecutive year on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
According to Fortune it spends 3.8% of its payroll on training, with an average of 146 hours for every employee, and new brokers get four times that much. When asked why it spends so much on training managing partner John Bachmann replied, “In order to grow, you have to be trained or you get trapped in the present.” One administrative assistant at Edward Jones was quoted by a Fortune journalist saying, “I’ve never experienced working for a company that has so many satisfied employees.”(#)
A training program is an ideal starting point to take action to decrease turnover, improve employee performance and initiate loyalty. It is also a strong foundation for developing affective communication within the company or organization. If you have no training program currently established, start with an orientation training program or look to your local university or community college for training opportunities. Start a training library by ordering books, videos and periodicals that address competencies you want to develop in your staff. Beginning or improving a training program shows employees that you care.
by.www.articlecity.com
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