How many of the following has your crews experienced?
- Crew forgot to take an important tool or piece of equipment.
- No one performed a PM on the Skid-steer, and it has two flat tires.
- The saw blade needs replacing, and no one got one while at the yard.
- “Bob” has a early morning doctor’s appointment today and forgot to tell the foreman the day before.
As the cost of everything we use to produce the best results possible continues to escalate, it’s even more critical that we have crews better prepared to shore up what they can do to insure they have taken every step possible to achieve the best results. There are four components that can assist your crews.
Taking your crew’s daily “T.E.M.P.” means making sure that they have prepared for each day by securing four important components.
- Tools – Do they have every tool needed for the day? And are the tools in safe and working order or do they need replacement or maintenance? Also, are the needed tools loaded in a safe and organized manner on the truck or trailer?
- Equipment – Does the crew have every piece of equipment needed to execute the scheduled work today? Has the equipment received its daily “PM” to ensure the oil, hydraulics, air, and battery register at the needed levels? And is the equipment properly and safely tied down for the trip to and from the job site?
- Materials – Has the materials been ordered for the job and is there an estimated time of arrival? If any material or components staged at the company yard, have the needed amounts been loaded and secured for the trip to the job site? Does the Foreman need to contact the material plant (again) to confirm they are running the needed type or blend of material for your project?
- People – Did all of the workers show up as scheduled? If a “No-Show” or “Tardy” employee is experienced, what is the plan to backfill that spot if the job needs a full crew? Does each crew member understand their role for the day; the goal for the day; and the reminder to work safe and smart?
As you can tell, the daily T.E.M.P. should be taken at the start of each new day…at the yard before leaving for the jobsite. As you break out of the blocks this spring, be sure to start your crews out on the right foot by ensuring that they have everything, and everyone needed to perform the project as contracted.
Here’s to keeping your crew’s daily performance healthy!
Brad is President of Pinnacle Development Group and is known in the construction industry as The Contractor’s Best Friend ™. Brad is also the host of “The Contractor’s Best Friend Podcast,” sponsored by Caterpillar and Forconstructionpros.com. For more information about Brad and his company, go to www.pinnacledg.com or call 913.963.6459.