Production Training - Increasing An Employee's Value Training

1. Skills, Abilities, and Expertise

Your skills are the foundation of your value at work. When you have specialized knowledge or a wide range of things you’re good at, you usually get paid more. This is because you’ve put in the time to learn these things, and that effort helps the company succeed and innovate.

Think about it: The better you get at your job and the more skills you pick up, the easier it is for you to handle tough projects and solve hard problems. Being a "pro" with many tools in your belt makes you much more valuable in the job market.

2. Performance and Efficiency

How well and how fast you do your job is a huge part of your professional value. When your work is top-tier and you don't waste time, you produce better results using fewer resources. This efficiency is a big win for the company, whether it’s getting more done or saving on costs.

Think about it: Consistently doing great work in a timely manner helps the company reach its goals. This builds your reputation as someone reliable and high-value.

3. Contributing to Results

Your value also comes from the positive things you make happen. This could be making the company money, fixing a broken process, making customers happy, or just being a great teammate.

Remember: Your job is more than just checking off a "to-do" list. When you focus on the big goals—like keeping a job site safe to prevent accidents—your value goes up because you are protecting the company.

4. Critical Problem-Solving Skills

Being able to spot, analyze, and fix problems is a superpower. It means you aren't just following orders; you’re looking ahead to stop roadblocks before they happen. People who can solve problems are the ones who keep things running smoothly when the unexpected happens.

Consider this: When you show that you can stay calm, break a big problem into small parts, and find a solution, you become someone the company can’t live without. Often, solving a problem leads to a better way of doing things for everyone.

The Hidden Costs of Not Using Enough Air Movers

Speed is everything in water damage restoration. Drying a house fast prevents more damage and makes the customer happy. However, a common mistake is not putting enough air movers (fans) on a job. It might seem like "close enough" is fine, but ignoring the IICRC S500 standards (the "rulebook" for our industry) actually hurts our profits.

The 70-80% Reality: Why "Almost" Isn't Enough

The S500 isn't just a guess; it’s a scientific way to figure out exactly how many fans are needed based on the room size and how wet it is. If a job is calculated to need 25 air movers, that number is there for a reason.

If a team only uses 20 air movers, they might think they’re doing okay, but:

• Drying is Slower: Fewer fans mean less air moving over wet spots. The job takes longer to finish.

• Standards are Missed: If we don't follow the S500, we might not dry the property correctly. This leads to unhappy customers and potential legal trouble.

The Real Cost: Lost Money

Let's look at the math. If we are short by 5 air movers and we charge $25 per day for each one:

• 5 fans × $25 = $125 lost per day.

• If the job lasts 4 days, that’s $500 in lost revenue on just one project.

The Big Picture: Yearly Losses

If we make this mistake on just one project a week for a year:

• $500 × 52 weeks = $26,000 a year. That’s $26,000 of pure profit slipping away just because we didn't put out enough fans!

How to Fix It

This isn't about blaming anyone; it’s about getting better together. We should:

1. Learn the S500: Make sure everyone knows how to calculate the right number of fans.

2. Don’t Guess: Do a real assessment and stick to the numbers.

3. Manage Gear: Make sure we have enough fans in stock and ready to go.

4. Stay Accountable: Use training to remind everyone why this matters.

The Danger of Skipping Site Visits and Data

It’s not enough to just set up gear and leave. If we don’t visit the site daily, we might not notice that a fan got unplugged or a dehumidifier hose is leaking. Also, skipping "data collection"—taking readings of the air and materials—is like throwing money away.

The Science: Temp, Humidity, and Moisture Content

Think of these readings as the "vital signs" of a project. They prove the equipment is actually working. Without this data, insurance companies will fight our bills.

The Dehumidifier Dilemma

Dehumidifiers work by lowering the "GPP" (moisture in the air). We calculate this by comparing the air going in to the air coming out.

• The Risk: If we don't have these numbers, the insurance company can claim the dehumidifier wasn't needed. They might refuse to pay for those rental days, which hits our bottom line hard.

The Air Mover Connection

Air movers evaporate water from materials. We use moisture meters to prove the walls and floors are getting drier.

• The Danger: If we don't document the moisture dropping every day, the insurance company can argue the house was actually dry by Day 2, even if we stayed until Day 5. They will cut our payment because we didn't "prove" the work was necessary.

The Financial Fallout

• Fewer Rental Days: Adjusters will cut the days they pay for.

• Less Gear: They might claim we used too many fans for a "small" problem.

• Slow Payments: Bad paperwork creates red flags, causing delays and stress.

The Standard: Documenting everything protects our claims, shows we are pros, and ensures we get paid fairly for our hard work.

Power Up: Learning Extra Skills

We are a team, and the more we can do ourselves, the stronger we are. Imagine if we didn't have to wait for outside help.

The Power of In-House Repairs

We use gear like carpet cleaners and generators every day. When they break, work stops.

• The Opportunity: If we learn small engine repair, we can fix gear ourselves. This means less downtime, lower repair bills, and gear that lasts longer. Plus, you get to learn a cool new mechanical skill.

Expanding into Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC

Many restoration jobs involve pipes, wires, or AC units.

• The Opportunity: By learning the basics of these trades (safely and legally), we can offer a better service. We won't have to wait for subcontractors, the job moves faster, and we can even offer more services to our customers.

A Win-Win for Everyone

• For You: You get higher job satisfaction, better career growth, and the chance to earn more money because you’re more versatile.

• For the Company: We become more efficient, save on outside costs, and become a leader in the industry.

Next Steps: We want to help you grow. Let's look into internal training, classes, or mentoring for things like engine repair, plumbing, or HVAC. Investing in your brain is the best way to ensure our company’s future success.