The decade may be new, but a major problem facing the construction industry is not: a skilled labor shortage. This has been a critical issue in our line of work for some time, and companies either must adjust their business model to work within these new circumstances or succumb to them. East Coast Metal Systems has acclimated to this situation by strategizing in these three key areas: technology, education and our staff.
New technologies and trends are forcing firms to be responsive and adapt
Technology
Staying on top of industry technology and news is a key component to adapting to the labor shortage. With fewer people and tighter timelines, staying on top of industry technology and news is something that has yielded positive results.
A way to monitor the industry’s technological advancements is by maintaining relationships with industry colleagues who share like-minded business goals. For example, we are an active member of the Metal Construction Association (MCA), which has afforded us the opportunity to speak to experts about working smarter and safer, to study new products and to critically analyze their potential to determine if these advancements may improve service to our customers.
Involvement in within our industry and research led us to investing in 3-D scanning technology. This machine produces precise measurements and exact dimensions, drastically reducing time spent measuring, building and remeasuring, allowing us to be more efficient on job sites.
Education
Working smart is more than just investing in cutting-edge technology, you must also consistently educate your staff on what is going on with the industry, what the company vision is, and how they can help to achieve these goals.
An effective education strategy is leveraging the courses and resources already established and vetted by a highly regarded industry group. We personally use online resources approved by the MCA, which includes whitepapers, environmental product declarations, CEU courses, and specific information on various certifications. Collaborating with the MCA has enabled us to:
- Be on the front end of code changes
- To be prepared for change orders or other unique circumstances at specific locations
- To ensure we have the appropriate materials to meet specifications
Investing in Staff
With labor shortage being an issue, it is imperative to place a high priority on staff recruitment, retention and development, and provide them with appropriate, ongoing training and certifications, keeping pace with industry trends and standards.
What has worked for ECMS is streamlining our processes, becoming a one-stop shop from concept to execution. This means we handle everything from measurements, design and 3-D scans, to the panel fabrication and installation methods for a wide variety of systems.
For our processes to run smoothly, it is imperative that our staff has the appropriate training, and up to date education. We make sure that our engineer and architect have access to online courses and resources to stay on top of industry trends and news.
As we all know, it doesn’t matter how great your staff or product are, without a strong leadership team the chances for success are small. There are a lot of great programs out there that specialize in upper management development.
Investing in a program that focuses on strengthening leadership skills in conjunction with in-depth education and training has helped greatly in maintaining an intense workload, staying on schedule, and keeping the lines of communication clear.
Investing in the Future
One way of combating the labor shortage could be as simple as changing the narrative of the industry.
We as an industry need to adjust our approach and recognize the current climate in the realm of education: many students are becoming disillusioned with the idea of traditional college. The combination of crushing student loan debt and the uncertainty of landing a job has many students looking for a different path. We just need to tell them the right story.
Historically, students go to college after high school because according to society’s perspective that’s how you got the great job, secured a stable future, and helped to make the world a better place. That is exactly what this industry offers, and that’s what we need to highlight: that they can quite literally be responsible for the infrastructure of our country.
This industry offers ongoing training, a career path directly out of school, and career-development. Combine that with the enormous scope of opportunities—from historic preservation, to modern lines, to the green movement—and you have a future that is bright with possibilities and career stability.
We’re going into the new decade with an optimism that is made possible by hard work. The challenges that we faced last year are still here, but we have worked to stay informed, improve processes, and take a fresh approach to recruiting the future of the industry.
John Trifonoff is vice president of East Coast Metal Systems (ECMS), a full-service fabricator of custom architectural metal for interior and exterior envelope systems in Triadelphia, W.Va. Trifonoff has been with ECMS since 1994, beginning as a sheet metal apprentice and working his way up to VP. Trifonoff is also a member of the Metal Construction Association, serving on their marketing and technical Committees. ECMS is a 60,000-square-foot facility, and one of only eight certified Premium MCM Fabricators in the country. For more information, go to www.ecmsinc.net.
