I started in the metal construction industry in 1979 and have witnessed many companies come and go. Some companies that did not flourish were obvious failures from the beginning—an owner lacking the knowledge of how to run a business or perhaps not enough working capital to make even one mistake. Even well-established companies had to close their business for other reasons. Most disappeared during the recessionary periods of the economy. I remember the recession of the early ‘80s. As an ironworker apprentice, I was starving to death, but at the time I did not realize construction companies and manufacturers were feeling every bit of the pain that I was.
During the industry slowdown, take advantage of the time available to train and prepare for the future
Maybe it is because I am understanding the industry more in my old age, but the downturns seem as if they are getting deeper and more complex, and the one that is staring us in the face right now may be the most complex of all. Luckily, this time there are many government programs out there to help companies retain their employees and stay operational.
The U.S. Small Business Administration reports construction is the largest user of PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) as of April 27 with $44.9 billion worth of approved loans. That represents about 13% of all loans, and means there are many construction companies that are in a slowdown but able to retain their key employees at little or no cost. This is a perfect opportunity to catch up on all the training you have been wanting to give your staff but time would not permit.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, April 27, 2020
With the social distancing guidelines in place, in-person courses are not viable options. Thankfully, there are many no-cost and low-cost online training resources available from organizations and associations to which you may already belong. Visit sites such as the Metal Building Contractors & Erectors (mbcea.org) and the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (impact-net.org) where you can find a wealth of information related to online training.
MBCEA has its Quality and Craftsmanship Training Series that teaches virtually every aspect of metal building erection. The course is free to MBCEA members and very reasonably priced for nonmembers. The course includes:
- Tools of the trade
- Unloading, material handling and staging
- Framing
- Windows and doors
- Fiberglass insulation
- Wall sheeting
- Exposed fastener and lap seam roofs
- Standing seam roofs
- Roof penetrations and curbs
- Flashing, trim and gutters
- Internal gutters and transitions
- Tips from experienced erectors
An optional module on insulated metal panels has recently been added. To access the course, go to www.metal-buildings-institute.org.
IMPACT, the labor/management affiliate of the Iron Workers International, has been building a training curriculum of On-Demand Online and Live Online courses for some time. It works with construction education specialists such as Bluebeam, FMI, VITALSMARTS and others to offer no-cost courses designed to develop the skills of field supervisors and office staff. You can access the content at impact-net.org by clicking on the contractor tab. A small sampling of the courses are
- Bluebeam Revu Basics 2018/2019: Gain the skills necessary to begin using Bluebeam Revu to create, organize, markup, edit and track comments in PDF drawings.
- Getting Things Done: Learn how to increase focus on the most meaningful work by organizing information, prioritizing commitments and achieving stress-free productivity.
- Crucial Conversations Workshop: Acquire skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around important, emotional, controversial or risky topics.
- Negotiation Skills: Obtain the basics of negotiation strategy, the role emotion plays in negotiations, and how to move beyond price-only negotiations.
- Superintendent Training for Ironworkers Level 1: Learn the roles and responsibilities of a superintendent and how to manage project schedules, information, people, the job site and safety.
- OSHA 10-OSHA 30: Master the courses designed specifically for the ironworking industry.
The skyrocketing utilization of IMPACT’s online training the past two months gives testament that people want and will take training when given the opportunity. Taking advantage of the industry’s slowdown to improve the skills of all our employees will not only help us weather the storm but can make us stronger than ever when our industry thrives again.
If you have any questions or need more information about any of our programs, you can contact me at dbeard@iwintl.org or look under the contractor section of impact-net.org.
David Beard is the metal building representative for the Iron Workers International and president of Ironworkers District Council of St. Louis and Vicinity. He spent 24 years working in the field and has been active in the union leadership since 2003.
