Day 10: Staying Organized
I can’t do it.
With the impending move, our workload and, ya know, life. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed on this beautiful Friday afternoon. But that’s the way it goes, right? All of us have too much to do and no time to do it. You blink and the week has vanished.
When I was just fabricating, I had many methods for laying out and building custom ductwork and fittings. When I was building everything by hand, I used many shortcuts and templates to help me get orders done more quickly. AI before AI, lol. I was in the shop by myself, running my own show. I had a pretty good system if I do say so myself.
Now, I am working to build the company with other people doing the physical work. It’s a great thing. But it comes with a whole set of skills that I am learning on the fly. More paper. More screen. More phone and text. More human resources. It’s not what comes naturally to me. Or any technician for that matter. Here’s a great book I read a long time ago that helped me to understand the differences.
I've handled many of these in the past, but they weren’t the administrative work that comes with building the company for the future, which is what I'm focused on. In the past, it was: take an order, make the order, collect money for the order. Simple.
Wearing all the hats becomes overwhelming. So I’ve had to trust more people and learn a new set of skills. The new habits will take some time. We’ll get there. Maybe I should read that book again?
Day 9: Perspective
I’m a little overwhelmed at the shop today, so a short note to keep building the habit of a daily update.
Taking a few orders today reminded me of something I wanted to do and have not prioritized. We describe what we see differently. So when a technician is on a job site and needs to call in a custom ductwork part, it’s part of my job to understand their perspective. I have to ask the right questions to be sure I have the information needed to build the custom part correctly. Sometimes those details come from a drawing or a video. And, sometimes, the only option is over the phone. It can be a challenge for both parties, but it’s easy if I know the person’s perspective. If that’s not coming across well, I'll create a visual to help them understand what I am looking for.
It occurred to me today that I need to create a few basic standards and starting points that I can easily share with the people calling for parts and pieces. The caller is not always a technician. Oftentimes I’m dealing with a homeowner.
Anyway, I put on my list of tasks for building a standard to begin writing down and collecting photos so I can create a few tutorials where people can see what I might be talking about in my verbal examples. It will take some time, but it will be helpful.
Day 8: Catch Up Days
Relatively normal day today; not much to write about.
I have not had time to review all the applicants who applied through Indeed yet. It’s a priority this week, considering we will be down a man soon. I wrote a little about it yesterday.
So far this week, the short-notice change-outs have slowed, giving us time to focus on a few of the longer-term jobs we have going at the moment. This time of year, as we near Labor Day and the start of school, most people aren’t looking for new air conditioning. The focus moves to enjoying the last days of summer and getting the kids ready for school. It will be heating season before long.
There’s always going to be people upgrading this late in the season; it’s just not usually as busy. Plus, the weather has been rather mild this week and will continue into next week. Low 80s to mid-70s. Pretty comfortable after the heat wave we had a few weeks back.
Slower weeks are a good time for our little shop to build some small inventory of duct and fittings we sell most. It’s also a good opportunity to build some extra parts and pieces like shop angle, S-Lock, and Drive. Those things go quick when the shop is super busy. It’s good to have a small inventory, saving time when we are up against tight deadlines.
The breathing room has given me the opportunity to put together some plans for the impending move. The good thing about change is the ability to clean out the old and usher in the new. I can finally get a few details squared away in the new space that I procrastinated on in the current shop.
It’s amazing how many things get lost in the chaos of the workday. Too many things I should have prioritized and didn’t. Finally, some of the machines that need upgrades or TLC will get just that as they move into a new space. Days like today give me time to list, research, and order the necessary parts.
You don’t always get to catch up a little during the weekdays. It’s usually an evening or weekend kind of thing. You have to make the most of them when they arrive.
Day 7: Help Wanted
My summer help is going off to college next week. Therefore, I am in the market for a new helper/assembler. I have no idea where people look for jobs locally these days, sans newspapers. My assumption is Facebook. I don’t have a Facebook Account for several reasons, and I don't need to discuss them here. I’ve done the word-of-mouth thing before and asked friends and family if they know anyone. I don’t want to go that route anymore. It gets too messy sometimes.
So yesterday I put a help-wanted ad out on Indeed. I have never used the service before, so we’ll see how it goes. It’s been a good experience so far. I’m paying $50 a day to run the job posting. I got six applicants in the first few hours. I don’t plan on running the ad for more than a week or so. This is a helper position to start with, with the chance to learn a trade. There’s a learning curve like any job, so we’ll see how the first batch of applicants work out. I need to find someone sooner rather than later.
Day 6: Back to Business
Good Monday Morning!
The weekend saw many dusty artifacts pulled from the corner of our current shop. Like a time capsule, I had forgotten about many of the items. Almost all of them went in the garbage and should have gone there in the first place. It’s amazing how, in the moment, we believe the item with no home that we place on a shelf or in an unused room for “later” will end up being as important years down the road. There’s a higher percentage that they are not. Moving is fun, isn’t it? ;)
This morning it’s about making good progress on an ongoing fabrication job. We are building a larger duct for a Make Up Air unit that will require a flanging system. I don’t have a TDC/TDF machine yet. So these types of jobs require us to use either a Ductmate or C.L. Ward flange system. For this job, we are using the C.L. Ward H-Flange.
Finished Section of Duct with H-Flange System
H-Flange Racks
The flange process takes longer because all flange racks must be cut, assembled, and screwed onto the finished ductwork section. It’s not a technically difficult job; it’s just time-consuming. But the finished product quickens the pace of install on the job site, with only a seal, (4) bolts to join the sections together, and a clip to secure the flanges across the span of each duct side.
With a TDC/TDF joint, the flange is formed by running the duct section, while still flat, through a roll former. You still have to install the corners, but the process is less costly and quicker.
Needless to say, a TDC/TDF machine is on my wish list.
We don’t do many of these kinds of jobs right now. I take them from time to time. It’s tougher with only a consistent two-man shop and many short-notice residential transitions and duct to make room for each week.
That’s a job shop for ya.
H-Flange Corners
Day 5: The Plasma Table Move
The toughest and scariest part of our impending move is coordinating and handling the logistics of shutting down the plasma table, moving it to the new facility, and getting it back up and running, all in a couple of days.
I can’t have the shop shut down for more than a few days; otherwise, we will fall behind schedule. Therefore, I will need to shut down on Thursday and work through the weekend so everything is up and running by Monday of the following week.
I will coordinate with my electrician to schedule the breakdown of the old wiring and system. And then be ready for the new installation at our new shop space. I will also be employing my cousin and his flatbed truck to help move the plasma table and compressor. All of this will need to be coordinated soon.
I feel I’m pretty good at rolling with the punches if there are unforeseen issues. That may also be optimistic. It’s my job to prepare the best I can beforehand so everyone knows their role and is clear on the objectives and timeframe.
As the process takes shape, I will post pictures and updates. For now, I’m thinking through what needs to be done, what the best days for the move are, and how to get the word out to customers as soon as possible so they know when the shop will be dark.
Day 4: The Signs
New toys are always exciting. We all love new toys. But sometimes taking care of the old reliable toys is best. Especially when you’ve neglected them over the years. As in any relationship, taking things for granted often leads to negative outcomes.
Preparing for the move to a new shop space has made me realize many items in the shop need some TLC. The signs are everywhere; I just haven’t noticed because I’ve been focused on other things. I haven’t prioritized maintenance. This fits into that “Learning as I go” bucket I discussed yesterday.
It’s just not the right time to invest in new equipment when the existing equipment needs servicing. Plus, there will be many unforeseen costs as we make the move in the next couple of months. It’s not a good idea to tie up that capital in new toys just yet.
A few notes:
I’ve added an email form to the website’s front page while I update it. My goal is to make a little progress each day so the task isn’t so daunting. Granted, the email form isn’t technically an update, since it will be removed once I have the final home page complete. But I think you know what I mean. If you have any questions or need any custom duct, please use the temporary home page form or the one on the contact page. Thanks.
I’m debating putting a small retail space in the new shop. There’s already a portion of the building that was used for this in the past. The store would house things for ductwork installation only. It’s just a thought.
Day 3: Learning as We Go
Non-human internet traffic has surpassed human internet traffic. I’m not going to get into the specifics because I don’t know what they are. The headline itself is enough. The internet is no longer a land of humans; it’s a land of machines. I thought that was interesting.
Ok, on to what’s going on around the shop.
I have been in a constant time battle lately to get things ready for the move to our new shop space and to get parts built for our regular orders. The shop consists of me, an assembler/right hand man, and a summer helper who will be leaving for college in a week or so.
I will be looking to hire someone as we move and get settled. So, in addition to the fabrication work that needs to be done, I have to start looking for an entry-level helper/assembler. At this point, I can’t pay up for an experienced fabricator. And as daunting as the task can be sometimes, I like having someone learning a trade in the shop. It helps me understand and learn how to convey my technical skills to a layperson. And I enjoy teaching trade skills to someone who wants to learn and get into the trades. Not just the HVAC duct fabrication trade. All trades. It’s beneficial for both.
My role is changing from builder of duct to builder of a business. I’m still learning and evolving each day. Perhaps it was the birth of my Son that helped tip the scales. It’s amazing how having a child focuses you. It’s not about me anymore; it’s about what will be left for him. I have to be better; the business has to be better. That task falls on me, and it’s why I’m striving to organize the business better for the future.
A few notes before I go:
I have not come up with a publishing schedule for this blog yet. I’m trying to discipline myself to write a day in advance so I can keep posting daily. I’m hoping to find a consistent time. For now, it will be random as I get used to my new task.
There may be some random posts as well if I update the website with something as I update everything. I may label those posts differently in the title.
Day 2: Genuine
This is me: Kevin Raymond, owner of K & E Sheet Metal. I am not a bot, and AI will not produce this content. It’s part of the reason I decided to start this blog on the website. And it’s why some of these posts will be absolute drivel. Genuine means that sometimes the product you’re producing is terrible; it needs some tweaking. It’s how you learn. It’s part of being a fallible human.
I want every piece of duct that leaves my shop to be perfect. I don’t mean just the dimensions, but the seams, the bends, everything that goes into the making of the total piece. But that’s not realistic. Sometimes, as an example, the air hammer crushes the Pittsburgh seam a bit too much. It pushes the seam out, creating a bulge. To the layperson or the naked eye, it’s not something that is noticed.
I notice. The installer probably notices. It bothers me.
However, it doesn’t affect the sizing of the duct. The issue is cosmetic. If I dwelled on every cosmetic issue, I’d never be able to get any product out the door. You can’t teach a new hire without there being a few mistakes along the way. We do our best to avoid them, but cosmetic issues don’t affect the function, and sometimes it just has to get out the door to finish the project. I’m learning to be flexible.
This doesn’t mean I’m cutting corners; it means I know my product. See, ductwork has some wiggle room. The joints have to be sealed with tape or mastic. Oftentimes, the duct is wrapped on the jobsite. So there’s room on either side of perfection. We, the shop, always strive for perfection, but it’s not always going to work out.
The same goes for what is written here. I can’t dwell on every redundancy or spat of bad writing here on this blog. Its purpose is to accept the garbage spewing from my mind. It’s not an essay primed for The New Yorker. I’d surely over-edit if that were the case. Also, my getting something in The New Yorker would be like a Chimpanzee playing for The New York Yankees. It’s just not possible.
That’s the genuine truth.
P.S. My apologies to all the Chimpanzees out there striving to wear the coveted pinstripes ;)
Day 1: Starting Over
There is no plan for this part of the website. It’s a daily update. Plain and simple.
One goal is to update it daily. You’d be surprised how hard this goal will be for me to attain. I get sidetracked too easily, and my procrastination gene just will not leave me alone.
I’m not really sure yet what the other goals are. It’s a place to throw things at the wall and see what sticks. I’m looking to change some things in the shop going forward, so this is a place I can work some of those thoughts out without having to worry about themes or blog content formatting.
I’m thinking about putting a product page on the website with some of the stock duct items we build. But I haven’t figured out what I’m going to start with. I would also like to build a page for customers that want to order custom transitions. It’s a work in progress, but I think it could help both me and the customer who may not know what questions to ask when ordering a custom transition for a job.
There’s just a lot of things I need to add and look into as the company grows a bit from the 2-3 person team I have now.
Stay tuned…
Side note: The Knocking Tin Blog that you see in the navigation is a completely different thing. Its goals are and will be different than what may or may not go on in this space. This is a sheet metal shop owner’s mind dump.