Re: job coordinator/scheduler?

[Joe <joeraisin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Frank Olson wrote:
> "Joe" <joeraisin@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:9PFAe.3411$5R1.148@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>>Pipe Dream actually.  Wouldn't want to re-locate at this point.... but,
>>what parts do you hail from?
>
>
> Vancouver B. C.
>

Northern (lower peninsula) Michigan, U.S.  My lovely bride hails from
the Philippines... Michigan winters are bad enough for her...

>
>
>>My current employer treats us pretty good, but those immediate incentives
>>are pretty cool.  We used to do things like that when I worked in and/or
>>ran maintenance shops in the Marines.
>>
>>What really got me was the use of the term "crew".  My Employer has
>>decided it is more cost efficient to do about 95% of the installs as one
>>man deals, even when the salesman says there may be some difficult fishes.
>>But between gadgets from LSD Inc. and learning how to 'drive' a steel fish
>>tape from some of the old timers I am doing pretty good.  But sometimes
>>you just need someone to wiggle the damned thing so you can find it...
>
>
> Anything that's over eight hours means two guys.  If the sales guy flags a
> job as being "difficult" then that automatically rates two guys.
>

That's what we say...  and really, that's about the only 'real'
complaint I have ... guess things ain't so bad.

>
>
>>Our area covers 2.5 to 3 hours drive in any direction and a few times a
>>year even farther.
>
>
> Sounds about right.
>
>
>>They are liberal with the overtime and that's OK with me.  Pretty decent
>>benefits and a 25% match on the 401K earns quite a lot of loyalty from me.
>
>
> We ain't so "liberal" with overtime.  I find most people like to get home at
> a decent hour.  The exception to the rule is service.  I get to decide on
> who goes out on the after hours calls (depending on the panel, the problem,
> and the anticipated degree of difficulty in dealing with the customer).  I
> often attend service calls myself (both during the day and after hours).  It
> gives me an opportunity to survey the installation and make sure the guys
> are following the company procedures manual.  With us, quality is everything
> (and our customers have come to appreciate that).
>

The overtime is really up to the tech.  If I want to pack up and go home
at 5 then, except in rare occasions, nobody's going to complain.  But if
I want to work late and get a job scheduled for two days done in 10-12
hours then they are quite happy to find something for me to do tomorrow
(like I did today - picked up several back logged service calls)

As long as the jobs are getting done within the allocated time, and
getting done up to our standards then the company is happy.

Quality hasn't been an issue here in our Northern area, most of us (10
techs) are late 30's to mid 40's and are both competent and give a damn
about the job we do.  I do work that I would want if I was paying
someone else to do it in my house - if a wire stapled down the living
room wall would piss me off... I assume it would piss them off too...

Taking 2 seconds extra to ensure each connection can save you 2 hours of
troubleshooting later on.  Especially on big commercial fire jobs.  I
prefer residential myself.

Our scheduler is currently scheduling 2-3 weeks out and that's about how
it stays.

As far as after hours service, we rotate a week at a time, we have a lot
of seasonal homes so much of it is over the phone helping folks remember
how to work their systems.  For the tougher ones - we got a good crew
and someone up against it can usually find someone else willing to come
and help out.

>
>>My... I do ramble on don't I....
>
>
> Not as long as some...  ;-))
>
>
But I am trying... ;-))