Author Archives: Kevin

Never stop yourself from implementing new ideas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Businesses often run on new and innovative ideas. We always keep hunting for something new that can help us to flourish our business. This is indeed a good practice and one must always keep up to it. Thinking out of the box will lead to a new product which may gain popularity. However, there is something more important than thinking out of the box and it is how effectively you can implement the idea that you have thought of. You may come up with an innovative way to deal with a particular thing but the real challenge is with the implementation part. When it comes to implement the idea on the ground, things may take a different course altogether and the outcome can be something different than what you have thought about. So the question is will you stop yourself from implementing new ideas just because there is always a chance for it to backfire or will you take the challenge and go ahead to make your idea a reality.

In the construction sector, innovation is the key. You have to bring on some or the other innovative ideas in the way your work and the final product that you produce. You can’t build the same type of building with the same amenities for years. You have to change things with time. People’s taste changes with time and therefore you also have to keep up with the changing tastes of people. This sector is all about guys who can accept the ever changing activities that happen round the clock. People who are against implementation of new ideas will soon find themselves out of the league. There is no one way of doing a particular thing. There are multiple ways to perform the same task. It all depends on how creative a person is and how easily he can complete the work using his creativity.

You can make impossible seem possible:-

Industry experts are also mooting on the idea of constructing a building in Dubai that will move 360 degrees. Now this idea can completely change the way we look at the construction industry. Imagine the apartments of the building moving 360degree. This means that a person can see sunrise and sunset both from the bedroom of his apartment. He can also have different views from his building. Now this is almost next to impossible. But few people must have come up with this idea and they are thinking if it is at all practical. Well, the architect does not see this as impractical. He on the contrary feel that they can certainly construct a building that can rotate and it will cost the buyer around 5 million dollars for an apartment.

Give way to new technology:-

Technology plays a vital role in the growth of the construction sector. So when you are thinking out of the box and you intend to bring it to existence, you have to take help of technology. You can’t think of bringing your ideas into existence without having proper co-ordination with techno savvy gadgets.

Renting a water wagon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Tired to inhaling dust in the construction site? You need to put them to rest by spraying water so that the dust settles down on the ground and you get some fresh air to breathe. It will also reduce the number of air-borne ailments and will thus keep your employees healthy. So if you have a big construction site and need to spray water in the entire place, you need a vehicle that is capable of carrying gallons of water and also simultaneously spray it along the site. This leads to the needs of a water wagon where you can store water for spraying on the site. All you need is attach a pipe to the hose and spray it along. A water wagon may not be an expensive item unlike other heavy equipment which costs a bomb but it still has a price attached to it and any construction company how big it is will not want to spend money in procuring an item that has limited utility.

So the best alternative is to take it on rent. There are companies who sell as well as rent water wagon to construction and mining companies. You can get the details of such companies on the internet. These companies are either directly involved in renting water wagons or act as third parties. It simply means that they will own the wagons and will let it out to people who are ready to take it on rent or will establish contacts with parties that are willing to let-out wagons and once they find a taker, they help in cracking the deal between the two and earn commission from both the parties. This is how they conduct their business.

Some rental companies deal with multiple orders. However, there are also companies which do not work that way. So before you approach any of them, first try to get some information about them and only once you have a fair idea and understand how convenient they are for you that you should proceed any further.

The second most important checkpoint will be the rental amount. Now there are several companies who may charge different amounts as rent. So you should be ready to negotiate with them. Just do not accept the quote they give you. Also do some research on the rental price of water wagons before you finally jump the gun? If the rental company is acting as an agent and, check in advance the amount they will charge.

You can spread the news in your business circle that you require a water wagon on rent. Someone for sure will get in touch with you and after checking the credentials if you find it worth taking you can go for it.

Insuring your heavy equipment – its need and benefits!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Whenever we purchase an expensive thing, we always think of insuring it, so that when there is a crisis situation, you do not have to pay a lump sum amount of money to have the product repaired. When it comes to the heavy equipment that you buy, this rule is equally applicable. However, many of the heavy equipment owners do not consider the importance of insuring the equipment.

Reasons to insure your heavy equipment:

Here are some of the many reasons, why you should be insuring your heavy equipment. Whether you run a business that requires the heavy construction equipment frequently, or if you own one or two of these machines personally for your own requirements, you need to consider insuring them.

  • Peace of mind:

 

The first thing that needs to be reminded is that that heavy equipment does not come for a cheap price. They are expensive and they are always in demand in the market. So, there is always the possibility that the heavy equipment that you own might get stolen. This is a headache that might take away your peace of mind.

Hence, insuring it is a must. If you have the heavy equipment and its valuable parts insured, it will give you the peace of mind that even if the equipment or its parts are stolen, you will not have to worry about the financial losses.

  • Damage control:

 

Just like any other vehicle, when you are using the heavy equipment, there is always the chance that the equipment damages some other property or thing. In that case, you might have to pay huge amount of money to the other party as you are the owner of the heavy equipment.

If you have the equipment insured, it will help you to pay for the damages that have been caused to the other party, by the use of your heavy equipment. Since this is a huge amount, it will give you great comfort to have the property insured.

Things to keep in mind while choosing heavy equipment insurance:

Choosing the right heavy equipment insurance is very important. It helps you to stay covered and protected from all sides. The factors that you need to keep in mind, while choosing the insurance are –

  • The amount of premium that you have to pay. Make sure that it is comfortable to your budget and you do not have to worry about it frequently.
  • The processing should be fast and it must not waste a lot of your time.
  • A good insurance company will not be too demanding. There should be clear rules and regulations regarding the paper work.

If you are comfortable with all these factors, you can be assured that the insurance company is good. There are many companies that function online and can give you the peace of mind. You can always ask a professional to guide you about the choice of the right insurance company for the heavy construction equipment. Just make sure it is a trusted one.

How to drive a bulldozer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Driving heavy equipment is simple for operators who have loads of experience operating it but as far as the newbie are concerned who are in the process of gaining some bit of experience in it may find it difficult to maneuver the machine. Other than that, every other model of heavy equipment has different operating functions which one need to know and have their hands-on it. So you can master to drive heavy equipment only when you do it quite often and in this process you also tend to learn new things which in turn make you more comfortable. Many operators during their initial stage find extremely difficult to operator a bulldozer. They simply could not control the machine well and often end up in an accident. Even the experienced ones at times lose their control from the machine and when such things happen it can turn to be quite fatal. It is therefore very crucial for the operator to follow few steps that will help him have better control over the machine and turn him as a more competent operator.

Try to make yourself comfortable:-

Being comfortable while you are about to drive a bulldozer is quite crucial. You just can’t start operating it the moment you step inside the cab. You got to check few things first and once you are sure that all the important functions are good to go, you can give it a start. Also you need to be calm and steady mentally and physically. It is more of a mental situation and less physical. You may be tensed because of a previous day’s blunder that could have cost the company a lot of money or may be worried of something that is simply not related to your work. You got to explain yourself that if you remain worried then it will simply add up to your problem and will reflect on your work. You have to soothe your mind first and automatically your body will calm down. Once you are sure that you are absolutely comfortable you should get going.

Try to move the bulldozer a bit:-

Before you start your day’s work, you need to warm up your machine a bit. Now all that you need to do is start the engine and keep it on for some time. Once the engine has warmed up you should try moving the machine to and fro and check if it is moving without any issue. You can in this way also check if the brakes of the machine are functioning properly.

Make use of joystick:-

Today’s heavy equipment are far advanced than what it used to be a decade ago. However, you need to learn to use the technology given to you in a proper manner. In order to steer the machine the way you want to, you should make use of the joystick. You should be ultra-careful while handling the joystick as it is smooth and being harsh with it can take the machine to any direction thus losing the control on it.

Construction of manufacturing units and factories

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

When we talk about construction, it need not necessarily be of huge buildings or condominiums. The word in itself is quite elaborative. When you are in the construction business you deal with building anything and everything. Although you take time to learn the industry and the different ways by which you can acquire projects. You also take time to understand how to complete a project within the stipulated timeframe. Well you learn these things from experience and as and when you get to deal with them. Construction companies make enormous profits when they get into a project that is pertaining to building manufacturing units and factories. When you are into construction of manufacturing units or factories, you are catering a particular genre of client and therefore you got to pay special attention to their demands. Their demands are quite specific and you got to channelize your resources based on their specifications.

Understand what kind of factory you have to construct:-

While constructing a factory, you need to understand that the requirements are quite different for every factory. So for instance, if you have loads of experience in constructing factories or manufacturing units, you can’t be sure that you know what your current client need from you. You may definitely have an edge over others if you are experienced in constructing manufacturing units but it is advisable that you sit along with your client and try to understand their needs. Check out the kind of set up they want and on that basis you can frame the designs.

Show the progress at regular intervals:-

It is imperative that you keep updating your client on the progress of work. Remember, while constructing manufacturing units, you have very less scope to alter things once they are been built. You should ask your client to visit the site on a monthly basis and check the progress of work on their own. You should try to stick to the design so that if there requires any alteration in the actual building you do not have to do it out from your pocket. Your client should ideally pay for it. However, it is not mandatory for the client to pay for any alterations. If it is a mild one where you know it will not affect the costing of the company massively, you can alter the stuff without charging extra. This will eventually make your customer happy.

Use top notch equipment:-

You always have an option when it comes to using equipment to work on a project. It is always preferred to use top notch equipment. It will ease the process of work and will also take comparatively lesser time. With top notch equipment, one should not imply using brand new machines and accessories. It simply implies using mechanisms that are scientifically proven to be an easy tool to work.

Construction of manufacturing units and factories gives enough scope to construction companies to earn good sum of money. However, the construction companies should be ready to take such projects and complete them in time.

Line boring heavy equipment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Drilling a hole to lay a foundation is quite an intrinsic part in the construction sector and the holes dug for the foundation has to be precise as designed by the civil engineer. You can’t mess up with such an important stuff because if you do then it directly affects the quality of the construction. It is therefore crucial to select the right type of heavy equipment and also the right kind of cutting tool. The cutting tool needs to be attached to the heavy equipment and then begin the process to bore the ground. Now the cutting tool can be a single point or can have multiple heads. Each type of tool is used for different kind of boring. As no 2 boring is the same, you can’t use the same cutting tool for every type of boring. While fitting the boring bar one must ensure that both the ends are firmly supported and it works only in case of a through hole.

The challenge that people encounter while boring is that there are immense chances of the boring bar to get disconnected from the machine. Though both the ends of the heavy equipment has caught the bar firmly there are still lot of chances of it coming out during the process of boring. This is the reason why it is considered to be more challenging than turning. Other than this the clearance angle requirement has been increased which has made things more difficult for the operator. It actually limits the kind of support that should be given to the cutting edge and makes it more vulnerable. You can use a line boring tool in almost all kind of heavy equipment. Be it a dozer or an excavator or a backhoe loader, it goes with all kinds of heavy equipments.

Operators who are working with line boring need to be highly expertise in their respective domain. Since the holding capacity of the heavy equipment is not that great it can pose good deal of problems to inspect the work already done which includes understanding the size of the hole and the surface roughness. Therefore the need of expert operators arises. The operators need to know his matters well. Apart from laying foundation which is one of its core work area, line boring it extensively used for many other purposes and this is why the guy needs to be really sharp with his skills.

With the advent of portable boring, life has become a bit simpler for people who take boring contracts at far-fetched places. They do not have to load the boring bar in a truck or a big vehicle. All they can do is put it in back of their car and port it to the next destination. The reviews of portable line boring tool have been awesome. It is just that the hole need timely repairs. Line boring cutting tool can be bought directly from a dealer or online. Do some research on the pricing before you go to buy one.

Foresightedness is a pre-requisite in the construction business

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

For any business to thrive, the managers of the business should possess the quality to foresee things. They should be in a position to anticipate what may happen next. An important decision taken by them can have certain ramifications. This should be construed well in advance by the people who are responsible for the growth of the company. Businesses that are volatile in nature are more prone to risks and if the business owner is not careful about his decisions, he may have to pay a heavy price for it. We normally take decisions taking into account in current situation. We do not know the future and therefore it is quite difficult to assume things in advance. We can however assume few things if not all. People who have been running the business for long, they kind of get a hang of different situations and are somehow in a position to predict things. It is perhaps they have witnessed similar things in the past.

The current situation may be a little different from what the person must have witnessed years ago but he can still assume the result and can plan his stuff accordingly. To run a construction business, one requires great deal of experience in hand and apart from that, the capability to foresee things. There is significant amount of volatility in this business. During turbulent times, small construction business owners do not have to face the music as much as the big companies have to. They really see a sharp decline in the graph of the company which is only because they were not able to foresee those turbulent time in advance. You get hints before a major catastrophe hits your business. You need to understand those hints and frame your strategy accordingly. Failing to act at the right time can even cost you your business.

Rise in the price of raw materials and fuel:-

Though both raw materials and fuel prices do not rise at the same time; however, if either of this happens and you have not stocked them, it can cost you heavily. Now, no one can assume when the price of either of them will increase. This is just not possible. However, one can predict the rise through means of what is happening in the market, keeping an update of the government policies and other factors. The crux here is how knowledgeable you are with the current affairs. If you possess sharp knowledge and the information that you get is correct, then your assumption can never go wrong. There may be a slight miscalculation where you have predicted an “X” amount of increase but it only rose to “Y” amount. That is understandable.

Prepare statistics to understand the position:-

You have plenty of softwares which you can use to prepare statistics based on the information that you get from your sources as well as from business magazines. These statistics will help you to come to a conclusion on where the construction sector is moving and will eventually lead you to foresee or predict a thing.

 

How to choose the right Heavy Equipment for Storm Clean-up

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Climate is not in human control and natural calamities can strike in at any point, without any prior indication. However, nowadays, due to technological advancements, weather and climate changes can be predicted well in advance, and this gives us some scope for prevention or at least precaution. But, in front of huge natural calamities like tornado, hurricane and other storms, there is nothing that we could do.

Damages are also huge as caused by these storms. Not just these cyclones and tornadoes, but the snow storm can also cause great disaster. Even earthquakes can strike in anytime and the results are disastrous. What is a common consequence of any of any of these natural disasters is the huge amount of debris that needs to be cleared, after the calamity.

Heavy Equipment in Cleaning Up:

From uprooted trees to broken down buildings, roofs, damaged roads with concrete and mud, dust and dirt everywhere, it becomes absolutely difficult to get back to the daily lifestyle. Even after a snow storm, the amount of snow that is deposited on the roads, block the roads completely. Hence, to clean them up, the heavy equipment plays a huge role.

Types of Heavy Equipment Needed for Storm clean-up:

The damages that take place after a storm vary to a great extent. The houses, concrete buildings, might structures and even the huts collapse. In case of the roads, they are severely damaged by the amount of downpour that follows the storm. The pitch, bitumen and asphalt, come out of the road. The trees are uprooted and they block the roads and this makes it even more difficult to communicate. To clean the debris and to make everything just as usual, there are a few types of heavy equipment that must be needed. These would include –

  • Excavators
  • Track loaders
  • Dozers
  • Cranes
  • Wheel loaders
  • Backhoes
  • Dump trucks.

Each of these would serve a special purpose while performing the cleaning task after storm damage.

Choosing the right equipment:

Now that you have known about the different types of heavy equipment that you need to choose in order to clean-up the storm damages and debris, you must know the factors that you need to consider while buying or hiring them.

  • Type of damage:

This is the most important factor that you must consider. The type of damage that has been caused by the storm is the most important thing. You need to decide, whether you need to clean the snow or remove the tree logs or clean the debris.

  • Own or hire:

The next most important thing is whether you need to own the heavy equipment or hire them. If the storm attacks your area frequently, you can choose to own the equipment. Or else, you can even hire them as you require. Owning might charge you high initially, but it will reduce the hiring cost every time. You can even rent it out, when you are not in need of it. It will be an added income to you.

Since the use of the heavy equipment is diverse and versatile, they are always in demand.

High attrition can have a larger impact on construction projects

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In a construction business, employees from different departments play a crucial role in the overall development of the project. You want the project to end on time; you need to ensure that you have you men/women by your side and if that is there you can end up completing it within the given deadline. However, if your men/women leave the company for any reason the prospect of the project ending on time gets jeopardized. This is why it is so important to ensure that the attrition rate of a construction business is low. You got to take good care of your employees and see that they do not leave the company for any silly reasons. Reasons can be tackled and settled by sitting together and having a discussion. This is precisely the task of the management would be. They need to talk to the lot who are disgruntled from some reason or the other and try to root out the issue from its core.

Skilled men/women get jobs easily:-

People who work as unskilled laborer may have a hard time getting another job if they ever want to leave their existing one but for the ones who are skilled it is never a problem for them. The construction workers who are skilled and experienced are required in good numbers by any construction company or contractors and therefore their exit from your company is in a way can be looked at some kind of loss to the company. It can have a larger impact on the company if you do not manage to get a replacement in time and getting a replacement is one big challenge. The focus should therefore be on retaining your folks. Try and understand the core issue why they want to quit. This will help you know if others also have similar issues and if they have then that can be rooted out right at the beginning.

Projects are delayed due to lack of manpower:-

Crunch in manpower can be a significant problem for any industry and when it is about construction it can have a devastating effect on the project. There are numerous projects that are halted due to lack of workers or just because they have no workers at all. This is certainly not a good picture to portray. It shows how ineffective the management is that they can’t hold back their workers who play such a crucial role in the company. This can also have an impact on getting future projects. This all works in a circle and hence you got to get your things right from the very moment you sense trouble.

Boost the morale of the workers by giving awards:-

Giving awards and rewards should be a regular affair in your company. The management should pick the worthy employees and give them some kind of gift cards or cash prize or incentives every quarter. Please note that you do not pick the same guy/gal every time. Try to pick talents from various departments and give them their prizes. You can even do this with the contract laborers. This will motivate the employees and will bring down the attrition.

Only the best salesman can sell heavy equipment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

We all are in some way or the other are into the profession of a salesman. Some try to sell their qualification to get a job, some try to sell their capabilities to get more business. In a way we all are into the selling mode and still many of us feel that selling is not our cup of tea. Well, selling a specific product may require some sort of skill and perhaps this is the reason why many get jittery when they know that their work demands them to sell stuffs. Frankly, selling a product can prove to be quite stressful for a person who does not have the knack to sell things. In the end he might get frustrated when he finds that he is failing to sell the stuff and that might lead him to quit the job. Therefore, before you end up in a profession where you need to sell products check how good you are in convincing people. If you are really good at it then perhaps you should pursue it or else simply do not take it up.

When it is about picking salesman to sell heavy equipment, the heavy equipment companies prefer to have the best men with them. They understand the level of stress a salesman will have to go through while selling expensive items. This is reason they want to employ salesman who has experience in selling heavy equipment and also enjoys his work. It is quite natural that a person who enjoys doing what he does will excel in his career. No matter how difficult the work is, as long as he is content with what he is doing there is nothing that can work as a barrier for him.

Selling heavy equipment is an art:-

We all know that selling products is an art and so is selling heavy equipment. As everything has an extent, it is believed that selling heavy equipment falls in the upper category when it is related to the art of selling. The reason is that it is an expensive product and people specific to an industry will want to buy it. This means that the salesman can’t sell his product to everybody. He has a specific market where he can move around and he will also find many other salesmen within that limited market who are also selling similar products like him. This is why if he is really excellent in the art of selling, then he may find his place in selling heavy equipment.

Know your products well:-

In order to become one of the best salesmen in the heavy equipment industry, it is crucial that you should know your products well. Do as much research as you can on the machine that you are selling. Knowing heavy equipment is not an easy thing. It requires tremendous effort on the part of the people who are involved with the machine. Right from an operator to the guy who gives signal to the salesman who sells the machine, they all need to know as much as they can. If you know your product well then perhaps you will not find much obstacle in your journey to become an accomplished heavy equipment salesman.