In this episode, Jeff Talmadge discusses how he and his team created a point system for his design staff to spread their workload. Each designer is assigned a predetermined number of points, weighted by criteria such as permitting, scope, and complexity of the job. The team tracks points weekly and has found that designers are
I can’t tell you how many times I hear people decide that the best way to implement continuous process improvement is to meticulously document all of their processes — from end to end, in order, starting with the incoming lead and ending with the final punch list and payment. On the surface, it’s a logical
We talk a lot about process improvement. How can we make our processes easier, better, faster and ultimately cheaper. And most of the remodeling companies I get to work with have given considerable thought to improving their processes. But once major changes are made, continuous improvement is much more about finding the small, incremental changes
[Editor’s Note] If you saw think you may have already seen this post, you aren’t imagining things.. the heat hasn’t gotten to you. We posted this 2 weeks ago, minutes before we launched our new website, and then the post went “poof” and went into cyberspace, never to be seen (or linked to) again… We
We’re getting esoteric today — applying a sports concept to business. Not too long ago, Mark read an article and shared it with Victoria about fixing something that’s broken in basketball — the intentional fouls at the end of the game to stop the clock. Nick Elam is a Mensa member and basketball superfan, who
We are excited to launch a blog dedicated specifically to the world of LEAN Process Improvement for remodeling companies. Doug Howard, Director of Consulting for Remodelers Advantage, will continue to bring you timely and critical information about this segment of our industry. Today’s PowerTip is a re-post from Doug’s most recent blog post. One
As companies experience growth, there are tipping points where changes need to be made. One of those points is when you realize you need additional management for the organization. Many remodelers are considering adding a General Manager, but are unsure how it will work in practice. The Cleary Company of Columbus, OH, reached this tipping
Virtual reality creates immersive environments in real time. For remodelers, that means your clients could preview and even “walk-through” their projects to see if they like what they’re seeing. Guest Chris Katkish says VR can help remodelers streamline their sales and design process, trim the length of the sales cycle, and boost production efficiency by
Success in the remodeling industry is all by the book for Jeremy Martin. That goes for the 50 books he reads per year, and the systems and business processes he institutes and uses at his company. And most importantly, those two factors culminate in “The Book” — the three-ring binder filled with details and documentation
Technology is critical to boosting efficiency and ensuring scalability for remodelers and builders, but tech isn’t the answer to everything. It’s hard to know where to start, and what problems tech can solve for you. Too often, you purchase an expensive program, people don’t use it, and it gets shelved. In this episode, Victoria and Mark
Learning the best way to work with purchasing managers can help create great outcomes for both sides of the remodeling business. With over a decade of experience in operations and purchasing for a national homebuilder, Bradley Hartmann has researched and found the importance of having purchasing sales teams devote their time exclusively focused on the
Selema Lawson-Jack joins the show and discusses how she found a technology fix to solve an inventory management issue but expanded its capabilities to create efficiencies across the organization and generate revenue simultaneously. She talks about how Sortly, the affordable app she implemented, operates and how she integrated it into the organization successfully. Selema worked
The Great Recession gobbled up a whole slew of remodeling companies, but more of them fail during an economic expansion than during a contraction. Growth is great, but it’s risky, and knowing how not to grow will put you ahead of the game. In this hot market, there are so many opportunities, you can get ahead of
The Locus of Control is a concept that highlights one’s ability to control the outcomes and events in their lives. When applied in a business, The Locus of Control can increase productivity, and breed ownership and support. The Tim Faller Show welcomes back guest Jef Forward, to share his experiences surrounding the locus of control
Reviewing employees in the remodeling world is, at best, a struggle. It is often an employee’s opportunity to ask for a raise and an employer’s opportunity for frustration. Tim Faller joins Mark and Victoria to talk about the necessary fundamental shift in the employee review process. Tim makes the transition from podcast host to guest