Three simple principles for maximizing crew efficiency
As infrared repair (IR) continues its climb into being an everyday asphalt repair service offered by contractors across the country, we as a manufacturer, field a lot of questions about proper technique, how to sell infrared repair to end customers, etc. But as more contractors invest in IR, one question that has come up recently is “How do I make my infrared crew more efficient?” You’ve invested in the process and equipment, but what does a typical day look like on the job?
1. Preparation and Set Up
Efficiency starts well before your crew shows up to the job site. Having a clear scope of work, pictures of the proposed repair areas, and a plan of action going into the job makes a world of difference. Whether this responsibility lies with an estimator, project manager, or foreman, as long as someone has been to the job site and formulated a game plan going into it, the crew can show up, reference the plan, and get straight to work. Additionally, collecting and staging all the tools, equipment, and materials you’ll need before you arrive at the jobsite will allow your crew to simply get into the truck, arrive at the job site, and get to work with no preventable delays. Without a strategy, your crew may arrive to the jobsite in a disorganized and chaotic manner which can lead to valuable labor hours determining what needs to be done, by whom, and gathering materials. Formulating the plan is vital and should be a high priority when profits are your goal. Failure to plan is a plan to fail.
2. Crew Coordination
There is nothing quite like a well-oiled asphalt crew. They show up to the job site and everyone knows their exact job responsibility and what needs to be done. Assuming no major obstacles, a crew should be ready to start an IR within 15-20 minutes of being onsite. A typical IR from start to finish should take around 15 minutes, with just 10 minutes for the machine to heat and 5 minutes to complete the repair. When you have a crew that is disorganized or doesn’t work well together, those repair times can easily surpass 20+ minutes, and in this industry, time is money. Crew size is dependent on the size of the job, but realistically speaking, to maintain margins, a crew of 2-3 laborers should be all you need for an efficient IR job. The truly awesome part of IR? There should never really be down time for any member of your crew. As soon as the infrared machine is removed from the first repair spot, it can be moved directly to the next spot. As the crew works to repair the heated area of the first spot, the infrared machine is heating the second, and as soon as the first repair is finished, the second should be almost hot enough to be repaired.
3. Accountability and Recognition
This point isn’t necessarily specific to just IR repair jobs, but all asphalt-related work. Customer complaints, callbacks, and reworks cost the company time, money, and efficiency. Ensuring you have at least one member of the crew to act in a quality control role guarantees the job is done per the scope and to the customer’s satisfaction, which will prevent costly callbacks and complaints. Equally important: when your crew does well and finishes the work faster and more efficiently than what was estimated, a simple acknowledgement of their good work goes a long way with crew morale. A crew that feels appreciated is more likely to go the extra mile on every job.
Of course, every company, crew, and job are going to be a little bit different, and as simple as these three principles may seem, we at KM International believe in back-to-basic business. We’ve seen companies get into the hustle and bustle of the season, let these three points slide, and then can’t figure out why labor costs are skyrocketing while margins are slipping further and further into the red. An infrared job isn’t any different than any other asphalt job, it all comes down to planning, preparation, and execution. If you have a crew that can consistently do those three things, the efficiency and profit margins for those jobs should take care of themselves.
KM International has been a leading manufacturer of asphalt maintenance equipment, including infrared asphalt recyclers, for more than 40 years, and has witnessed thousands of businesses invest in and successfully incorporate IR into their businesses. Whether you buy an infrared machine, hotbox, or any other piece of asphalt maintenance equipment, the team at KM works as a true partner to your business, ensuring your investment is well worth the cost.
For more information on KM International or our products please call 800-492-1757 or visit us online at www.kminternational.com.
