Digital Technologies represent a powerful construction industry opportunity for process and performance improvements. However, successful selection and deployment of software depends upon several key factors, some of which may not be immediately obvious to practitioners of construction management. For example, timekeeping is a common area of construction workflow automation. In many cases, it is still managed using paper timecards. Timekeeping has been shown to deliver significant value and efficiency gains to organizations that adopt a digital solution.

The challenges of digitizing timekeeping should not be underestimated. Successful implementation requires significant organizational commitment. This study includes outcomes from a contractor who successfully deployed a digital timekeeping solution and achieved significant process improvements and time savings. To get a copy of this study, please click here.

NECA has created “Don’t Take Unnecessary Risks,” the first in a series of job site safety posters for NECA member contractors to print and utilize in their offices and on the job. These posters are being developed in an effort to remind members and their staff to stay safe in the workplace by not taking unnecessary risks. Never work on energized circuits, conductors or equipment and always follow NFPA 70E and OSHA regulations. Understand the risks and stay safe! Click here to download the poster.

It’s that time again! The Northern California Chapter, NECA’s Fall General Membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. The evening’s reception beings at 6:00 PM with hosted hors d’oeuvres, beverages and later a delicious dinner. The Chapter will present the 2019 Project Excellence Awards recognizing projects submitted by our members. Unite with us as we celebrate excellence in the electrical industry.

This is always a great event and the perfect time to welcome our Chapter’s newest members and renew old acquaintances. You won’t want to miss it! Please click here to register your attendance by August 30, 2019. We look forward to seeing all of you there!

OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event that recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Take time to recognize your company’s successes and efforts to be safe and sound at work during this week. Sign-up for the Safe + Sound listserv to receive information on registration and additional resources. All organizations looking for an opportunity to recognize their commitment to safety to workers, customers, the public or supply chain partners are encouraged to participate.

Did you know that NECA connects its members with the products and services that support their businesses by securing discounts with a variety of popular companies? Check out member-exclusive Value Added Service (VAS) discounts with leading manufacturers and service providers by clicking here. NECA Members could save on PPE & apparel, office products, shipping rates, equipment purchase, car rentals, fleet maintenance and fuel, credit card processing, business development tools, as well as industry publications.

NorCal NECA members are also able to save on products purchased through Apple. For more information regarding this benefit, contact Janet Siemens with the Chapter office.

Beci Anderson (Beci Electric, Inc.), Greg Long (Long Electric Company) and Greg Armstrong recently attended the ELECTRI International Council meeting held in Denver. ELECTRI is the research arm of NECA working to fund research projects that bring meaningful and practical information to our contractors. The Summer meeting allows ELECTRI contributors to interact with researchers to get updates on projects-in-progress and those about to be published.

The Council heard updates from researchers on the status of five research projects that were previously published:

• The Electrical Contractor as an Integrator, Part II – Walead Aiyeh, Maxim Consulting Group
• The Shift Toward Competency-Based Education in the EC Industry – Steven Schmidt, East Carolina
• Data-Driven Strategies to Increase Market Share – Hisham Said, Santa Clara University
• Personality & Aptitude Assessment of Top-Performing EC Project Managers – Brian Lines, University of Kansas and Jake Smithwick, UNC-Charlotte
• Improving Collaboration Efficiency Between Trade and General Contractor Through a Common Data Exchange (CDX) – Nathan Wood, CP Coalition

Dozens of research reports can be viewed on the ELECTRI International website. Click the “research” tab near the top of the page and then “ELECTRI Research Reports” to view reports relevant to your business!

Sims Metal Management (SMM) buys and processes scrap metal from business, other recyclers and the general public. With over 250 processing facilities in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, they recycle ferrous and non-ferrous metals. SMM is the world’s largest recycling company operating on five continents.

SMM six different locations here in the Bay Area and Central Valley that can offer a BONUS on material. All members have to do is give Bill Ledwell a call at (408) 494-4261 prior to delivery and he will insure you are well compensated. For more information, please visit their website at www.simsmm.com.

 

We are halfway through 2019. It has been a period of tariff talks, crippling floods and an elusive infrastructure bill. Have these events thrown the 2019 construction forecast off its axis? The short answer is no.

Dodge Data & Analytics presented a spring update of its 2019 Dodge Construction Outlook on June 12th in Chicago. Dodge’s chief economist and vice president, Robert Murray, shared the latest 2018 performance data and 2019 construction activity to date to paint a picture of an upward construction cycle leveling off. Read more of the report by clicking here.

The Northern California Chapter was well represented at NECA’s annual District IX Meeting held from June 25th – 27th, in Monterey, CA. Prior to the formal meetings, Executive Directors and Assistant Managers from each Chapter throughout District IX met to discuss the work picture in each area, as well as business development activities and other common issues.

On Wednesday, attendees chose between a few breakout session: 1) Workshop on Prefabrication; 2) Ownership Transition Management Succession; and 3) The Evolution of the Electrical Contractor as an Integrator.

We encourage our contractors to take the opportunity to attend future meetings. The next meeting is being planned for 2020, and we will provide details as they become available.