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Voting workers off the island
- By Nick Martin
- May 25, 2016
Finding the right mesh for a group of people in a fabrication shop is often challenging and could possibly be considered a science. I have seen people come and go through our shop without even batting an eye. That may sound ruthless, but people really do write their own tickets in a small fabrication company. Their skills or personal presentation may get them through the door, but like any job, their actions are what keep them employed.
We have this saying at our shop when someone doesn’t fit in, and it is usually voiced by the owner, Tim Martin. He likes to say, “The tribe has spoken.” That means that someone is about to get let go. He doesn’t do the firing at our shop, the crew of employees does.
Our intention when hiring is to find someone that will stay for several years to come. This should be the goal for any company, but some hire for the job and do what they have to do. We currently have a really great group of guys in the shop, and most have been working here for at least five years.
Small shops have their perks, and there definitely are quite a few at Barnes MetalCrafters. It seems that the wrong people get this sense of freedom and feel like they can stretch the limits of being employed. Some try to prove themselves, and others think they don’t have to. Proving to the “tribe” that you are a good fit is very important.
Some come with this idea that they know everything. This happens more than you might think. They may know how to do something, but they don’t know how to do it the way the shop does. This is very important in a small business.
Shops have their well-established processes. Ours is always open for improvement suggestions. But when a new guy says he knows how to do something and snubs your input, you will not be so willing to help him on the next go-round. Not being humble in a small shop will cause you to drown and decrease your time on the clock.
You can’t hide in a small shop either. Larger companies may lose eyesight of employees and some of their unproductive time may go unnoticed. You can take one look across our shop and know what jobs are traveling and see where the work is being held up. It’s even easier when you know someone is struggling or is scrapping parts. Everyone else feels that extra weight, and it doesn’t sit well with a steady-paced work environment.
Excuses are for ... well, you’ve heard several sayings and some aren’t G-rated. When they are being thrown around, a true shop veteran will call BS. Excuses cover up mistakes, and if you can’t own up to them, then you won’t be around very long. Nobody likes to see a mistake made on the floor or in the office and it tends to trickle across many levels.
We all know things come up, and sometimes you have to leave work at a moment’s notice. But when this becomes a habit and days missed are never planned for, it doesn’t sit well with a small crew that is working for a completion date.
I’m speaking from my experience seeing guys come and go through the door. It’s never easy, but we all have a job to do. The worst part is that the training you’ve invested in that person goes out the door with him, and you have to expend more on the next.
Your personal shortcomings are easily noticed in a small, tightknit group. They may not even talk about it, but everyone knows everyone else’s weaknesses.
A goal for our shop is to remain productive while enjoying our day. It’s amazing when you find a group that meshes well and the drama is nearly null. As our boss Tim Martin has said in many “Come to Jesus” meetings, “These guys are here to vote you off the island; I’m just here to snuff the candle out.”
Images courtesy of Barnes MetalCrafters.
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The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The Fabricator has served the industry since 1970.
start your free subscriptionAbout the Author
Nick Martin
2121 Industrial Park Drive SE
Wilson, NC, 27893
252-291-0925
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