Woodworking Business

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

staff transition from shop floor to office detailer

3/22/17       
chipbored

Hi

Have one of my staff transitioning from shop floor to detailing on the computer. Currently on a trial of moving positions. Up to this point I have been the detailer, like most business owners, through blood, sweat, tears and some very late nights I'm damn good at it, my documentation is good and the jobs hit the factory floor ready to go with minimaliam ambiquity.

The transition has been painful, I'm not sure if it's just not working or if the training and learning curve if just very difficult at the start.

Being a smaller shop he is currently spending about 70% time on computer and rest on shop floor.

I have been writing up a contract for his new position and I think I'm learning more than him! what an eye opener.

I am trying to be very specific with KPI's and job description to bring it home that this is different to a factory position where I tell you what to do and you just do that, he needs to be self managed, If he needs to hustle or stay back to ensure work is ready for the factory floor he has to deal with that not wait for me to tell him to do that.

These are the things I want to put in the contract to deal with this.

-My guys have a rostered day off first Monday of every month. I want to eliminate this from his contract so he has a chance to catch up on work if he falls behind. I would put a clause in that he can take an annual leave day on the same day if he is ahead of factory schedule.

- Considering a time in lieu setup so that if he needs to work back one day to have a job ready he can take that time off at a later date when it suits the schedule.

- Whilst he has prior designing skills his computer skills are very average and impeding the speed at which he learns the design software. i.e ctrl + shift for copy ect ect.

just as a side note: I am telling him this in person as well. I just want it written down very clearly for something to reference later and further bring the point home.

Any feedback or notes on past experience with this situation would be much appreciated.

Not sure if this arrangement is going to work but it really seemed good to get him off the factory floor, great worker but tends to get on everyones nerves so I saw him as a good solo operator and thought this position would suit that well.

Thanks in advance for any advice

3/22/17       #2: staff transition from shop floor to ...
Larry

Wish you luck. My success rate has been less than 50%. I had a smart guy in the shop and we needed another person in the office. He said he'd like to do it. A month into it he hated working on a computer and wanted to go back to the shop. The grass isn't always greener!

3/22/17       #3: staff transition from shop floor to ...
rich c.

You think one day a month will get him caught up? Did you tell him about that at the start of the transition? If he's not a whiz on the computer, I'm betting he wants to go back to the shop.

3/22/17       #4: staff transition from shop floor to ...
Alan F.

He needs to either take an online course or a local course on windows basics.

I don't think it is realistic during training to expect him to have a lot of retainage if he learns and works and then needs to work in the shop.

I suggest you start a gradual training plan of 2-3 hours a day with learning the goal, not output, maybe he can come in earlier and agree to no OT over 8 during training.

I think less than 2-6 months of working at the job 8 hours a day to get up to speed is not a reasonable goal. the more subjects he needs to learn the longer the curve will be.

I would have an outline something like

Learn windows basics, keyboard and mouse shortcuts.

Learn the software you are using, maybe send him to be trained or have someone else train him.

Learn how you use the software, tip and tricks and ways you solve issues.

Develop a check work system. If he preps something you review it. Its hard to find your own mistakes especially when you are new. A second set of eyes always helps.

This transition will add significant value to your company once you have someone that can do this portion of your job.

Its an investment on your part of both time and money for a long term goal.

3/23/17       #5: staff transition from shop floor to ...
Pat Gilbert

It is easier to teach a woodworker cad than to teach a cad jockey woodworking.

Both are next to impossible for a small shop.

I have also subbed out the drawings.

Most shops use Cabinet Vision. You may have more success if you switch to it (I don't use it). Because there are more guys available that know how to use it and it forces you to standardize.

If you have to do custom like Larry try and standardize as much as possible. As if...

What software are you using?


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)