Preparation for the program included the selection of a ‘driving theme’ or driving core activity. Steel erection was chosen because nearly every Story project includes a steel erection phase. Whether that phase be big or small, there are many common skills. Within the group of ten about half were engineering and half were field leaders.
Early in the first week (classroom delivery) it was clear the group were coming along for the ride (so to speak) but their faces said it all – “how does teaching the tying of a knot apply to us guys putting up steel beams?” Very fair question. I encouraged looking at the way the knot was being taught, not the knot itself. (We had told the group in advance that they may take two or three sessions to make the connection and that is OK.)
In Session Three Alex brought a short length of steel beam into the class and taught one of the office people how to ‘rig a standard beam’. I could see the faces change for some of the group. Further demonstrations followed including setting up a laser level instrument and checking a specific element of a steel drawing for accuracy. Now we were underway …
(There is always a dilemma here. There’s a temptation to force the realization ‘this can be applied’ but trusting the routine and the 10Hour program is always more effective. I’m fortunate in having Story’s trust too. That helps.)
The week following the standard delivery of the ’10-hour’ each participant was required to select a steel erection related task, develop a JIB and demonstrate delivery to a fellow staff member. Amongst the group, Jason chose to demonstrate ‘tying of a tag line’. Mike chose a special technique for using a tape measure that reduces the risk of a measuring error and speeds up measuring. (How many measurements might be taken in the Story world in a year? Thousands, maybe more.) Shawn chose a key task in using a 3D software package Story has; Jeff the checking off of steel footing plates between two drawings. There was no shortage of topics.
Brian deserves a special mention. I turned up at his job site at 7.15am (28’F, Iowa, a little cold). He’d drafted a Job Instruction Breakdown (JIB), he had everything arranged, the worksite was as per normal working conditions, Mason (his learner, hadn’t done this task before) was ready. The task was using a slugger drill. (A slugger drill has a very powerful electromagnet on it such that it holds itself to the steel. There are a few key points relating to its safe and efficient use.) Brian did quite a good job of following the JIB but reflected afterwards that the ‘wordiness’ of his JIB caught him a few times, and he’d missed a key point. We adjusted the JIB and agreed I’d be back in two mornings time for a second round of practice.
Brian’s second practice round was near flawless with one minor adjustment to the JIB afterwards. You can see Brian with the routine (blue card) at hand along with the JIB as he observed Mason practice. During reflection Mason made an interesting comment – “what I appreciated most was being told the why”. What made it even more valuable was that Mason then had about 2-3 hours of drilling to do as part of his days work.
Summary – sound training skills are important for construction leaders and that skill can be developed via a robust routine.