Training Trade Contractors to Execute High Performance
Builders in the Alliance recognize that training is more complicated than just picking topics from a course catalog. Getting trade contractors on board with a training program and implementing it consistently requires a full understanding of their motivation to deliver performance, how they operate, and what resources they will respond to. That’s why Training Trades ranked #4 in the hot topics for Best Practices Research.
In looking at Topic #4 more closely, six key steps emerge.
1. Defining High Performance – What role are trade contractors given in the design and decision making process? In other words, how is the high performance bar being set?
2. Assessing Trade Capabilities – How are builders and manufacturers evaluating trade contractors’ capabilities? What roles do third-party programs like BPI’s accreditations for professionals and companies play in validating that a trade has the skill sets needed? Are there credentials that are particularly desirable to high performance builders?
3. Committing to High Performance – Ability to execute requires desire and skill on the part of the individual and commitment on the part of the contracting company. What are builders and manufacturers doing to get the level of commitment required from trade contractors and installers at the company and/or individual level? What are builders and manufacturers doing to communicate and reinforce their own commitment to high performance with their contractor/installer bases?
4. Determining Training Priorities – What are the biggest areas of risk in building high performance homes? Which trade contractors/skill sets should a builder focus on? As the market comes back and the codes continue to press forward, what capabilities are going to be in short supply?
5. Training Best Practices – What methods, tools and resources are builders, manufacturers and others in the industry using to successfully training trade contractors to deliver high performance homes? Do some methods work better than others, depending on the type of trade organization, building system or construction practice? What are people doing to account for turnover within the trades? How are builders creating stronger partnerships and improving communications with their trades? Are there any noticeable gaps in training or resources?
6. Measuring and Rewarding Success – What are builders, manufacturers and others doing to measure the impact of training? How are trade contractors being rewarded for delivering high performance? What are people doing to ensure a longer term commitment beyond an individual project or community?
Over the next several months, we’ll share ideas, examples and resources to address this issue. What we’d like to know from you is…
Why is this topic important to you? When you think of Training Trade Contractors to Deliver High Performance, what do you want the Alliance to cover? Any good examples or experts you’d like to suggest? Email us at escott@ibacos.com with your ideas, or post them in our LinkedIn Group.
