How to Begin???

[R12rules]

I have been asked by the Service Manager of my company to become the new "Training Person" at the shop.

18 men with various backgrounds & levels of experience.

Where do I begin?

What I was thinking is to have a meeting with some of the guys and request feedback.

The owner and Service Manager both agree; the areas where training is needed is EVERYWHERE!


I want this to be a participatory exercise and NOT a one sided lecture.
If the guys are involved, they will speak up and all will learn. And this is exactly what the company is asking for and needs.


Any and all sugestions are welcome.


Someone will inevitably ask: "What all do you service?" And the answer is;

Anything HVAC/R in four states; LA, MS, AR & TX
Wal-Mart
Banks
Ground source HP's
Chillers to 100 tons, package & split
VAV ... of course
EMS/ Controls

does this explain it?


Thanks in advance

[dutchcool]

The first thing to do is tell them R12 is no longer a option!

If the man in charge things that you able to take this task, he is probably right, he has a overview over the shop, he knows what is going on, sees you ar doing thing better then the rest.
He wants you to rub that on the rest,.
Where to begin? Well you have probably structure in the way you work, that is important.
Me myself and i, always think when confronted with an unsolved problem : how, why ,when.
And maybe they have to think from time to time : how sees the customer me, do i say the right things and do i ask the right thinks.

[Diceman]

Start off with your extensive background in fudge packing.
I'm sure that will get their attention.

[Paul Pippin]

I don't know what your anticipate teaching but RSES has some good materials out there. The first question is the class mandatory? What level are your technicins at? do you need to break them into groups based on their knowledge levels / and our job duties? What is your ultimate goals from the class would also be a good question.

[Freezeking2000]

Originally posted by Diceman
Start off with your extensive background in fudge packing.
I'm sure that will get their attention.

Thats not NICE.....now Dice..must you!

[ice machine undertaker]

Originally posted by Freezeking2000

Originally posted by Diceman
Start off with your extensive background in fudge packing.
I'm sure that will get their attention.

Thats not NICE.....now Dice..must you!

How often do we see Dice and nice in the same sentence?

[kmills]

id start with safety first... sounds corny, but OSHA topics are probably the best place to start...

[Green Mountain]

Wow, sounds like a great job. Will this be your full time duties?

If you don't want the job tell your boss that I'll be available in about a year.

[Green Mountain]

Seriously. I would start by teaching technicans how to use the internet to find the answers to thier service problem.

The days of calling the supply house to get information is dying quickly. All of the manufactures are getting terrific sites complete with service manuals and wiring diagrams.

Now a days we say, "Do you have a computer in your truck?" In five years the question will be, "What kind of computer do you have in your truck?"

[rscamaro]

Here's my idea for you R-12...

I always carry around a small notebook, I pick them up in 5 packs from Staples. I'd give one to each tech in the shop and have taped or a laminated copy, wallet size, a small list of equations that can come in handy when you have a particularly bad time figuring something out. Things on this small typed list wouls include things like.

Temp f to Temp c = temp f +40 x (9/5 or 1.8) -40
Temp c to Temp f + temp c +40 x (5/9 or .55555) -40
Volts = Amps x Ohms
Amps = Volts -/- Ohms
Ohms = Volts -/- Amps
Watts = Amps x Volts
FPM = CFM -/- Area
KVA = Volts x Amps -/- 1000
Gallons = radius squared x height x Pi -/- 231
Diaphram Force = Pi x radius squared x pressure
Fan RPM = Motor sheave dia. x motor rpm -/- Fan sheave dia.
GPM = btuh -/- (500 x delta T) amount of water needed for condenser
Furnace efficiency = output -/- input
2.31 ft. head = 1 psi

I'm sure that there are plenty of other equations that are helpful, these are the ones that Iuse the most of.

I think that my numbers are right but you should double check to make sure. It's also a good thing to have compressor handbooks around, I know that I use them alot, if only to get part numbers from. I use a PDA now to keep all of my job sites, model numbers, serial numbers,belt and filter sizes, addresses, etc. What I used to have was a 3x5 index card file with the same info as I have in the PDA. It doesn't take much extra time to put the data down on either the 3x5 cards or a PDA and will save your techs from having to call the shop or the secratary time from looking up that information every 3 or 4 months.

I know that most can't be bothered doing anything like this but it does help you out there on the road or job site.

...Ron

[gibrenob]

Keep it simple.

Tell them "My way or the highway!"

[R12rules]

Dice, it's been quite some time since the issue of "fudge packing" has risen it's ugly little head.


& speaking of ugly little heads ... how's Jack?




Seriously though, we got what amounts to several group types which the men can be broken into.

Basic, intermediate and journey level.


But the whole group could gain from safety as well as sharing tips for the day to day tricks we all use to "git er done".



I'm looking at carrying a good digital camera and using a digital projector to display what men find in the field.
Both good things as well as bad.

I want to "draw them out" to see them interacting with one another.


Ben, if your serious, I'll look forward to seeing you next season.



Dice, Dice, Dice ... tsk, tsk..............

[wally01]

First things first. Get these guys on a rotating schedule as to who buys you lunch what days.