Articles By This Author
-
Michelle Wilson — Freelance Writer
Michelle Wilson, a professor at Franklin University, is the director of research for MCA Inc.
-
Does Your Labor Know How to Be Productive?
January 2008
As an electrical contractor or a project manager, the million-dollar question is “How do I get the guys to be more productive?” How often do you ask yourself this question, and how often are you surprised that the labor does not think of solving job productivity issues in what seems to you the most logical way?
-
Distributor's Impact on Contractor's Profitability
February 2007
PART II, THE CONTRACTORS: The August 2006 Productivity column investigated the impact of the changing market facing electrical contractors; with the current and continuing expansion of commercial and residential construction markets, the needs of contractors are dramatically changing. Electrical distributors provide the essential connection between manufacturers and the owners and specialty contractors. While the position of an electrical distributor has not changed, its role must change from one of distribution to one of supply.
-
Reducing the Cost of Material Distribution
November 2006
Part I: The Paradox
-
Procurement Management in the Electrical Contracting Industry
August 2005
The electrical contracting industry is facing a fork in the road with supply-channel management. In their historical roles, distributors play the part of a wholesale/retail combination for electrical components while hoping to be profitable through speculations (currently on steel and copper). Contractors act as their own suppliers, buying in bulk and then paying far more in labor to manage their materials. Material purchasing by the general contractor or owner does little to help the situation from either the distributor or the contractor's cost and profit perspective. An alternative model allows both the contractor and distributor to become low-cost operators of electrical services, products and installation by jointly managing the material flow in a horizontal integration supply chain.