Frasbee

It was something I was worried about before I came to this company because two electricians from my old company mentioned it to me before.

I got a bit frustrated today because one of the electricians said our foreman was going to send him to help me because I was moving too slow running the pipe. Though, the foreman never actually said anything to me besides asking me if I had a reamer, (I don't), which I assumed was because a reamer would be that much faster than my needle nose/channellock method.

Thing is, it's not like I stand there and do nothing, or even literally move slow. I keep up at least a light sweat because I'm keeping up a hurried pace. I guess my worst habit is sometimes I over-think what I need to do. "You think too much, I can tell", is what one electrician told me.

But there's all the other stuff that attributes to my lack of productivity. I'm working by myself, I'm using 10 or 12 foot ladders, I don't have a cart (yet), so I have to carry everything, I'm trying to work around (or above), the brick layers, the GFI is constantly getting tripped which is 300 feet away, other electricians are using the material I brought up for myself (couplings, anchors, etc) which means I need to fetch more downstairs on the opposite side of the building, the electrician that was supposed to be following the brick layers wasn't around to stub up the 1/2'' so I had to seek out where he had the 1/2'' (not conveniently near-by), cut and put them up, the other foreman wanted me to amend a safety hazard, the brick layers upstairs placed their pallets of block conveniently on both of the holes I needed to stub up through, and apparently I just suck at being fast.

So that electrician that told me the foreman was going to send him up to help me out? Disappeared after I told him what I was doing. Foreman came by with him again later and told me that he was gonna help me with the pipe. And I never saw him after that...again.

My "solution" so far has been to stop planning my routes as much and just run the pipe and saddle anything in the way. I have to say, and this bothers me a lot, the pipe I'm running isn't as straight or level as it could be, but I'm really thinking these guys don't care about it that much. As long as it looks good from the ground they seem okay with it. Drives me nuts though when I can look at the pipe straight on and see it zig zag since I'm not taking any measurements.

Clearly I have not reached the point where I can keep quality up with speed. I just don't know what else to do about it.

__________________

MDShunk

All in due time.

The fact that you care about speed and quality sets you ahead of most. It will come, eventually.

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

BryanMD

Sounds like a pretty typical description "the life of the commercial job apprentice".

Don't go and start dragging your feet but there is a reason why everyone else is earning more than you. When you can do more/better/faster you'll get more too.

It'll come.

__________________
Engineering. Where the noble semiskilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream. Hello, Oompa-Loompas of science. -Sheldon

lynx82

as long as your not purposely screwing the guy and doing the best you can under the circumstances what's the problem. Your right about planning your routes, the time it takes to do that can save you from running into a lot of little obstructions, or a really bad one. Seems like he's got you running around doing a lot of other stuff too, which he probably realizes and is why he hasn't said anything to you.

Black4Truck

Don't let it get to you.

Speed comes with knowledge, not someone implying you are slow

Go too fast and you either make mistakes which cost money to fix or you fall off a ladder and wind up in a wheelchair for the rest of your life

At least you care about being productive, that puts you ahead of many out there

mcclary's electrical

The fact that you are worried gives me confidence you will fix this problem. You just have to put a few years of experience under your belt before you'll learn all the little tricks of the trade. One bad habit you are slightly leaning toward is not using the right tool for the job. A reamer will be quicker than needle nose, and more proper. If you don't wanna measure your runs as you go from a good reference, at least stick a level on it as you go so you know it's gonna look right. Don't blame it on other electricians using your stuff either, because you let them do it. If it means walking to the other side of the building, I'm not letting anybody get my material. Tell them politely, GET YOUR OWN SH*T. That's mine. Don't let them slow your productity. I've worked on the top floor of an 8 story building, where a trip to the truck meant 25 minutes lost production. You have to accomodate for that and plan accordingly. And you can't blame it on the brick layers either, because they're sayin the same thing about you. "Lousy electrician, ladders all in my way, stuff layed all over the floor because he doesn't have a cart" I can hear them now. So I just try to stay out of everybody's way, and "claim" the area I'm at if possible.Not "literally" but figuratively speaking. And usually that means having so many tools and material around me that they don't even try to get in my way. You'll eventually get there, but one thing I promise you, and this will always be true, you gotta get good, before you can get fast.

Frasbee

That's just it, he's not the one having me run around and doing these other things, so I don't think he realizes I'm doing them because he's busy with all sorts of $hit elsewhere. It's a big building, 4 sections, and 3 floors. The other foreman gave me a task that had to be completed because it was a safety hazard, which required materials I didn't have readily available. The electrician that was supposed to be following the brick layers just disappeared, and I was the only one in that area that could do anything about it. And having to take another 10 minutes to run upstairs and get a hold of somebody on a forklift and get them to move those pallets.

At one point I needed to adjust the pipe stubbed upstairs where I had it secured by a strap and strut on the floor and the guy following the brick layers said he'd run up and loosen it so I could get it level. It's silly but I felt so relieved because I'm worried the foreman will come by and he'll see nobody on the ladder, and nobody on the ground bending pipe, and it'll look like I'm hiding somewhere not doin' ****.

Y'know it's like 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, too many minutes anywhere but where I need to be doing what I was set to do.

I don't mind too much being pressured to move faster, I like the challenge, I just stress out when I'm anywhere but where he expects to find me. I really hate giving the impression I'm just just moseying about. Especially because I'm not!

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sparky105

It is always better to stop and think about what your up against. This is a trade that requires you thinking and seeing the whole picture, There will always be hundreds of little details and you have to gather ALL the info before you start or you will miss something . Don't worry it will come in time but above all have fun you still got 35 or more years to go. And remember to leave your feelings at home grow thick skill and sense of humor.

Bill

Bob Badger

You obviously care, as the others have said the speed will come.


It's always tough to learn the line between 'over thinking' each move and not thinking enough.



Yeah, thats how it goes. Ya' gotta get used to it. It is a rare privilege to be the only crew on the job with everything ready for us and nothing in the way. When those days come along enjoy them.


You may have to tell them to go get their own damn stock.


Sometimes that is the way that it should be done. You are not there to make art. If the boss is happy and the code is complied with you have done your job.


You have to make some choices.

Are you going to work to please yourself or are you going to work to be a productive member of the team?

I am not saying that you should stop wanting to do a better job I am saying when in Rome do as the Romans do. You are not going to change the company.

Good luck.

__________________
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction and Maintenance
MA, RI, CT

BryanMD

__________________
Engineering. Where the noble semiskilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream. Hello, Oompa-Loompas of science. -Sheldon

MDShunk

Don't be afraid to (tactfully) be your own advocate. Never forget to let the big boss know all the extra stuff you were tasked with. If he truly has no idea, letting him know will go a long way in your favor. If you're uncomfortable telling the other guys to get their own fittings and to quit stealing yours, just grab 3 times as much as you think you need. When you gain you own respect, then you might be better situated to tell them to grab their own stuff. The other guys taking your stock is a fundamental sign of disrespect, and there's sometimes not much you can do about it until you gain your own place in the pecking order. Just don't forget to somehow let the boss know everything else you've been doing for him. He probably has no idea, and he'll like to know that. That's life as the new guy....

I can't stress enough how important of a quality of you have. You realize that you need to be fast and neat. It's a pretty rare guy that even recognizes this, so you're doing good. It will all come to you eventually, and the stress will just melt away. Trust me. There's nothing quite so personally empowering as knowing what you're doing and knowing how to do it in a reasonable amount of time. You're king of the hill then.

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.

al13nw4r3LC76

I feel the same way. I brought it up to my Journeyman who is also the foreman. He only comes up to check on how im doing once in awhile. I brought the pipe bending up to him and he said it just takes time. I always try to bend everything in one stick whether its in the wall or not. I sometimes bend my offset in the wrong direction. I hate that! What year are you?

Frasbee

Well, we're not union, so we're not paired up like I see the union guys do.

No, I don't mention any of this on the job, and as has been recommended by several electricians on this forum, I stay pretty neutral towards whatever is presented to me.

Shunk: I see what you mean about being my own advocate, and I do refer to that every now and then, but only when the conversation with the foreman warrants bringing things like that up. Like any inquiries as to why I haven't completed as much as he's expecting. I'm pretty good at being tactful.

I don't know. I also don't want to come off like I'm just making excuses.

Tomorrow I'm going to grab a cart from the first floor and some extra material. That should save me time and stress in the long run. I think I did the majority of the complex bends today, so the rest of the runs in this section should be more or less, straight runs to the stub-ups.

EDIT: Just saw this after I posted. I'm the same way! I try to use whole sticks so there's less waste, but I think he'd rather see progress more frequently, even if it means bending, cutting, and securing shorter lengths at a time. My old company encouraged putting more in one bed, and I've gotten pretty good at it.

This is my 2nd year, will start my 3rd in February. Well, technically I'm a 1st year apprentice, but that's another story.

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al13nw4r3LC76

I have heard some guys say where its exposed and the world can see make it look perfect. If its in the wall/ not gonna be seen not too be so crucial. But never just slop it in. It sounds like your in the same boat, I get left to work alone alot and if my name is on it I want it to look good.

Bob Badger

I want to make clear I am all for great work.


But this .......

is entirely understandable but is not as simple as it sounds unless you are the company owner.

It may be your hands and mind that get the job done but...

• You are not paying for what you use.
• You are not paying your salary.
• It is not your name on on the company letterhead.
• It is not you who answers to to the customer.

So while I say keep up the quality work keep the above in mind as well.

__________________
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction and Maintenance
MA, RI, CT

LowVolt McVolty

Never sacrifice accuracy for speed.

But also keep in mind that while I agree with "wanting it to look good" a man on a galloping horse would never see the difference.

justanother1

Remember this is business, and business is about money. I know guys that NEVER WERE JOURNEYMEN that are now Foremen and Superintendents just because they have the gift of gab. Don't rely on one company for your entire career, Get out there and mix it up a bit. And when you do, Sell yourself, sell your truck, sell your tools, sell your extra time, sell your certifications. If you've gotta drive more than an hour, you should be getting some kind of compensation. If your crew ends up needing some kind of security bits and your the only one who has them, make sure that gets back to the office. If your the only one on your crew that is forklift certified, you should be making something extra, .50$ hour or whatever, even if you never run the forklift the whole job. Many of these jobs are 1,000,000$ + jobs and their bid for Per Diem and Overtime but you as a worker will never see it unless you ask for it!!

Frasbee

Wow.

Sorry guys I spoke too soon.

I just finished up 2 runs with the help of one of the electricians, and the foreman came around and said he looked at my pipe, and complimented me, and my work rather heavily. Not even just a "looks good" but it turned into a conversation. He never said anything about my speed, though I mentioned with the electrician's help we finished up that area fast.

Maybe I'm not as slow as I thought, but I'm pretty sure I worry too much.

Anyway, at lunch time I called up one of the supervisors of my old company and passed along that compliment and thanks. I was always appreciative of the amount they taught me, but today put things in perspective. I think by extension it was a compliment to them, and hopefully they'll continue to teach their helpers the same as they did me.

__________________

Bob Badger

Awesome, great for you!

__________________
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction and Maintenance
MA, RI, CT

MDShunk

That's a pretty nice thing to do. Not burning bridges is always a good idea, but you've gone back and done some bridge maintenance. That's awesome.

__________________
-Marc, ABC, XYZ, PhD, 1-2-3

-Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the day time.