a Summit Materials company
www.cornejocorp.com 316-522-5100
DEC 2018
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IS NOT AN OPTION It’s a Necessity
so many. You can use infrared thermographic cameras for inspections. In the past, I’ve used vibration analysis, electric motor current analysis, and other tools to identify issues before a unit fails. We’ve also implemented electronic inspections using an app. It gives detailed lists of things to look at for a particular piece of equipment. It also acts as a GPS device, not only coaching the operator on what to look for, but also functioning as a communications tool. If the operator is out there doing a section, they can note that something is deficient, select it on the app, and submit it for inspection. It goes through the job cycle, and we confirm that there’s an issue. That starts the scheduling process —we shoot an email to our SUP so they can start scheduling. The inspection app is proving to be a huge benefit. Making sure proper inspections are done continues to be my biggest focus. At Cornejo & Sons, safety is always our top priority, and inspections are a crucial part of maintaining that safety. If we can react to something when it’s just starting to showwear or just starting to generate heat, the repair will be smaller. If you wait until something blows, scheduling will be more difficult, and the repair will need to be made right then and there — in the middle of a landfill or during a bridge deck pour. If we can identify a problem early and
Often, the people you’re trying to influence are used to doing things a certain way. You have to change attitudes and sell them on why proper inspections are so important. The first step is to indicate the compelling reason for the change: better uptime, lower costs, and increased efficiency. I’ve always noticed that once uptime increases, morale improves because crews aren’t just waiting for something to break; they can rely on their equipment. It means we get to the next job faster, and sometimes it means bonuses for the Company if we finish a job early. At companies I worked for in the past, I would go to a job site and ask the crew about an equipment failure. “Something just happened, Jeff,” was the answer I almost always got. I don’t accept that. That’s only part of the reason something fails. Generally, something gives you a sign before it fails — you just have to look for it. Maybe you didn’t have the tools to see that sign, or maybe you didn’t know something was off. If a piece of equipment has always been incorrectly calibrated or set up from the beginning and you’ve looked at it every day, it becomes “right,” to you, and when it eventually fails, “something just happened.” It becomes a training issue, and it’s my responsibility to make sure we develop systems so that everyone knows what’s right and what’s wrong when it comes to equipment.
As the Area Assets Manager at Cornejo & Sons, I’m working to keep all of our assets, including equipment, in working order. I manage equipment and assets from beginning three-year forecasting to current- year forecasts. From specifying and acquiring to managing equipment, I see it through its full lifecycle and determine when it needs a replacement. When I started, I worked with our teams to implement more formal processes for maintenance and sat on many of the Summit Materials steering committees so that those processes could be implemented company- wide. I want to get every team member on board with the importance of inspections because I’ve noticed how effective they are. That’s led us to implement preventive maintenance scheduling for systems and processes; for example, we schedule all of our mobile equipment at regular intervals, every 250 or 500 hours. All operators are required to do pre-shift inspections for all equipment. Each inspection form is specific to the equipment type and instructs the operators on how to perform the inspection. Of course, I knowwhy inspections are important, but it’s another thing to demonstrate that to my team. Effective change is a challenge. You have to illustrate it by informing them, “Did you all realize we lose 20 percent of our scheduled hours due to equipment being down?” That’s the challenge — your reason for wanting change has to be valid.
schedule the repair when crews aren’t working, it’s better for everyone. Jeff Bremer
You have to have the right tools to allowyou to see a problem, and technology has given us
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CHIP AND DAN HEATH’S ‘MADE TO STICK’
We believe that small businesses can have a positive impact on local communities and the wider world. A successful charity campaign can make a world of difference for people in need, especially over the holidays. But not all charitable organizations are created equal, and supporting the wrong organization can do more harm than good. Here are some tips on finding the best fit for your business. ALIGN MISSIONS When narrowing down the thousands of local and national charities you have to choose from, comparing the mission statements of these organizations to your own is a great place to start. Charities that align with or complement your own goals as a business are natural partners. Still, while matching big-picture goals is a great start, you also need to make sure your chosen organization aligns with the heart and soul of your business: your employees and customers. FIND HUMAN CONNECTIONS The most powerful charity work your business can support is a cause that stems from the needs and passions of people connected to your work. Maybe a member of your team lives with a disability or a significant number of your customers face social, cultural, or economic challenges. Putting time, money, and effort into supporting a reputable organization that helps the people and communities connected to your business is one of the best ways to show you care. CHECK CREDENTIALS Good intentions only go so far. To really make your charity efforts count and ensure your donations are used appropriately, you need to do some research. Thankfully, organizations like the Better Business Bureau, CharityWatch, and GuideStar. org keep data on IRS-registered charities, making it easy to see which groups are reputable. In general, you should look for organizations that have a great track record of transparency and make all of their financial information readily available. HowYour Business Can Give Back the Right Way CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHARITY REMEMBER THE ‘WHY’ If you’re just looking for a tax write-off or good publicity, charity efforts are going to feel hollow and frustrating. More than anything, philanthropy should involve a cause your business is passionate about — no matter how big or small. Taking the time to remind yourself why you’ve chosen to support a particular cause
Uncovers What Makes Ideas Matter
Have you ever wondered why certain stories that have no basis in fact get passed around like wildfire? Whether they’re rumors, urban legends, or conspiracy theories, these tales can often gain more traction than important ideas and facts. In their book “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die,” Chip and Dan Heath explore the qualities that give ideas relevance and pass-around value.
“An accurate but useless idea is still useless,” they write. This point is key to understanding why people get excited about certain ideas and ignore others. The Heaths argue that the presentation of ideas can have just as much of an impact on their “stickiness” as the content of the ideas. After analyzing hundreds of examples, they note, “We began to see the same themes, the same attributes, reflected in a wide range of successful ideas.” “Made to Stick” explains those attributes using myriad examples to illustrate how stickiness works in the real world. Early in the book, the Heaths share six key principles, demonstrating how good ideas are made valuable and exciting by their simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, and credibility; are capable of rousing emotions; and are often presented in the form of stories. While these principles are relatively straightforward, they are often subverted in an effort to use business jargon and other neutered forms of language. The Heaths deploy John F. Kennedy’s famous speech about putting a man on the moon as an example of a compellingly relayed idea. “Had John F. Kennedy been a CEO, he would have said, ‘Our mission is to become the international leader in the space industry through maximum team-centered innovation and strategically targeted aerospace initiatives,’” they explain. Nobody would have been excited about that. If you’ve ever thought that you had a great idea but couldn’t get your employees to buy into it, a lack of stickiness may be the cause. Understanding how to present your ideas in an inspiring way could unlock the key to increased productivity and growth like you’ve never achieved before. The next time you present an idea to your team, a group of conference attendees, or any other audience, ask yourself if that idea will stick. If it won’t, you’re just wasting your time. If you need a little guidance on how to make your ideas punch a little harder, “Made to Stick” should be on your holiday book list.
will keep you from losing sight of what giving back is all about.
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LET’S TALK
Getting the Most out of Internal Communication
MEMES AND GIFS GALORE A company’s culture exists within the ways its team communicates. Having avenues available for employees to blow off steam, share funny stories, and stay abreast of each other’s lives is an important part of improving retention and company morale. Even spicing up a companywide email with a well-placed GIF or pop culture reference can do wonders to give your IC a voice unique to the culture and values of your company. Finding the styles and methods of communication that best fit your company takes time, but it’s worth it. Not only will creating your own communication style ensure that time and resources are used effectively, but it will also ensure that your team has a voice. Nailing this key aspect of your business will allow everything else to run far more smoothly.
meetings for big collaborative projects and important announcements will add more weight to those moments while allowing communications of lesser magnitude to be handled quickly and efficiently over email and instant messaging. INTERNAL, YET GLOBAL Remote work is becoming more and more common — and it’s a good thing. Research conducted by IBM suggests that remote workers are, on average, more engaged and effective than those who come to the office from 9 to 5. With group messaging apps and cloud-based software, you can keep your team on the same page no matter where they are in the world. The best tools to make this possible will depend on your business, but keeping everyone under the same umbrella of programs, such as Google’s G Suite, is a great strategy to start with.
Maintaining the flow of ideas and information between team members is as necessary to a business as the nervous system is to the human body. Internal communication (IC) is what determines how flexible and responsive your company is to day-to-day challenges. In today’s fast-paced, decentralized marketplace, leveraging the right tools and strategies to make IC engaging, effective, and fun has never been more important. Here are a few tips to help you get there. MORE CHATS, FEWER MEETINGS Making IC engaging from a leadership standpoint means taking the time to use the right medium for your message. The last thing you want is to have team members sitting through a meeting thinking, “Couldn’t this have just been an email?” Recognizing what you want to communicate and why are important steps in deciding the best way to deliver information. Saving in-person
TAKE A BREAK
HOLIDAY ROAST PRIME RIB
INGREDIENTS
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4 cups beef stock
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1 bone-in prime rib (6–7 pounds)
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1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
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8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
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Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
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2 cups red wine
INSTRUCTIONS
5. To make au jus, place roasting pan with drippings from roast over 2 burners on high. Add wine and scrape pan as liquid reduces. Add beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Finally, sprinkle in thyme. 6. Slice roast and serve topped with au jus.
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30 minutes before cooking, remove roast from fridge and let sit until it reaches room temperature.
2. Heat oven to 350 F. 3. Make small slits in prime rib and stuff with slices of garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper. 4. Place a rack inside a roasting pan and roast prime rib for 2 hours, until medium-rare.
SOLUTION
Inspired by Food Network
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316-522-5100 www.cornejocorp.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2060 E. Tulsa St. Wichita, KS 67216
a Summit Materials company
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Our Area Assets Manager Talks Maintenance Choosing the Right Charity A Guide to Making Ideas Stick The Key to Effective Internal Communications Holiday Roast Prime Rib Don’t Let Retention Slide in the Holiday Rush
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WHY NURTURING EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS IS THE KEY TO RETENTION THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?
OWN UP TO MISTAKES. Even the best businesses make mistakes. When it happens, own up to it. There’s probably been a time when you put in your order at a restaurant, only to receive the wrong thing. How did the business handle it? Did they admit their mistake and offer you a new meal? How a business treats customers when things don’t go smoothly is a good indication of how they’ll handle adversity in general, and that reaction starts with employees. Set the precedent for employees that a mistake is their opportunity to go above and beyond.
GET THEM HOOKED ON YOUR SERVICE. Have you ever asked a client why they return to your business? Do you think it’s because they can’t find your product or service anywhere else? Probably not. Think about the last time you returned to a restaurant. Was it because it’s the only place in town that makes amazing Thai food? Maybe, but it’s more likely that you enjoyed the welcoming host, attentive waiter, and positive experience you had there. Starbucks is a great example. Even with thick competition, they deliver consistent service and quality products to customers, whether in Oregon or London. And they do this by providing competitive wages and benefits to their employees along with training and learning opportunities. Employees who are knowledgeable and excited about what they are offering pass their enthusiasm on to customers.
Who comes first: employees or customers? When posed this classic business question, Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher had an easy answer: employees. “If employees are treated right, they treat the outside world right,” Kelleher explained. As Kelleher knows well, employee-customer relations are a cycle — one that fuels recurring business. Engaged employees deliver service that converts to sales, a fact backed up by a Gallup report. Gallup cited a 20 percent increase in sales as a result of this process. Even as you’re courting leads, you can’t ignore your existing customers. Likewise, even (and especially) as you grow, you have to nurture your employees. The cost of losing either is too high. In the holiday
A transparent environment will make employees feel more comfortable, which will make customers excited, rather than apprehensive, to engage with your business again.
rush, it’s important to not lose sight of your priorities.
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