solutionsTHE OFFIC IAL PUBLICATION OF THE PLUMBING-HEATING-COOLING CONTRACTORS—NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 www.phccweb.org
FOUNDATION’S NEW PHCC ACADEMY®
BUSINESS AS USUAL WILL NOT KEEP WORKING
USING TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSFORM OPERATIONS
+
PH
CC
Isolating the Technology That Really Will Make You More Efficient, More Relevant, More Competitive
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DEPARTMENTS 6 President’s Message Shifting Gears: My Perspective
on Technology
8 EVP Message Value-Added Service
Opportunity: Technology Installation and Integration
10 Editor’s Note A Reminder of Our Good Work
18 Legislative Report All Eyes on Health Care, Hurricane
Relief Funding and the Federal Budget; PHCC Priorities Wait in D.C.
T HE OF F IC IAL PUBL IC AT ION OF T HE PLUMBING-HE AT ING-COOL ING CON T RAC TORS — NAT IONAL ASSOC IAT ION | VOLUME 1, I SSUE 4 w w w.phc c web .o r g
solutionsPH
CC
20 Regulatory Report Federal Regulations in the
New Administration
30 Foundation Source Foundation’s New PHCC
Academy®: Leveraging Technology to Remove the Barriers to Classroom Education
38 Chapter Excellence Working Together to Provide Online
Apprenticeship Training
40 PHCC Calendar of Events
41 Index of Advertisers
PHCC Solutions is published for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association. 180 S. Washington Street – Suite 100 – Falls Church, VA 22046. Phone: (703) 237-8100 or (800) 533-7694. PHCC Editor: Charlotte Perham, Vice President of Communications & Marketing
Published by: 5290 Northwest 1st Place, Gainesville, FL 32607; Phone: (800) 369-6220; Fax: (352) 331-3525; www.naylor.com.Publisher: Troy Woodham, Editor: Antonya English, Project Manager: Adam Lingenfelter, Marketing: Taylor Hicks, Advertising Director: Rick Jones, Advertising Sales: Bobby Ehlers, Ken Kepler, Bill Lovett, Matthew Yates, Jason Zawada, Layout & Design: Manish Dutt Sharma© 2017 Naylor, LLC. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher.PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2017/HCC-Q0317/9145
PHCC Solutions Copyright 2017 is the official magazine of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association. PHCC members receive four issues a year as part of their membership dues. Non-member annual subscriptions are available for $30. Visit www.phccweb.org/store to subscribe. Comments/permissions: [email protected]
FEATURES 12 Industry Spotlight
A Manufacturer’s Perspective on How Innovative Design—and Work—Strategies Prove Better for Customers, Better for Contractors, Better for Infrastructure
14 Business as Usual Will Not Keep Working Automation, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Modularization Have Changed the Landscape of the Contracting Industry
22 Pre-fabrication Provides Competitive Edge How Technology Improves Coordination, Precision, Safety, Efficiency and Productivity
28 Transforming Operations Learn How an Integrated Approach to Technology Has Helped This Contractor
32 Profile: James Terry Dedicated to Sharing the Importance of Technology to Help Others Succeed
14
Cover Photo Credit: EtiAmmos/Shutterstock.com
Look for this symbol, and “connect” in person at PHCC’s CONNECT 2017
with many of the expert sources who contributed to these articles!
PHCC Solutions Digital Exclusive: The PHCC Annual Report for 2016–2017 can be found at
(www.naylornetwork.com/hcc-solutions).
1-800-533-7694 • WWW.PHCCWEB.ORG 5
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E
few months ago—when summer’s soaring temps
were posing a heat exposure safety threat to scores
of workers, including mine—PHCC—National
Association sent members a notice of a new OSHA safety
app that helps employers like me check the local heat index
and relevant protective measures. The app took just seconds
to download on my phone and on my employees’ devices.
I didn’t consider the app some revolutionary technology trend;
to me, it was just a more efficient way to help me do my job.
This experience reminded me of how technology has become
such an ordinary part of our day. It’s not a trend anymore; it’s
woven into every part of our business now. The choice today is
in how you can best leverage that technology for good, including
making your business more efficient; offering customers
more convenience, flexibility and cost-savings; and protecting
society—and the environment—in ways that we would not have
imagined 20, 10 or even five years ago.
That’s not to say that navigating this new technological
world isn’t still overwhelming. As a p-h-c contractor, where
do you begin? What’s working well…and what’s not worth the
investment? How do you isolate the technology that really will make you more efficient, more relevant, more competitive?
Yes, there are like-minded professionals out there with the
answers, but how do you find them…and connect with them?
Start BIGThose are the questions that fuel what we’re offering through
PHCC. Our job is to know your pain points, anticipate your
needs and the needs of your customers, and provide you
with the right resources. When it comes to technology, your
first stop should be PHCC’s Technology Business Interest
Group. This new portal is exactly what you need to engage
with those who share your same challenges (and others who
have the answers!). Join the discussion in the “Contractor
Talk” section, where your peers are sharing their experiences
on topics like cloud storage security. Plus tap into solutions
from companies that are already providing valuable training
sessions. (In July, PHCC partnered with CEDIA to present a
webinar on how to “Increase Your Business by Building a
Technology Integration Team;” if you missed it, then be sure
to download the webinar.)
Say Yes!Like I mentioned before, technology itself is no longer a
trend; it’s shifting your mindset. Every week—through
our newsletter, Member Updates and educational
opportunities—PHCC delivers ways to do jobs better,
smarter and faster. We’ve come to the point where you
can’t afford to click on by; instead say “yes” to new ways
of working…or at least explore what’s out there and see if
it’s a fit. Have you navigated PHCC’s Labor Unit Database,
for example? It simplifies your estimating process and
helps you prepare accurate bids so you can become more
efficient and profitable! When you receive opportunities
from PHCC Corporate Partners—like a recent one about the
Milwaukee Tool Tick™, a tool and equipment tracker—do you
investigate how that could streamline your business and save
you money?
As a PHCC member, leveraging technology is not
re-inventing the wheel. In most cases, we have the
resources you need; you just need to set them in motion,
and that even includes helping you attract a tech-savvy
workforce so you can stay competitive moving forward.
Our www.phccareers.com website, for example, is
strategically built and already loaded with targeted videos,
statistics, links, training opportunities and more that you
can share at chapter meetings, industry events and on social
media. It’s there; it’s done; it’s proven effective. It’s waiting
for you.
Of course, nothing beats the face-to-face connections
you make at industry events like PHCC’s seminars, chapter
meetings, conferences and CONNECT. Those are breeding
grounds for what’s really happening—and working—in your
industry…and it’s not just in the formal sessions but in those
valuable conversations in the hallways and gathering spots
before and after. Say “yes” to those opportunities. Be part
of the give and take. Watch what happens to your business
when you make engaging with an open mind part of your new
business philosophy. ●
PHCC—National Association President Patrick Wallner also is
president of Wallner Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in
Redding, California.
SHIFTING GEARS: MY PERSPECTIVE ON TECHNOLOGY
ABY PATRICK WALLNER
PHCC—NATIONAL PRESIDENT
6 SOLUTIONS • FALL • 2017
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s I wrote back in August of last year, there is a great
opportunity for p-h-c contractors, whether they
are in new construction or in service and repair,
to consider offering technology installation and integration
as a value-added service to their clients. PHCC sees a real
need to provide resources to help contractors consider this
opportunity and has partnered with the Custom Electronic
Design and Installation Association (www.cedia.org)
to provide these materials through a new web-based
“Technology Business Interest Group” (www.phccweb.org/
tech-big) that all PHCC members can access through the
PHCC website. As a member of this group, you’ll have access
to specific technology-oriented information, resources and
discussion opportunities to help you expand your knowledge
and contact base.
PHCC and CEDIA recently co-hosted a webcast, “Increase
Your Business by Building a Technology Integration
Team,” during which Dave Pedigo, CEDIA vice president,
Emerging Technologies, talked about the importance of
using technology to improve businesses today by enhancing
productivity and efficiency; meeting growing customers’
needs as integrated technology adoption is exponentially
accelerating; attracting tech-savvy workers; and simply
keeping up with the competition.
From a larger perspective, there is greater importance on
using technology to protect society by repairing and replacing
an aging infrastructure and providing water and energy
conservation options. Parenthetically, we cannot overstate
the PHCC members’ impact on technological advancement
in U.S. history when we consider, for example, that when the
air conditioner was first invented by Willis Haviland Carrier
in 1902, air conditioning contractors developed and adhered
to professional installation standards to protect the public’s
health and safety. In response to outbreaks of Legionnaires,
PHCC members advocated for codes and standards to help
prevent any future occurrences. Throughout the years, PHCC
members continue to provide input on the development
of many innovative products by serving on manufacturer
advisory boards.
According to an online 2017 Market Research Report on
the HVAC and Plumbing Contractors Industry: “HVAC and
plumbing contractors are adapting to major technical change
from both manufacturers and end users. Utility companies
are integrating technology to monitor and control systems.
Within commercial or industrial buildings, the HVAC and
plumbing systems are also part of the buildings’ monitoring
system, which is also using technology to diagnose and
repair problems in the system. Manufacturers are seeking
competitive advantage and therefore are designing products
with increased technological depth and functionality. For
contractors, this means more training and recruitment than
ever before—not only must they understand their trade, but
they must be proficient with the latest technologies being
used by utilities, building managers, and manufacturers.”
Back in 2015, I talked about technology integration growth
being driven by sustainable design requiring high performance
construction and green building techniques and materials
intended to minimize a building’s impact on the environment
and conserve natural resources. Some driving factors over
the last several decades include: newly enacted green
building regulations leading to Green Building standards and
codes; the existence of government stimulus programs, tax
incentives and increased public awareness; EPA regulations
requiring compliance with emissions standards; the need
to continuously upgrade components of the system during
scheduled maintenance; and LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) standards. This means opportunities
for plumbing and HVAC contractors who can employ emerging
“green” technologies that differentiate themselves from their
competitors by minimizing water usage, improving air quality
and helping the owner arrest rising energy costs.
PHCC members can differentiate themselves from their
competitors as the InternetofThings (IoT) continues to
expand. They can provide value to their clients by offering
the disintermediation of technological options that integrate
seamlessly and effectively. Bob Harden, principal at the Harden
Group, described the IoT as “…purchasing 10-20 different
services from 10-20 different vendors using 10-20 different apps
with 10-20 different user interfaces. If that’s the way IoT goes, it
will be a long, tough slog to Nirvana.” CEDIA will collaborate with
PHCC to develop meaningful content for PHCC members who are
interested in offering technology within the p-h-c industry either
on their own or by partnering with a technology integrator who
can specify and install these systems. ●
Michael Copp, MA, MIRM, is Executive Vice President of
PHCC—National Association. A respected leader among
construction industry trade association executives, Copp and his
team work to ensure that PHCC contractors are the best choice for
professionalism, reliable products and knowledgeable service.
VALUE-ADDED SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: TECHNOLOGY INSTALLATION AND INTEGRATION
ABY MICHAEL COPP
PHCC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
8 SOLUTIONS • FALL • 2017
And just like our members have been
doing since PHCC began more than
130 years ago, we must continue
to embrace progress and leverage
technology to continue our work for
the common good…and for the good of
our businesses.
That’s what fueled the stories in
this issue of PHCC Solutions. Among
them, you’ll hear from a successful
contractor who has taken an integrated
approach to technology to streamline customer service,
control inventory, manage online reviews and more.
You’ll discover that pre-fabrication may be the only way a
contractor will be able to compete in the future, plus learn
the investment in technology, equipment and people that
it requires to be successful. You’ll hear from one of the
most respected experts in our industry that “business as
usual will not keep working.” And you’ll discover how our
own Educational Foundation is responding to that change
right now with a new learning management system that is
removing barriers to classroom education.
As Andy Bruce, president of PHCC of South Dakota,
mentioned recently in a chapter publication (by the way,
he has the same American Standard poster hanging in
his office!): “Things continue to change. We use motion
sensors and touch pads, and we operate our heating systems
using our cell phones. But our primary responsibility is to
keep things safe for the people we serve.” ●
Charlotte R. Perham is Vice President of Communications &
Marketing for PHCC—National Association. She specializes in
strategic communications of news, trends and events in the
construction industry.
E D I T O R ’ S N O T E
T he well-known American Standard poster that
hangs in our entrance area at PHCC—National
headquarters motivates me and other staff
every morning. It—together with images and accolades
throughout our office of both plumbing and HVAC
apprentices and professionals hard at work—reinforces that
our industry truly is working for good.
When the poster was created, World War I had just
ended, and hundreds of thousands of young men from rural
America were returning from the war no longer content with
outhouses. The plumbing industry responded with a series of
clever trade ads encouraging contractors toward renovation
work. This poster, introduced by the Standard Sanitary
Manufacturing Company (later American Standard Plumbing),
was among the most famous.
The image on the poster of a young plumber standing
in front of a globe—with a simple “The Plumber Protects
the Health of the Nation” message—may date back nearly
100 years, but, for PHCC and its members, it remains a
constant reminder of our mission: to advance the industry for
the health, safety, and comfort of society and the protection of
the environment.
That mission hasn’t changed. What has changed—and
what will continue to evolve—are the techniques and tools
and technology we use to do our jobs, to fulfill that pledge.
A REMINDER OF OUR GOOD WORK
Happy Birthday to Us!
It’s been one year since we launched PHCC Solutions
magazine. As always, we welcome your feedback…and
we encourage your input on ideas for future content.
What solutions are you seeking? Share them with us at
COLLABORATION
Turns REACH into IMPACTWhether the collaboration is among PHCC members, among local, state and national
leaders, or between PHCC and legislative and regulatory agencies, real change happens when
we get together. Our top accomplishments in 2016–2017 are just some of the ways we’ve
joined forces to make our members’ businesses stronger and our future brighter.
It’s all part of PHCC’s 2016–2017 Annual Report, presented as a Digital Exclusive at
www.naylornetwork.com/hcc-solutions.
BY CHARLOTTE R. PERHAM
PHCC EDITOR AND VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
10 SOLUTIONS • FALL • 2017