Backend Category: Construction Technology Initiative

Learn How Your Peers Are Advancing at the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference

The MEP Innovation Conference is renowned for selling out every year, and with good reason – it’s co-produced by three industry pillars: MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA. Join us in sunny Orlando, Florida, from January 29 – 31, as we bring together the best innovators in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing industry. Our sessions are peer-focused, offering real-world case studies from contractors just like you. Explore multiple learning opportunities through sessions, workshops, breakouts, facility tours, networking, and exhibits. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Secure your spot now and stay ahead of the game in the ever-evolving MEP industry. Register today!

Purdue University to Launch Trimble Technology Lab with Focus on Construction Management Technology

Purdue University and Trimble are establishing a state-of-the-art Trimble Technology Lab at Purdue focused on teaching and research for construction management technology. Purdue is home to an MCAA student chapter hosted by the MCA of Indiana, Inc. Trimble is an MCAA member.

The lab is hosted by the School of Construction Management Technology within the Purdue Polytechnic Institute and will bring Trimble’s industry-leading construction technologies into a dedicated learning environment for Purdue students to learn and innovate.
 
“The equipment and software provided will enhance our educational and research capabilities in construction management and technology,” said Daniel Castro-Lacouture, dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. “Partnering with Trimble to establish a Technology Lab signifies an exciting opportunity that empowers our students and faculty to drive industry advancements.”
 
The lab is expected to open in early 2024 and will be part of the institute’s evolving footprint at Dudley and Lambertus Halls. The connected buildings, which opened in April 2023, house a mix of polytechnic and engineering labs, makerspaces and classrooms with the goal of fostering an atmosphere of collaboration among students from different majors and departments.
 
“The Trimble Technology Lab will empower Purdue students with the skills and expertise required to become front-runners in the realm of industry technology,” said H. Nicholas Dib, associate professor in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute who will help oversee the lab. “The lab will support the holistic transformation of education, where technology lies at the very heart of the curriculum.”
 
“Purdue has a strong reputation as a leader in applied construction education. Their construction management program offers an innovative curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning and prepares students for a variety of construction careers,” said Amy Northcutt, director of education and outreach at Trimble. “We are confident that our collaboration with Purdue to establish this Trimble Technology Lab will have a significant impact in preparing students for their careers.”
 
The lab will include a broad range of Trimble’s industry-leading geospatial and construction solutions such as the Trimble® XR10 HoloLens hardhat and advanced software solutions including RealWorks® scanning software, Trimble Business Center Infrastructure Construction edition, Tekla® Structures, Tekla Structural Designer, Trimble Connect® AR interactive collaboration software, AccuBid and AutoBid, and the company’s popular 3D modeling solution, SketchUp.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities (Times Higher Education/Wall Street Journal and QS), with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States (U.S. News & World Report), Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Innovates, at https://stories.purdue.edu.

About Trimble

Dedicated to the world’s tomorrow, Trimble is a technology company delivering solutions that enable our customers to work in new ways to measure, build, grow and move goods for a better quality of life. Core technologies in positioning, modeling, connectivity and data analytics connect the digital and physical worlds to improve productivity, quality, safety, transparency and sustainability. From purpose-built products and enterprise lifecycle solutions to industry cloud services, Trimble is transforming critical industries such as construction, geospatial, agriculture and transportation to power an interconnected world of work. For more information about Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB), visit:  www.trimble.com.

MCAA’s Sean McGuire Talks Innovation in NECA Podcast

Sean McGuire, MCAA’s Executive Director, Innovative Technologies & Fabrication, is featured in this month’s episode of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Innovation Overload Podcast. He talks about mental health, process improvement, fabrication and practical ways to get started in applying innovation across your business.

Register NOW for the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference!

Once again, MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA have partnered together to host the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference, January 29-31, 2024, in Orlando, FL.

Immerse yourself in educational sessions, collaborative roundtable discussions, and hands-on exhibitor demonstrations that spotlight cutting-edge technologies that can improve contractor’s productivity and profitability. This is also your chance to network and is a must-attend for principals, senior management, middle management, safety & health professionals, project managers, technicians, estimators, supervisors, students, faculty, and local executives.

Join us for an unparalleled experience at the forefront of technology and innovation in the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, service, and sheet metal contracting industries.

Get $200 off your registration with promo code M3AAV!PM3P
Hurry, this code expires on November 1, 2023

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

MCAA’s 2023 Fabrication Conference to Showcase MacDonald Miller Sheet Metal Operations

The 2023 MCAA Fabrication Conference, powered by MSUITE, has expanded to include additional educational offerings and four facility tours. This year’s conference will focus on specific fabrication operations for attendees, including a sheet metal-focused tour hosted by MacDonald Miller. 

Seattle is a city that embraces fabrication, but there are local factors that present unique challenges. The cost of land and local regulations force contractors to innovate. During the MacDonald Miller tour, attendees will see how these restrictions guided them to a lean fabrication principle so that finished work is demand-driven and stored onsite for as little time as possible. Attendees will also learn how and what information MacDonald Miller processes and tracks through their KPI dashboard and how to utilize software connections to visualize production.

MCAA’s 2023 Fabrication Conference is scheduled for September 11-13, 2023, in Seattle, Washington, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Limited space is still available for registration. 

MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION

2030 MSCA Annual Education Conference

Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.

 

2026 MSCA Annual Education Conference

Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.

 

2025 MSCA Annual Education Conference

Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.

 

2024 MEP Innovation Conference: Call for Proposals 

Add your voice to 2024 MEP Innovation Conference and submit your education sessions today for the January 29-31, 2024 event in Orlando, FL. Built by MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA, the MEP Innovation Conference joins thought leaders across the electrical, mechanical and sheet metal trades to improve MEP contractors’ profitability and productivity.

Innovation has become a key component across all trades. Act soon to be a part of this pivotal event that engages attendees in innovative presentations, collective roundtable discussions and hands-on exhibitor demonstrations.

The deadline for proposals is Saturday, June 29, 2023. Proposals must be submitted using the link below.

SUBMIT PROPOSAL

2027 MSCA Annual Education Conference

Explore critical topics such as management, personnel, finance, service technology, training, and recruiting issues. This is the only industry conference specifically geared to service companies and the unique challenges and issues they face. Also included is an exhibit of products and services that can help you run your business more efficiently. Education sessions will help you make your time, resources, and personnel go farther. Plus, there are expanded opportunities for structured networking and peer group discussions as well as numerous social events.

 

Doug Smith of Dynamic Systems Inc. Named MCAA Innovator of the Year

The MCAA Innovative Technology Committee recognized Doug Smith from Dynamic Systems, Inc. as the 2023 Innovator of the Year at the annual MEP Innovation Conference hosted by MCAA, NECA and SMACNA in January in Austin, Texas. Smith is the director of VDC technology at Dynamic Systems, Inc., a Texas-based contractor, and leads the design and coordination process between a team of over 120 people.  

Recognized by his peers for his leadership in research, process integration from virtual design to fabrication, and his ability to be a resource to colleagues in the industry. Smith has previously presented at the MEP Innovation Conference, MCAA Fabrication Conference and the MCAA Technology Conference.  

“Doug is one of the best people in the industry to know,” said Travis Voss, the Helm Group’s leader of innovative technologies. “When you are at a roadblock on something, more than likely he has faced the same challenge and will tell you how he fixed it. That kind of candor is part of the amazing culture he brings to the industry, and we all try to emulate.”  

About the award: The MEP Innovator of the Year award is given each year at the MEP Innovation Conference to recognize the people driving research and innovation in the industry. A representative from MCAA, NECA and SMACNA is recognized each year. 

Angie Simon Receives Industry Advocate Award for Her Recruiting Efforts at the 2023 MEP Conference

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age of a construction worker is 42, and nearly 20% of the workforce is over the age of 55. Finding and recruiting young workers into the trades remains a challenge for contractors. Angie Simon of Western Allied Mechanical, an MCAA member, and the past President of SMACNA decided to do something about it.

At the 2023 MEP Innovation Conference, Simon was recognized by Britton Langdon of MSUITE with the first Industry Advocate Award for her efforts with the Heavy Metal Summer Experience.  What started as small camps developed with two contractors – Western Allied Mechanical in Menlo Park, California, and Hermanson Company in Kent, Washington, has grown into a nationwide program.  “We started with two camps and jumped to 11 camps last summer [2022] and 170 high school aged students,” Simon said. “We are excited for this summer because now we have around 30 camps committed and expect over 425 students,” she added.

This incredible growth is the built around the playbook that Simon and her team put together for the camps. It includes everything needed to run a camp – the forms, permission slips, work permits and safety documents. This playbook also provides contractors with lessons and projects for the camps and suggestions for working with local Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs) to get as many into the industry as possible.

The camps get kids working with their hands, learning how to use industry tools, and learning some of the basics of the industry. Each camper receives a set of work boots, T-shirts, a bag of tools and the projects that they make. The costs of these items are covered by charitable donations from industry manufacturers, contractors and associations. According to Britton Langdon, “Through DEWALT, Stanley Black & Decker has sponsored the Heavy Metal Summer Experience across the country with resources, expertise and assistance in the camp. In addition, they have provided more than $200,000 in product donations to the campers.”  The program is also supported with key partnerships from Milwaukee Tool, Procore, Mestek Machinery, SMACNA, and the Makers Grant.

Following the award ceremony, MCAA, NECA and SMACNA announced that they would make a $10,000 donation on behalf of the MEP Innovation Conference. For more information on the Heavy Metal Summer experience, please visit their website.

Dynamic MEP Innovation Conference Highlights Ideas and Collaboration in Construction

With modern building practices, MEP contractors must coordinate precisely in their design and building for jobs to be profitable. In Austin, Texas, members from MCAA, NECA and SMACNA extended that collaboration at the MEP Innovation Conference. Members of the three associations came together to learn from each other on how new technologies are impacting their businesses.

The bourgeoning conference brought over 600 attendees from the MEP trades to better understand different viewpoints, roles and responsibilities. 

“This conference is quickly growing every year and the reason is simple – innovators come together across the trades and share honest feedback and ideas,” said Stacy Zerr, MCAA Innovative Technologies Chair. “If you want to learn about new processes, software or products, attendees will share with you how they made their solutions work for them.”

Sharing insights and team building went further than the presentations. Networking opportunities, roundtables and workshops helped contractors interact more directly with each other. One of the conference highlights that showcased the interaction was the closing workshop, Applying Lean Manufacturing Approaches to a Multi-Trade Environment, led by Charlie Dunn from DPR. The workshop used a combination of challenges, games, interactions and collaboration to drive home points on collaboration.  

Another new feature of the conference was an optional facility tour. Hosts included Dynamic Systems, Inc, Procore Innovation Center, JATC 286 Training Center and 3M Electrical Innovation Center. Contractors were able to get a first-hand look at innovations in VDC strategy, training and product development.  

Plans are already underway for the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference, but further education is also in the works to bridge the gap between conferences. Be on the lookout for innovation education during the MCAA Convention and the 2023 Fabrication Conference.  

Doug Smith of Dynamic Systems Inc. Named MCAA Innovator of the Year

The MCAA Innovative Technology Committee recognized Doug Smith from Dynamic Systems, Inc. as the 2023 Innovator of the Year at the annual MEP Innovation Conference hosted by MCAA, NECA and SMACNA last week in Austin, Texas. Smith is the director of VDC technology at Dynamic Systems, Inc., a Texas-based contractor, and leads the design and coordination process between a team of over 120 people.  

Recognized by his peers for his leadership in research, process integration from virtual design to fabrication, and his ability to be a resource to colleagues in the industry. Smith has previously presented at the MEP Innovation Conference, MCAA Fabrication Conference and the MCAA Technology Conference.  

“Doug is one of the best people in the industry to know,” said Travis Voss, the Helm Group’s leader of innovative technologies. “When you are at a roadblock on something, more than likely he has faced the same challenge and will tell you how he fixed it. That kind of candor is part of the amazing culture he brings to the industry, and we all try to emulate.”  

About the award: The MEP Innovator of the Year award is given each year at the MEP Innovation Conference to recognize the people driving research and innovation in the industry. A representative from MCAA, NECA and SMACNA is recognized each year. 

Register for the 2023 MEP Innovation Conference by December 1st to Receive Early Bird Pricing

Event Dates: January 11 – January 13, 2023 | Austin, TX

MCAA, NECA and SMACNA’s 2023 MEP Innovation Conference in Austin, TX on January 11-13, 2023 is almost sold out! This three-day event will include innovative presentations, collaborative roundtable discussions, and hands-on exhibitor demonstrations highlighting the recent technologies that can improve MEP contractors’ productivity and profitability.

These three-days are packed with over 30 breakout sessions, 5 demos, 4 general sessions, 3 facility tours, and plenty of networking opportunities. This is a pivotal event to learn from the industry’s best and brightest! New this year, we have scheduled multiple tours to showcase MEP processes, manufacturing facilities and more.

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VIEW AVAILABLE TOURS

Registration is limited and open to MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA members as well as labor representatives from their corresponding Unions. For more information or to register for the conference, visit the MEP Innovation website below. Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at eventregistration@mcaa.org or 301-869-5800.

MORE INFORMATION
REGISTER NOW

Thank you to our conference sponsors:

McKinstry Company Demonstrates How Fabrication and Innovation Converge

MCAA’s 2022 Fabrication Conference showcased how mechanical contractors are adopting and innovating in the built environment. McKinstry Company, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, hosted the tour this year and demonstrated to attendees how integrated digital design, collaboration and fabrication are creating a path for contractors that leverages combined productivity into profitability.

As part of the conference, attendees were able to participate in an all day tour that was essentially a 17-part case study on modern business practices. McKinstry explained their business practices, from estimating and design through project coordination, fabrication and installation. Along the way, they showed the tools and software programs that they use, and their coordination and fabrication processes.

“The tour is no small project,” said Jay Rohan, MCAA Fabrication Committee Chair and Dynamic Systems Senior VP. “It takes a lot of effort to organize speakers, sessions and presentations, in addition to having a great operation worth sharing. CJ Best (McKinstry, Director of Manufacturing) and the entire McKinstry team did a tremendous job of sharing their processes and giving everyone a couple of good ideas to take home with them.”

The conference featured education and case studies from contractors willing to share their own best practices. Jim Tedrow and Brandon Minick from Modern Companies presented on how they continuously look to improve. In their presentation, they shared how something as simple as hanger fabrication can be improved as long as you measure your time, evaluate your process and seek input from the field. By rethinking what they considered a very organized process, they were able to simplify the system and save time in both shop and field labor.

The conference also included presentations and guest speakers from our partner associations, NECA and SMACNA.  Electrical and sheet metal contractors shared the differences in their processes and considerations when they fabricate.  While many MCAA members perform multiple trades, the perspective from our building partners provided attendees with additional insights on building practices and coordination.

We concluded with a recap and a preview of our revamped 2023 Fabrication Conference in Seattle again next September 13-15 with additional tours and programming to allow for increased attendance. Save the date!

Learn From Your Peers at the 2023 MEP Innovation Conference

Event Dates: January 11 – January 13, 2023 | Austin, TX

Keeping up with the latest and greatest mechanical innovations is a daunting task for contractors. Finding the time to research, test and implement new technologies feels like an impossible task. One of the only ways to keep up is to learn from others. The 2023 MEP Innovation Conference is constructed around that concept – learning from others. 

“We built the conference knowing that we can’t solve everything on our own. We have to collaborate,” as Bob Snyder Jr., CEO of Binsky & Snyder and MCAA Technology Committee member points out. “With each of us sharing our wins and losses, we might not have solved all of our own problems, but we might get an idea from another contractor that has done it successfully.”

The 2023 conference will take place January 11 – January 13, 2023 in Austin, TX. These three days will be loaded with educational content and real-world practical experiences. It combines contractor case study presentations and 32 unique breakout sessions on contractor processes, research and experiences, paired with local contractor facility tours and a manufacturer exhibit.

Registration is limited and open to MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA members as well as labor representatives from their corresponding Unions. For more information or to register for the conference, visit the MEP Innovation website below.

MORE INFORMATION
REGISTER NOW

Event Contact
Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at eventregistration@mcaa.org or 301-869-5800.

Thank you to our conference sponsors: