Organization: MCAA

It’s Not Too Late to Reserve Your Room for the 2017 UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference

The UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference will be held at The Mirage in Las Vegas, November 14-15, 2017. The conference theme is “Highlighting Best Practices.” This will be a very positive and forward-looking event. There will be substantial UA attendance as the UA is holding a Business Managers Meeting in conjunction with the Labor Relations Conference. It will be great, therefore, to have robust attendance from MCA affiliated associations. To encourage maximum attendance there will be NO registration fee.

To reserve your room at The Mirage:

Reserve Online

To reserve by telephone:

Call: 800-627-6667
Reference code: SUAM1117

Room rates begin at $180.00/night and must be booked no later than Friday, October 20, 2017.

Registration for the conference will open in August. The conference will begin with a reception the evening of Tuesday, November 14. The conference program will be all day on Wednesday, November 15. That evening MCA local associations and UA local union attendees are encouraged to hold joint dinners. MCAA participants should, therefore, not plan on departing before the morning of November 16.

For more information, contact John McNerney.

Going Retro – The Art of Retrocommissioning in HVACR

In the HVACR industry, most know all about the commissioning process but a new resurgence of retrocommissioning is making a comeback in the HVACR industry.

Properly commissioning an HVAC installation is a necessary process that ensures newly installed systems operate as intended and since many existing buildings are in poor shape, through retrocommissioning, contractors are trained to identify problems and offer solutions.

The process of retrocommissioning refers to identifying improvements that can increase the energy savings and performance of existing buildings. Considering that about half of all commercial buildings in the U.S. were constructed before 1980, it’s easy to see why there is a growing demand for contractors who offer retrocommissioning.

Some of the problems that Richard Starr, President and CEO, Enterprise HVAC Service and Control, Twinsburg, Ohio, and former national chairman of Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA), has uncovered during retrocommissioning include improper air pressures (zones that should be positive but are negative and vice versa), a lack of proper air changes per hour, and building controls that are not calibrated properly.

Ongoing retrocommissioning is absolutely vital to the performance of a building, said Thom Brazel, General Manager, Ruthrauff Service, Pittsburgh, PA, and former national chairman of MSCA.

For the full article in The News, click the button below.

Click For Full Article

 

Egan Realizes Rapid ROI with KEY2ACT’s MobileTech

Egan Company installed the MobileTech solution from KEY2ACT, slashing billing time and eliminating time-consuming paperwork. Chris Yelle, Egan’s service operations manager, estimated that Egan will see its return on investment (ROI) within 18 months of implementing MobileTech, which connects field staff to the back office, providing instant access to the information and enabling both sides to easily manage service calls and appointments.

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Looking for More Solutions that Deliver Quick ROI?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

MCERF Funds Development of Innovative New BIM Software

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF), the non-profit foundation of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), today announced a collaboration with a software developer, BuildingSP, that will result in a freely available building analysis add-in for the Autodesk Revit building information modeling (BIM) platform. The Revit add-in is called the MCERF Complexity Measurement Tool (CMT) and analyzes a building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) spaces for congestion and complexity.

This project marks the first time that MCERF is partnering with a software developer to provide cutting edge tools for the industry. Mark Rogers, MCERF President and COO of West Chester Mechanical noted, “We wanted to take our ability to fund research to the next level and work with emerging software developers to provide not just theoretical ideas, but working solutions.  This software will not only help contractors explain complexity to the design team, it will hopefully be used by them to develop smarter designs in the first place.”

A common concern that contractors face with BIM is the over-design of the space. Members of the design team will often assume that if all parts and pieces of an MEP system can fit in the plenum space, ceiling height can be maximized with no impact on installation schedule, labor or change orders. Contractors also face the challenge of having to demonstrate impacts that design changes have on their work.

For MCAA members, the CMT should allow for an analytical approach to the design and identify trouble spots and plan accordingly. To do this, the add-in first identifies all the spaces used for routing of MEP systems in a combined Revit model. This includes structural and electrical systems that are often unseen by MCAA designers.  It then measures the volume of space that is to be filled with MEP systems and compares it to the available volume to create a congestion and complexity metric. Once the software analyzes the space, it creates a “heat map” that gives a color value to this metric, creating a visual report of congestion and complexity.

“It is very exciting to be working with the MCAA, MCERF, and their member companies on this project,” said Brett Young, CEO of BuildingSP, the firm creating this software for MCERF. “Congestion and complexity makes projects difficult to coordinate and get ready for construction. By providing visual summaries and putting real numbers to this congestion, we hope to raise awareness of the challenges and accomplishments of project teams.”

“The reality is that the buildings being constructed today are getting more and more complex. Until now, our industry has not been able to quantify this complexity,” said Dennis Langley, executive director of MCERF. “The MCERF CMT, which will be freely available for download and use, will change this by analyzing and quantifying the congestion of the spaces in a building used for routing our pipes, conduits, and ducts.”

The CMT was designed to serve as a multifaceted tool for contractors when working with BIM.  At its base level, it will help visualize the real world complications that mechanical contractors continuously face when working within a design team.  At the same time, the CMT can facilitate project management, scheduling, estimating, fabrication and negotiation of change orders.

The MCERF CMT is in beta stages of testing and will be compatible for Autodesk Revit 2016 and subsequent versions. It is expected to be released to the public in November, 2017 in conjunction with the MCAA Technology Conference in Austin, TX.

For inclusion in the beta program, contact Sean McGuire at smcguire@mcaa.org. For technical details on the MCERF CMT, contact Brett Young at brett@buildingsp.com.

UA’s Mark McManus is Special Guest Speaker for MSCA CONNECT 2017 Education Conference!

Mark McManus, UA General President, will be our Special Guest Speaker at MSCA CONNECT 2017 Education Conference on Monday, October 16th at our Opening Celebration!

Mark McManus, United Association General President, leads the nation’s most progressive and influential trade union. Mark McManus has had a distinguished career in support of our nation’s hardworking men and women and has been unwavering in his commitment to a strong and mutually beneficial partnership between labor and management. Mark has served the UA  as International Representative, Administrative Assistant to the General President, and General Secretary-Treasurer before taking over as GP of the 340,000 member International Union.

You must be registered for MSCA 2017 to attend the Opening Celebration, so sign-up today.

For additional information and to register, click on the button below:

MSCA 2017 Conference Website

 

Harrell-Fish Inc. Goes Digital with Jonas Construction Software – Move Slashes Payroll Processing Time, Improves Cash Flow

With their new Jonas Construction Software, Harrell-Fish Inc. (HFI) is now able to turn around billings about five days quicker, improving their cash flow in the process. They have also reduced their payroll processing time from about four hours a month spread out across three employees to about an hour only with Jonas.

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Looking for More Ways to Save Time and Improve Cash Flow?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

HOLDRITE Products Solve Jobsite Challenges for PAR Plumbing

When PAR was contracted to provide all of the plumbing for Riverside K, a 32-story luxury condominium on Manhattan’s West Side, they knew that space inside the walls would be tight. HOLDRITE support systems made for a simpler installation while also saving PAR time.

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Looking for Solutions to Your Installation Challenges?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

MSCA CONNECT 2017 Education Conference Highlight Our One-Day Optional Bonus Program!

Join us for Managing Your People Profits on Sunday, October 15th at
MSCA CONNECT 2017 Education Conference!

In this one-day optional bonus program, MSCA will share proven strategies and tactics necessary to build a talent plan and pipeline. This session will help you with your investment strategies to find the right people to join your team and ensure long-term stability and growth and to understand the importance of generational differences (GenZ, Millennials, GenX and Boomers), engaging available technology solutions and the impact on your profitability will be discussed.

Jon Finch, VP of Training and Recruiting for Milwaukee Tool, with years of experience working with Milwaukee’s recruiting model, will be sharing best practices for success. He has spent the last 17 years working on finding the best people to help the company grow over 20% each year.

This dynamic session will give you the opportunity to learn best practices and share with your peers the challenges you are facing. You will delve into strategic planning for your future success and leave with the tools you need to get your company ahead of this challenge – instead of constantly reacting to changes.  Topics include:

  • The cost of turnover and recruiting
  • Planning for your employment needs
  • Prospecting for future employees
  • Best practice hiring decisions
  • Behavior Based Interview models
  • Investment strategy and return values

The cost for this one-day optional bonus program is $500 and includes breakfast and lunch as well as session workbook and materials. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insightful recruiting strategies to sustain and grow your business!

For additional information and to register, click on the buttons below:

MSCA 2017 Conference Program

MSCA 2017 Conference Website

Sloan Offers Low-Maintenance, High-Tech Approach to Commercial Restrooms

Knowing when to service or replace aging plumbing equipment is critical to maintaining a clean, operational commercial restroom. Like regularly changing the oil in your car, consistent preventive maintenance helps avoid critical, costlier repairs down the road.

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Looking for More Tips to Save You Time and Money?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

Plus, you’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

MSCA’s Plumbing Service 101 – Finding and Developing Great Plumbing Techs Webinar Now Available!

If you missed Plumbing Service 101, Module 3 – Finding and Developing Great Plumbing Techs, don’t worry, you can now access the webinar in both MSCA’s Resource Center and in Archived Webinars.

This third webinar in the MSCA original series, Plumbing Service 101, Finding and Developing Great Plumbing Service Technicians, provides an overview of where and how to find talented individuals and how best to train them. You will learn about the important traits to look for in your recruiting efforts and the skills needed for success.

In this webinar, Tom Bigley, UA Director of Plumbing Services, shares relevant information on UA Plumbing Service Training Programs.

Each module consists of a 60-minute webinar and corresponding workbook. Webinars and workbooks are free to MSCA/MCAA members.

Access the webinar in Archived Webinars

 

Enhance Your Service Dispatcher’s Performance!

ALMOST SOLD OUT!

As the first point of contact for your customers, service dispatchers are vital to your business. To ensure these crucial team members are well-prepared to effectively perform their role, register them for the MSCA Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program, September 18-19, 2017, in Dallas, TX.

New and experienced dispatchers will gain valuable insights and understanding about their importance to your business and its current and future success. This class is ALMOST SOLD OUT so sign your dispatchers up today!

Download brochure and register now

Discover the Latest from Sloan Valve Company, Rawal Devices, Inc. and More in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:


Sloan AEC-DECSloan Valve Company
The AER-DEC® – Now Even Better – The most versatile sink system, now with new and updated features.

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Rawal APR ControlRawal Devices, Inc.
Rawal Devices, Inc.’s APR Control is a continuous capacity modulation and dehumidification device, providing part load control to resolve oversized DX A/C challenges in new and retrofit applications.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Pan-Pacific Mechanical Combines Expertise with Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. Flexibility to Meet Challenges

With customized solutions from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., Pan-Pacific Mechanical (PPM) met the challenges of the California Building Code and their client’s demand for a visually pleasing building. Jay R. Smith’s willingness to provide products that adapted to PPM’s custom approach ensured that construction of the new Kaiser Permanente San Diego Regional Medical Center (KPSD) went off without a hitch.

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Curious About Other Custom Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! See how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also features tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

John Ratzenberger Wants to Make America Skilled Again at MSCA CONNECT 2017 Education Conference!

Emmy-nominated Actor, Voice Actor, Accomplished Screenwriter, Director, Producer and Author, John Ratzenberger to speak at closing session at MSCA CONNECT 2017 Education Conference!

John Ratzenberger is best known for playing mail carrier Cliff Clavin on Cheers and as the only actor to voice a character in every Pixar movie including Hamm in Toy Story and Mack in Cars.

But it’s a little known fact that prior to his acting career, John worked as a house framer, archery instructor, deck hand on a fishing boat and even helped build the stage at Woodstock. He knows firsthand the value of learning a trade and has worked tireless for the past 20 years to support the skilled workers who are the foundation of our economy.

He produced and starred in the Travel Channel series John Ratzenberger’s Made in America, wrote a book about his travels to American manufacturers, testified to both the House and Senate on the need for skills training in schools, and continues to not only call out the shortage of skilled workers that threatens our country as a whole, but champion the honor, work ethic and contributions of the American tradesman.

John Ratzenberger wants to make America skilled again!

Hear John talking about his session at our conference below:

For additional information, click on the buttons below:

MSCA 2017 Conference Speakers

MSCA 2017 Conference Website

 

U.S. Engineering Saves Time, Labor with Zurn Lean Construction Plumbing Solutions

Zurn Industries, LLC enabled U.S. Engineering Company to “move the chains” faster than usual during the rough-in phase of building a new stadium for Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Patrick Barnett, project manager for U.S. Engineering, said Zurn’s lean construction practices provided “at least a 10-percent” labor savings for the company.

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Looking for Other Ways to Save?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area to see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also features tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

MSCA and Convoy of Hope Partner Again to Bring Hope in Boca Raton!

This year, prior to the commencement of MSCA 2017 Education Conference in Boca Raton, FL, MSCA and Convoy of Hope will partner once again to deliver a tractor trailer full of much needed supplies to the Palm Beach County Food Bank. MSCA Board members and other volunteers will help unload tens of thousands of pounds of goods, valued at over $40,000. MSCA volunteers will then assist with performing various needed tasks and activities at the food bank.

For more information, please click on the button below.

CLICK HERE

Take a look at last year’s turnout:

At our MSCA 2017 Education Conference, spouses and other volunteers will also pack approximately 75,000 meals and over 15,000 pounds of rice or beans which will be shipped to Convoy of Hope’s Children’s Feeding Programs worldwide. We look forward to working again with a hardworking group of volunteers at our “Do Good – Feel Great” Packing Party on October 17, 2017.

MSCA’s Popular Plumbing Service 101, Third Webinar is June 13th and Registration is Now Open!

This third webinar in the MSCA original series, Plumbing Service 101, Finding and Developing Great Plumbing Service Technicians, will provide an overview of where and how to find talented individuals and how best to train them. During this webinar you will learn about the important traits to look for in your recruiting efforts and the skills needed for success.

It’s our pleasure to announce that for this webinar, Tom Bigley, UA Director of Plumbing Services, will be sharing relevant information on UA Plumbing Service Training Programs.

The webinar is scheduled for June 13 at 1:00 pm EDT, sign up today!

REGISTER HERE