Who Pays?
If a landlord is motivated to lease their space they may be willing to remodel before a new tenant moves in. Actually, almost any property owner would be willing to remodel for a new client if they were able to recover the costs from the lease agreement. So, when one is looking for office space, one can ask for the building owner to cover the cost of a remodel. Most times new carpet and paint is something that is easy to negotiate for.

Choosing A Contractor
Once a remodel has been decided on it is key to choose a contractor experienced with commercial remodels. They can offer advice about using current materials, structure, and infrastructure to save on costs. They can also advise on alternatives to desired components to help save money. The main thing about commercial remodel contractors is that they understand that time is money, and will work hard to meet deadlines.

An experienced contractor can help on the design, making sure that the work environment is well planned. Meaning that the space is efficiently used, lighting is adequate but also energy efficient, and traffic patterns are well planned. An experienced remodel contractor will also help keep a new remodel legally compliant. Older spaces can often be grandfathered in as-is. But with new remodels, especially major renovations, they must be brought up to current codes.

Codes And Compliance
One area of code issues frequently forgotten is ADA or disabilities compliance. That is the space able to meet requirements for people with disabilities; a contractor must make sure that their plan meets these federal requirements. Also, there are local code requirements that only contractors usually know or think about. An experienced contractor will make the remodel local code compliant.

After the remodel the result should be a comforting and functioning office space that will welcome clients. But more importantly it should help the business’s staff increase their productivity. To increase employee satisfaction with a remodel be sure to include them on the remodel planning. They will be the most valuable and informed source for insight to what is needed to work most efficiently. They can help determine potential issues like where power needs will be, how many and where data drops will be required, what they like in lighting, traffic patterns, and more. Employees know what is needed and everyone else involved in planning is only guessing.

Design-build is a manner of construction that has become popular in the past twenty years. It is where an owner of a projected new building hires a contractor to build that building. Then the owner and contractor design and build the building. Odd, but for most of the modern age that is not how commercial buildings were built.

The Old Method
For many decades the method of building a commercial building was to hire an architect and have him design the building. Then the architect hires, through a bidding process, the various contractors to build the components of the building like electrical or plumbing. The architect will layout the specifications for the various projects and contractors bid on how much they can do that project for. This manner of construction is called design-bid-build.

The downside to design-bid-build is that nothing starts until the building design is completed. So, a lot of time is lost. There is also the rigidity of the plans. If things do not fit together as the architectural firm planned, there can be problems, or if contractors see a better way to do things, they are tied to the plans. If there are any desired changes during construction that could bring the whole project to a halt. Also, sub-contractors often low-bid just to win the bid, but once they get to the project and the construction is on its way they shamelessly claim they cannot do what is proposed for the price they gave. This upcharge is most often done through a change order, which is a request for a contractor to do something that was not originally planned. Of course, these change orders cost more money.

The New Method
With design-build the construction can start much more quickly because building and design can flow together. While design plans are being finalized the construction area can be leveled for work to begin. Early utilities can begin to be brought into the construction area. The design/build timeframe is shortened which makes it a faster way to get construction done.

There can also be some costs savings with a design-build building. First, the project has a budget that has been established with the general contractor. Any margin is what the design-build contractor earns. So, that contractor will want to get the project completed under budget, so they can make their profit. They can hire any contractors they want to get the job done, but the contractor will make sure any sub-contractors will stay in budget.

Another form of cost savings from a design-build is that as the project continues the contractor (or even sub-contractors) can suggest alternative designs and materials to save money. They can even collaborate to get a project completed quicker and less expensively because they do not have the rigidity of architectural plans where they have no say.

Design-build is a popular form of building construction because it gives the owner say while the construction process is happening. At the same time the owner can work with the builder to get the building as they want it.

Growing an existing production line is never an easy thing. First, there is the current production operation which in most cases needs to keep running. Second, the production crew needs minimal training on the expansion line. Retraining can be costly with production line slowdowns because mission critical staff have a hard adapting to the new equipment. However, with careful planning both issues can be relieved of most worries.

One of the first issues to be addressed is to establish a measurable goal of how the production line should grow. That is if more completed products need to be produced each day, and then what is that new number? There may be times when the daily production number is fine but it would be nice if that production could be done in one shift rather than two. If it is increased speed that is desired then what are those numbers?

Determine Numbers
Once numbers are established, determining the right equipment to make that happen is next. This is a two-step process. First, talk with the floor personnel and with the supervisors. See how an increase in the line will affect their area and what equipment they will need for the increase. Do not forget to talk to shipping and receiving as they will have increased needs as well. Second, contact the equipment manufacturers and material handling companies about the desired increase to production.

Planning
The next step is to start planning the equipment installation. Talk with an experienced material handling installation company so they help in the planning. This is probably the most crucial step because thorough planning will keep downtime and disruptions to a minimum.

Of course there will be obvious issues like space requirements to review. But one of the more serious issues will be time, when will production be able to be stopped or disrupted long enough to install equipment? An experienced installation crew should be able to do much of the work while the plant is operational and not disrupting production or personnel. However, there will come the time when the new production line needs to be brought online. That switch would be good to plan around a holiday weekend or a time when the plant is already likely to be closed for a longer than average period.

Prepare Personnel
Finally, the issue of getting personnel accustomed to the new production is vital. However, if they were fully involved with the planning and installation process it will go a long ways to having them accept the changes. No one likes having change thrust upon them, but everybody likes making change happen. So, the last step starts with the first step. In everything keep the production line staff involved. Pull some production line staff into meetings with the equipment and material handling companies when the topic at hand affects their area. Have other staff involved someway with equipment installation, even when the plant is closed. At every point let them know what is going on and remind them that what is coming is the fruition of their ideas and suggestions. This will have them excited for the first day on the new line, rather than grumbling about something new and disruptive.

The key points to remember is to involve production line staff early and keep them involved, plan the installation thoroughly, and get an experienced installation company for the new equipment.

When business owners think of electrical contractors they primarily think of their power outlets. This is fair as one sees an outlet they think of power and electricity. However, a more often used example of power and electricity is lighting. And when people see lighting usually they don’t think of an electrical contractor, yet the lighting was most likely installed by an electrician. But it is not just indoor lighting where an electrical contractor can shine; a commercial electrical contractor will also be up to doing a good job with outdoor lighting.

Aesthetics
Outdoor lighting can really beautify a commercial building. At dusk, dawn, or at night, outdoor lighting shining on the storefront can help attract clients or customers. Just because a business’s interior lights are on does not mean people will come in. They may assume the business is closing. But a well-lit building will attract attention, even drawing attention when no one is there. Outdoor lighting can also help accentuate any signage that may not be already lit.

Security
Lighting a building well from the outside also provides a good amount of security. People who mean to do harm never want to do it in the light. So, that would mean lighting not just the storefront but the sides and back as well. It also means having plenty of lighting in the parking lot. An always present danger for businesses is the possibility of lawsuits, particularly the dangers presented by personal injury lawsuits. Having a well-lit area outside will help improve the level of safety when dark.

Cost Savings
While this additional lighting will cost the property owner or business owner, it is possible to reduce the long-term costs by using photovoltaic lighting. This is where lighting is powered by battery and the battery is charged during the day by solar power. Discuss the benefits and costs with your electrical contractor.

Like solar power lighting, there are other cost saving features available. One favorite is motion sensors which will turn lights on when the sensors detect motion. This keeps lights from remaining on and only necessitates a certain segment of the lights to come on. Also, there are timers which can keep a building lit while traffic is heavy with passerbies, but will turn off later when traffic dies down. These options can help keep monthly electrical costs down.

There are also various type of lights available depending on needs. Some come on slowly but eventually light widely and brightly. Others may be less powerful but can power up instantly to full brightness. All these variables should be discussed with a commercial electrical contractor when looking to install outdoor lighting for a business.

Over recent decades there has been a growth of opportunities for minority owned businesses. During the same time the economic development efforts of Native American tribes has grown also. This can mean some very unique opportunities for a Native American owned business.

Minority Programs
Obviously, a native owned company will qualify for many of the minority programs that are available. The most lucrative of which are the federal programs like the SBA 8(a) program and the HUBZone program. Then there are corporate procurement programs like the national and regional minority supplier diversity councils, they assist minority businesses in becoming vendors for the large corporations. In addition to these there are many regional and local programs for minority businesses that a Native American owned business can take advantage.

Native Programs
Then there are specific and unique advantages for Native owned companies. One example is the Indian Incentive Program from the United States Department of Defense. The Indian Incentive Program is a government set-aside to assist Native American small businesses to receive contracts from the military. Another example of advantages for Native American small businesses is a purchasing preference that certain tribes provide Native vendors. As a matter of fact Native American housing programs are supposed to get bids for projects from Native contractors first. Then if there are no acceptable bids from qualified bidders the housing programs can do a second round of bidding accepting bids from all vendors.

Still, even with these preference programs it is not easy to get business from the previously mentioned potential clients- the federal government, large corporations, and Native American tribes. These types of clients have a long history and a large vendor database. They are also obvious targets for all businesses to pursue. While the preference programs are there to help minority or Native American businesses get that business, it is not so simple.

A native owned company still has to be able to do the work. And not only to be able to do the work, but they have to do it so impressively that the client takes notice. Because it is only when the client takes notice that they will accept and use the minority preference programs to help keep the Native business as a vendor. What this means is that the business will probably have to be able to get the initial order on their own merits. A business will have to be able to sell a purchasing, contracting, or procurement officer on their ability to get an initial/trial order.

The best thing that a Native American owned company can do before pursuing minority/Native preference business is to do business without. The company can show that it can stand on its own feet without having to be Native American owned. That is the business can do what they do well and are also able to market themselves well. This independence is important because it is the ability to do the work and to market themselves which will make them successful once they enter in the preference programs.

Renting or buying commercial space is quite different than doing the same with residential real estate. Typically, a residence is designed to be moved into immediately as usable. A commercial property is also presented for sale or lease as is, but it will not be ready for business.

Commercial buildings are presented as a shell (the building). If leasing, the landlords or lessor will only have the responsibility to make sure utilities are running up to the building. Commercial property owners who lease their properties are very hands off. Meaning, if anything goes wrong the responsibility to fix it will fall to the renter. This is very unlike residential rentals where the landlord is available to fix anything with just a phone call.

When a business leases or buys a commercial or retail space they will have to shape it into what they want. It is pretty rare that a property will be move-in ready for a business. The previous owner or tenant will have modified the space for their purposes; it leaves the new tenant to modify a property for their purposes. Who will do the modification or more importantly who will pick up the cost is dependent on the contract negotiations. The cost could be carried by the lessor or the seller if negotiated before signing any contracts. Otherwise, the expenses for remodeling will fall to the new business.

A remodel of an existing property will probably start with demolition. That could be part of or the entirety of the interior of a building (or space). However, as a cost savings most businesses will want to see if they can utilize the existing infrastructure of a property. Things like electrical panels, plumbing fixtures, heating and air, or telecommunication wiring may be more cost-effective to remodel around what is already there. Therefore, very often commercial remodels focus on moving walls, new lighting (which will often include new ceilings), and flooring.

In doing a commercial remodel the question becomes who does the business choose to do the work? It is best to choose a contractor who is very familiar with commercial or retail space remodels. A contractor who does residential remodels will not be familiar with the intricacies of a commercial property. The general contractor who does primarily new buildings will not be looking for areas of cost savings and to utilize existing infrastructure. However, a contractor who does commercial remodels will be able to find ways to save on costs, utilize what already exists, and very importantly finish quickly. A quick remodel is important because the business is paying out money for their new property. Without the business being open no money is coming in.

A final note about commercial space is to note it differs from office space too. Office spaces may have more perks and actually include more benefits like office cleaning. Also, depending on what one is looking for an office space can also be move-in ready. However, they too are often available to be remodel depending on the businesses needs. The question of who pays for the remodel will be dependent on the contract negotiations.

Industries have learned the value of supply chain management in the past half of a century. There was a time not too long ago when a company would buy and stockpile mounds of all the raw materials they needed to keep their production lines running. This stockpile could run for months which was good that a company could keep production operating but bad that so much capital was invested in those stockpiles. However, with new ideas on the foundation of new technologies it is possible that companies can manage their supply chain while keeping capital liquid. It is even conceivable a company can order raw materials, run it through production, sell it, and get paid before their thirty days net is up on the raw materials order.

In supply chain management the newest buzzword is Just-In-Time inventory (JIT). That is when a company orders what they need as they need it. It arrives in a timely manner so production keeps running. What this eliminates is the need for any surplus; surplus translates into tied up capital. Just-In-Time inventory is made possible by telecommunications which allows for online ordering. Another advent that makes this possible is the changes in shipping. With carriers like UPS and FedEx it is possible to ship small amounts cheaply and quickly. As an example say a piece of machinery needs a belt. There was a time when the factory would have to stockpile a case load of belts for two reasons- one, the belt manufacturer could not afford to sell a single belt at a time, and two, it would be difficult to receive a replacement part in a timely manner. So, it was easier to keep a case of contingency parts around.

Now, it is easier to order as needed knowing that a company doesn’t need to stockpile as it once did.

To keep the modern supply chain flowing it does take understanding of the three points of production. The first is the ability to keep the purchasing department well informed of inventory, so that they can keep products and materials flowing when needed. The second point is production which will need attention from all supporting departments to keep the production lines operating. The third is shipping and receiving which has need to keep materials flowing to production and finished products onto trucks.

What makes all this possible from ordering to production to shipping is communication and material handling. While technological advances in telecommunications gets a lot of press and is an obvious assist to supply chain management, it is material handling which deals with the real world.

There is a lot that modern material handling can do to help keep a company’s production moving. New protocols with old and new equipment can help in ordering materials Just-In-Time for production. Obviously on the production floor, quality equipment can help not only with speed but supply chain efficiency. Then there is the last distance from factory floor to out the door where material handling can help make shipping a speedy endeavor also. Therefore, any review of supply chain management should also include a review of current material handling needs and procedures.

Electrical contractors do specialize. Perhaps the most plentiful of electricians are residential contractors; they focus on electrical issues in people’s homes. Next comes commercial electrical contractors that work in the world of commercial settings like retail stores or office buildings. Following that are industrial electrical contractors who work in factories and industrial plants. Each has specialized knowledge and there are a few other specialties that electrical contractors can get into.

The focus of commercial electrical contractors is supplying power throughout a commercial building. Obviously, this means distributing power to outlets in areas where electricity is needed. Still, the following are a few other areas where a commercial electrical contractor can be of service. These areas may not always be thought of when thinking about a commercial electrical contractor.

Lighting
Commercial electricians are very well versed in dealing with lighting. It is something they do with almost every new construction project. It is obvious that lighting is powered by electricity. However, because of the aesthetic ramifications many people tend to think of an interior designer when it comes to lighting. While an interior designer may be able to choose the best kind of lighting, fixtures, and placement, the installation will be done by an electrician.

Also, a business should not forget about its outdoor lighting. An electrical contractor can install outdoor lighting for the storefront, surrounding the building, and for the parking area. Outdoor lighting will help clients and customers; it will also help with security.
Controls
In addition to lighting there are other devices that the building will have that are powered by electricity. In this digital age not only are devices powered by but are reliant upon electricity to communicate. Most buildings have controls for systems in their buildings that need wiring. One of the most obvious examples is environmental controls like a thermostat. The thermostat is in one location while the heater or air conditioner sits in another part of the building. The two are wired together to communicate. Some more secure buildings have access controls that will only open with a badge or code. These types of controls need wiring also.

Security
While talking about securing buildings alarm systems most often need wiring. Alarm systems are wired from doors and windows to a control panel. Also any kind of sensors like a motion detection sensor will need to be wired back to the control panel. Similarly, any closed-circuit cameras will need to have cable run back to the monitor.

Telecommunications
Finally, telecommunications is an area commercial electrical contractors can help a building in getting wired. Many commercial electricians would know how to run cables for telephone and computer networks. This is not always a simple job because sometimes the two systems can run on one cable and there could be numerous cables to keep track of. Some commercial electrical contractors are even knowledgable about working with fiber optic cable.

One thing to know, while electrical contractors can help wire a building in these areas of controls, alarms, and telecommunications they are probably not the ones who will terminate the ends (connect the ends of the wiring). That is done by the company providing the service like security monitoring or the telephone system.

It is no wonder that many small and large businesses want to do business with the United States federal government. The US federal government is the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world. Their orders can be quite large, even for the largest corporations. The federal government also tries to do what it can to make sure small businesses get a big part of their purchasing. However, there are a few things small businesses should know before pursuing government contracts.

Study Procurement
The first thing to know is that it is going to take some studying on how government procurement works. Because it is a government they are going to do things differently than a business. It is best to get acquainted with how the purchasing is done for what your business does. One of the first places to get started along those lines is to determine the average cost of your product or service. Government procurement is basically broken up based on the value of the contract or purchase. Obviously, smaller purchases will take less time and red tape, while larger contracts can take years and stacks of paperwork. Therefore, a business will want to learn what manner purchasing procedures they will most likely encounter.

Strengthen Your Current Skills
The second thing to know is that a small business will be using the same skills that it uses for its regular business. The business still has to be able to do the project or fulfill the order to the satisfaction of the contracting officer. The contracting or procurement personnel will be following the contract of a new vendor very close, because it is not done satisfactorily it is that contract officer that will hear about. But if a business fulfills the contract well it makes it much easier to get more work from the government.

The small business will also be using the same marketing skills that it uses for other business. A business will have to get to know the right people and build a relationship with them. This takes time and effort, but is no different than other sales or marketing efforts. The good news is there is a lot of ways that small businesses can get introductions to buyers and purchasers of the federal government.

Don’t Rely Upon Government Business
The third thing to know about pursuing government business is not to rely upon government contract to support a business. Government work should be just another market segment that a business pursues. The federal government is most often very slow in its contracting purchasing efforts. They can take many months or even years for a contract to be awarded. Also, contracts are very often awarded for multiple years, so it can take many years for contract opportunities to come around again. Even after a contract is awarded the federal government is a notoriously slow pay client. Therefore, a small business should have plenty of other work and incoming revenue available to sustain itself.

Still, if a small business keeps these three things in mind, they can have a lucrative new market segment in the federal government. Plus, when the government is satisfied with the new vendor they can be the most loyal of all clients.

Every workplace has the potential for employee theft and even small amounts can add up to be a significant problem. That is why developing a loss prevention strategy is very important for every business.

The Theft Triangle
When it comes to stealing there are three factors that come into play. The first is motivation; that is a person has a desire for an item or money. The second is opportunity; a person has to be able to have access to get a particular item or money. The third is little risk; the person has to have a reasonable expectation to get away with their theft. These three factors are called the Theft Triangle.

If a business can remove any one factor it will go a long ways to preventing employee or inventory theft. The most difficult and nearly impossible factor to remove is motivation. It is rare a person who will know what another person is thinking, much less how they justify their thinking. But a business can remove opportunity for theft and increase the risk of getting caught. This goes to the old adage of keeping an honest person honest.

Reduce Opportunities For Theft
One way to reduce theft opportunities is to secure any valuable products or equipment. A material handling company can provide caging for products and equipment. The value of caging over say cabinets is that so much more can be secured at one time. Most other ways to secure products and equipment has to deal with some form of cabinetry. This means fewer items in less space and makes it difficult to get the items we needed. Caging can secure quite a bit in an area that can be walked into.

Increase The Risk Of Getting Caught
In addition to reducing opportunity for theft a business can also increase the risk of getting caught. A great way to increase risk is to add cameras to inventory locations. Many businesses do not think to add cameras to their back areas, yet they need to secure the interior non-public spaces too. The security may not have to be as thorough as public areas, but enough to add some risk to keep employees honest.

Security cameras come in all forms and price ranges. Since the motivation to have security cameras is to add risk for those who might steal, one doesn’t have to buy the most elaborate of monitoring equipment. A few well-placed cameras wired back to a central point for recording should suffice. Getting a commercial contractor to install cameras and run wires should be relatively inexpensive. Then the monitoring and recording could be automated.

Hopefully, it is evident that it does not take much to reduce theft. Preventing theft before it becomes an employee issue will help establish better relationships in a business. That means less employee turnover and of course reduced costs because of product loss. The main take-away is to remember how a business can use the Theft Triangle to protect itself and improve relations with its employees.

The electrical division of Arnold Electric, Inc. specializes in two categories of electrical contracting- commercial and industrial. While at first glance it may seem that they are the same, industrial electrical contractors have some unique challenges and must have specialized skills.

Commercial electrical contracting is involved with facilities like retail stores and municipal buildings. The electrical involvement typically is done on new construction or when remodeling the building (or a portion of the building). There could also be calls for a commercial electrician to deal with some issues within a functioning business. Overall, commercial electrical work is somewhat straightforward.

However, industrial electrical contracting involves not only the industrial facility but is also heavily tied to the equipment. Unlike basic commercial buildings that run a couple of standard voltages that homes use, industrial operations will probably have some unique power requirements. There could be machines that operate on non-standard voltage requirements which takes a skilled industrial electrician to bring power to it.

Also, industrial plants will draw a lot of power. This means that a lot of different things have to take place at one time. There are the different power panels which are industrial grade and sized to control the power. There are also different power cables that will be needed to carry enough electricity safely. These cables could have different materials that compose their make-up, shielding and insulation variances, and thicknesses. An industrial electrician has a lot more variables that he has to keep in mind.

Then there is an added level of complexity for industrial electrical contracting. Unlike new construction or remodeling, most industrial projects have to take place while the industrial plant is operational. Many times an industrial electrician does not have the luxury of being the sole person working that day. It could be very dangerous for them, for instance when they shut off power that power must stay off. An industrial facility employee could inadvertently turn power back on while an electrician is working at another location in the plant. At other times an industrial electrical contractor may only be able to work when a plant is shutdown like during the weekend or overnight. This would mean the industrial contractor must complete their work within the allotted timeframe. When the plant is scheduled to come back online everything must be completed and ready for the plant to restart.

All of this necessitates that the electrical contractor has specialized knowledge in working in an industrial setting. Truly, there is no school that will teach an electrician how to be an industrial contractor; the only real training available is experience. This means when one is looking for an electrical industrial contractor they need to look for and verify extensive work experience. Any electrical contractor that states they do industrial work will have a long list of references that they can supply.

The past year was very good for Arnold Electric, Inc. In 2010 AEI continued to strengthen both its electrical contracting and material handling divisions. AEI also continued to grow its third division of general contracting. The general contracting division focuses on remodeling projects. There was strengthening in the number of government and military projects, which lent credence to AEI’s current SBA 8(a) status. In addition to the projects that AEI undertook in 2010, there were a couple of honors that the company received in the past year.

Of significance in 2010, AEI was appointed by Tulsa’s mayor to the Electrical Examiners and Appeals Board and also participated in the SBA’s e200 training program.

Electrical Examiners and Appeals Board Appointment
Tulsa’s Mayor Dewey Bartlett appointed Arnold Electric Inc.’s president James Ryals to the Electrical Examiners and Appeals Board. James Ryals is one of two electrical contractors that sit on the seven person board. The appointment is given by the mayor and approved by the City Council. The board examines applications for electrical contractors, journeymen, and provides certification of competency. They also hear any appeals of applications as it refers to the National Electrical Code. Also, the board is available in an advisory capacity for the City Council. AEI is honored to have this appointment and to have its president appointed to this board.

SBA’s Emerging 200 Initiative
Arnold Electric, Inc. was also selected to participate in the SBA’s Emerging 200 initiative, also known as the e200. The e200 initiative started in 2008 as the inner-city program to help small businesses with high potential for growth. In 2009 it was announced that e200 would be expanded to include Native American communities after President Obama met with a national group of tribal leaders.

In 2010 the e200 nine-month training began in Tulsa with AEI identified as one of the high potential small businesses selected to participate. Some of the areas the classes focused on were accelerating growth of the businesses, how to diversify their markets, and exploring various forms of financing. There was also tremendous networking that was done among the students, the mentors, instructors, and classroom speakers. Also, as e200 is a SBA initiative there was much to be learned about government programs to assist small businesses.

Despite a poor overall economy in 2010, AEI remained solid and growing. Arnold Electric Inc. enjoyed its honors with its board appointment and SBA training selection this past year. Therefore, AEI is looking forward to a very good 2011.

Arnold Electric, Inc. has two divisions- electrical and material handling. Being an electrical contractor is self-explanatory but AEI is frequently asked what is material handling. A brief explanation is provided below.

Material handling is essentially the loading, unloading and movement of goods. This movement includes moving raw materials to the manufacturer of products to shipping and distribution. It encompasses all manner of conveyor systems and storage systems. Dealing with material handling systems can be broken down into two categories, manufacturing and distribution.

Manufacturing
There are a number of television shows that show how things are made- Modern Marvels, Unwrapped, How Things Are Made, and Made in America are just a few that show manufacturing of products. As you see products move from one system to another, all this product movement is material handling. Henry Ford is credited with being the father of the assembly line and gets a good part of the credit for being a sizable figure in the history of material handling. But material handling doesn’t stop when the product is completed, it still has to be boxed and shipped. That is part of the handling of materials also.

Distribution
As product is moved from point to point, it still travels on a conveyor system. From boxes being put on pallets, to being placed on trucks, shipped to distribution centers, and then on to their final destinations all happens on material handling equipment- conveyors systems, hand trucks, forklifts, shelving/racks. The racks in some distribution centers are amazing as they can be stories high, and hold millions of items. Even when products arrive at their final destination material handling is done. Behind the scenes products must be kept until ready to be used or displayed. That takes racks to hold everything and at times cages to secure from pilferage. Finally, heavy boxes need hand trucks and forklifts to get the products to the area where they are to be used or displayed.

The use of automation to create product is amazing to see, but also is the automation of moving products all the way to your store shelves.

Arnold Electric, Inc. is an electrical contractor that serves commercial and industrial needs. This is opposed to those that serve residential electrical needs. However, you may notice as you see vans or yellow pages advertisements that electrical contractors will choose certain specialties that break-down into their categories of residential, commercial, and industrial.

Residential
Residential electrical contractors focus on homes, either in doing electrical wiring in new home construction, or serving homes with electrical problems. Homes appliances typically operate on 110 volts with exceptions for 220 volts for major electrical appliances like electrical stoves, central air conditioning, and electric clothes dryers. Something few people realize until there is an issue, but a homeowner is responsible for the power line from the power pole to the house. The utility company does not accept that responsibility, so an electrical contractor would have to address that.

Residential electrical contractors are paid by the homeowners.

Commercial
Like residential, commercial properties operate primarily on 110 and 220 voltages. However, commercial properties have more unique needs. When a business opens or moves, it typically does a remodel of the property they are moving into unless they have built a new property. Commercial electrical contractors focus on that work, and they do a lot of business with General Contractors who are in charge of new construction. Additionally, commercial electrical contractors work heavily with lighting for interior and external needs including parking lot lighting.

Commercial electrical contractors get paid by the business or from the general contractors.

Industrial
Industrial electrical contractors work with large manufacturing and distribution companies that have very unique power needs. These companies have high voltage equipment with varying voltage requirements. An industrial electrician works heavily from the design of electrical engineers to assure power needs are met.

Unless it is a new construction facility, then industrial electrician are paid by the manufacturing company.

With the explanations given, electrical contractors typically couple either as residential/commercial or commercial/industrial, whatever best suits their business model and expertise. When seeking a contractor, check their advertisements (web sites, business cards, ads, etc.) to see what type of electrical work they do before calling.

With the all the trends toward Going Green, no other campaign has such a direct correlation to saving money as saving energy. Simply put, power companies charge us for our consumption, so it makes it easy to save money, save energy.

Beware Of The Vampires

Energy devices that seem to be off but are actually secretly drawing power have been termed energy vampires.  Anything that has a remote is actually in a quiet state of readiness for you to hit the power button, but also is quietly drawing power.  Computers and their peripherals are notorious for using power when supposedly off.  Chargers for cell phones and other devices, when left plugged in continues to circulate power regardless if the a device is plugged in or not.  Taking an inventory of such devices, could help reduce the electrical bill.

What To Do

Indeed, bending over every time you want to use your computer or watch TV to plug-in or unplug after use would be a bit much.  What could be done is placing outlets to a wall switch just like room lighting.  This would mean that a room could be completely powered down when one leaves it.  Of course, this would take an electrician to execute.  Variation on that theme is to use motion detectors or timer to turn power completely off in a room or office.

Old School

Seemingly, everyone was brought up to turn off the lights when the leave the room.  This is still a good idea.  To take that further, consider changing lighting to fluorescent (or other forms of energy saving lighting).  Energy saving lighting has changed greatly and there are many forms of lighting that will suit almost every form of interior design imaginable.  Again, using an electrician to replace lighting is a safe route to go.  Also do not limit lighting needs to the interior, exterior lighting can be completed with photosensor and photovoltaic lighting, again bring a savings.

A big user of energy is environmental controls like heat and air conditioning.  Keeping temperature low in winter and high in summer may not be an option for an office setting, but it could be achieved during off hours.  Again consider using timers and/or motion sensors to control and environment to save money in the off hours.  Timers and sensors can also be used to control lighting.

Arnold Electric is very proud of its employees and knows it success is due to them. Every successful business is because of its employees, unfortunately it is usually the owners that get the press and awards. Recruiting and retaining these valuable employees is never as easy an ad in the classifieds and then a paycheck every week.

Recruiting
Finding great employees starts with recruitment. It has been said the best employees are already taken, and those looking could be suspect (why has no else hired you?). The key to finding great employees is to take a long-term approach by finding who is the best in the field. True, they may be happily employed now, but getting in front of them and letting them know you are interested is always pleasing. It is nice to be recruited. But your real objective is to let them know that they have a home should they every become available. This approach takes time but will pay-off in the long run as most every becomes available at some point. It is much better than having a position and filling it with just a body.

Retaining
Keeping your key employees is an art and continual challenge. The best approach is to consider it a battle of the heart to get employees to stop working for themselves and start working for the company. This is a particular challenge in the trades where most employers get employees for a project and then let them go, which conditions electricians to look out for themselves and get as much as they can while they can. But if an employee can feel that an employer has their back, then the employee will begin to reciprocate. In the trades this has meant that the employee will get a full check even in the slow times, and striving to never layoff anyone. In essence a business is setting themselves apart from any other employer, and those that get the best employees do just that, let the employees know that there is no place better to work. That the grass is not greener on the other side.

The most obvious work that electricians do is electrical. Typically, most everyone only thinks of electricians when some appliance (or all appliances) are not getting power. However, electrical contractors very often do more than just power.

Consider This
Our lives have become more dependent on electronics, and that means an electrical current being run along a wire. This is what electricians specialize in. Consider that video is run along a cable (cable or satellite). Thermostats which regulate our heat and air conditioning run on a wire connected to our central systems. Security systems run wire from entry points to our security panels along to the monitoring service. Then phone systems run wire from the phone to the telephone pole. Most of what you touch or use daily at home and work depends on wires and electricity along those lines.

Undoubtedly, every business that provides you a service, will offer to run the necessary wiring in a business or a home. Usually, this will come at a premium additional price. And if done over time, this will mean that wiring is running through the walls from four or five different services without consideration of each other. However, if one is able to preplan, say during new construction or a remodel, an electrician can run the necessary wiring to the points designated in an orderly and systematic manner. Saving headaches and dollars later. However, the service provider in most cases will still be needed to terminate the ends of the wiring.

Check Into This
If you look into the advertisements of electrical contractors they will tell you what other services they do. This will vary widely from contractor to contractor, but as a business contractors they want to expand and specialize in certain areas. Some electrical contractors will also provide heating and air services (HVAC). Arnold Electric provides material handling services to manufacturing and distribution centers. Others may specialize in certain types of data or communication wiring mentioned above.

It could pay to look into what an electrical contractor could do for your home or business beyond the obvious.

Regardless of economic conditions, good or bad, the key to survival is to find the niche for your business. Nobody truly sells to everyone, a product or service will settle into a certain set of demographics. Knowing who that is will help a business stay viable in all economic climates.

Determining clientele is an imperative. This understanding will better able to distinguish a business from the competition. Better marketing and better operations will stem from understanding the customer base. Taking the “we sell to everyone” approach is presupposing a lot and lends itself to a business becoming a me too business. Knowing a clientele will help a business know sale cycles, industry specific nuances, and the trend setters. It will also let a business know when it needs to change to stay where their client base is going to be.

Many businesses who falsely believe that they sell to everyone during a good economy, will be left with nothing when the economy shifts. All because they didn’t shift with their customers because they didn’t know they had customers, they believed they had everyone.

Which brings up another benefit to pursuing niche business, it creates loyalty. When niche clientele feels that a business exists just for them, they will follow the business. Actually finding reasons to do business with them because there is a sense of ownership. They will take care of what they perceive as theirs. Without that loyalty customers will just move down the road to the next thing without giving your business another thought. Niche business brings loyal partnerships.

In the trades there are plenty of electrical contractors. All waiting for a phone call from the phone book or submitting bids trying to win low bid situations. However, being able to find niche business has helped Arnold Electric, Inc. grow. Not only has having niche business been able to let AEI distinguish itself, but in some categories AEI is the premier business in that niche.

Electrical contractors in addition to providing power through out a building also work with lighting. As Thomas Edison has made famous, we get light from electricity. However, since Edison’s day, the options have grown and so has the energy efficiency. Retrofitting a commercial space with new lighting can save money and improve efficiency. Giving significant thought to lighting for new construction is an imperative.

When considering which type of lighting to use, the use of the light needs to be considered, where it will be used, and how often.

Light Use
Not all light is created equal, so considering how it will be used is a necessary consideration. Different lighting has ratings for color rendition, which is a measure of how closely a light source can render color as sunlight does. Lighting can also be categorized as warm or cold lighting. Simply put, cold lighting puts off light with a blue-green color and warm lighting with a yellow-red color. The question of light use is a question of how colors are to be represented.

Location of Lighting
Proximity to surface areas will need to be examined when choosing a light source. If lighting will be placed high above a floor, say twenty feet or more, a High Intensity Discharge (HID) light can be used. It floods a broad area with light well and efficiently, an area like a warehouse, gymnasium, or a high atrium. For lower level lighting under one story, more traditional lighting can be considered like fluorescent or incandescent lighting.

Frequency of Use
How long a light source will be used is a consideration also. HID lighting is very energy efficient. A typical lamp for HID is metal halide or mercury vapor, both of which take a great while (up to thirty minutes) to warm up to full efficiency. Not something to be turned on and off. On the other hand areas where light use will be limited but full efficiency is needed immediately like a supply closet, traditional incandescent lighting would serve well.

Once all these factors are considered an electrician can recommend which light could be used where. At this point is when more aesthetic questions can be asked, as certain lighting requires different deployments. Some lighting cannot or should not be recessed or other lighting fixtures may need to be covered by unattractive safety glass, etc. Some of those questions may belong more to an interior designer, who help you decide from the choices an electrician gives you.

Arnold Electric, Inc. is a proud minority owned company. This designation has helped with business but also has come with responsibilities. There are considerations before pursuing minority business, but there are also options for a business that may not be a minority owned company.

Acquiring Business
Minority owned companies can utilize their minority status to acquire business if they desire. There are programs in the federal, state, and local governments that will help businesses obtain government business. Large corporations also have diversity programs that will help small businesses to do business with them. Still, these are not easy avenues to new business, just another route. It is better to decide to pursue this business at all costs, accept that the process will take time and effort. The rewards can be nice and be a good way to develop a new niche of business.

Giving Back
It is good business to give back and not just take from minority programs. Arnold Electric has done this by being an active members of local chambers of commerce and attempt to do business with other minority businesses when possible. AEI has also teamed with other minority companies to pursue contracts. This is a good way to fill voids in expertise and also create a win-win with other minority own companies. Governments and large government contractors like to see teaming arrangements.

Working With A Minority Business
Even if a business is not minority owned, it does not preclude it from the benefits of a minority owned company. Most if not all ethnic chambers of commerce will accept any business as a member to their organization. Attending these events is a good way to get business in these communities, by attending their business events. Also, if a business would like to have the assistance afforded to minority business, they can approach a minority owned business to see if a partnership could be formed to pursue business.

Finding a minority business that already has minority status can be found by doing a search on the Dynamic Small Business database from the Small Business Administration at http://dsbs.sba.gov.