Page 54 - IEC Insights Sept-Oct21

FEATURE

TO INCREASE

PRODUCTIVITY,

Take This One Task Off

Your Electrician’s List

BY TODD REED

T According to research by MCA, 40% of and scale to implement value-add 3

The construction industry is more
an electrician’s time on the jobsite is
services throughout the supply chain.
competitive than ever: timelines are
shorter, margins are tighter and labor is
spent on non-install tasks. With 42% of
scarcer. The U.S. Department of Labor
shows that a contractor can reduce
going to labor, material handling takes up
projects that the U.S. economy will need
their material handling time by up to
roughly 10% more electricians by 2028. 1 a typical electrical contractor’s revenue Research by ELECTRI International
a surprising 17% of the total revenue on a
typical project. 2 40% when they collaborate with a
Even as contractors work hard to get more single distributor. Graybar can also help
done with less, 53% of projects run behind You + Graybar = streamline the procurement process –
schedule, and 68% go over budget. one customer was able to lower PO
Peak Productivity cost by 72% and frequency by 80%.
One key driver of this efficiency gap often
goes unnoticed, or is considered “business Most contractors think that managing In comparison, contractors who worked
as usual” – time electricians spend on the materials is just part of the job. with multiple competitive suppliers
jobsite managing materials, instead of However, paying electricians to unpack to lower the price of material upfront
installing them. boxes is the most expensive option saw cost savings of only 2% or less.
– and takes up time that could be
A Contractor’s Profitability spent more profitably on install. Like any pro, a contractor thrives
by focusing on what they do best –
Depends on Jobsite Productivity A distributor can help you cost- install. Collaborating with a distributor –
effectively eliminate redundant work a pro in logistics – on material
Looking around a typical jobsite, you will from the jobsite by preparing material management frees you to focus
likely see workers waiting on a delivery during receipt and delivery. More on higher-value work, maximizing
truck, or stacks of parts that need to be importantly, distributors can optimize productivity to improve profitability.
unboxed and carried to the point of install. project logistics by leveraging expertise

52 Insights Magazine | September/October 2021 | www.ieci.org