Peter I feel I may run long here but I want you to know where I am coming from with my statements.
First can I ask you to read e57's (Mark') comments again. I think he has some great information in that post.
I have always believed in doing the best job I am capable of.
I have no doubt of that and many companies will be grateful for that commitment.
My way might take an additional one minute apiece for a total of five pieces.
Pete there is no 'might' about it, your way does take longer. As a boss I am not worried about 5 pieces, I have to worry about 100s to 1000s of repetitive activities.
If the other guys do it 15 seconds and you do it in 60 seconds your production will be 1/4 of the other guys. This applies if its a 5 minute or 5 month project. It is not pennies we are counting it adds up quickly.
What is the value of an extra minute over a live span of the project of 20~30 years
Pete unfortunately there is little value (other than pride) in it if both ways last the same amount of time.
And what is the cost if a poorly deburred cut eventually scraps through the insulation of those 3/0 cables sometime in the future?
A lot, no doubt about it.
This is where, in my opinion part of a craftsman's skill is knowing what is
necessary over what looks pretty.
Believe me I do not want call backs for anything.
I am working a job now that having a worker like you would make me happy. We have thousands of shielded MC terminations to make. Without careful attention you can ground fault the shield which will have to be located and repaired. This is a case where I will gladly let you have the time to make a fault free connection.
I do not like falling victim to the lure of the Almighty Penny.
Do any of us, but it is a fact of life.
I doubt you have had a chance to learn some of what goes on before any workers see the job site.
Someone has a grand vision of a great new building with every convenience. Plans are drawn and put out to bid. These plans often show the electrical as a 'pipe job' no MC, custom lighting fixtures, all kinds of fancy building automation controls etc.
Then the bids come back and reality sinks in. They can not pay for the job, cuts must be made. What are you going to cut? The nice looking lobby furnishings or the unseen electrical work?
Short story the project gets 'value engineering' our price keeps dropping to the point we are taking the base bid for peanuts and hope to make up the loss with extras.
Pete you know we have done some of the large home improvement stores, these are a perfect example of a job that has no money in it to make the electrical 'pretty'.
They supply almost all the stock for the job including the big ticket items like lighting and switchgear.
This means we do not make much on materials.
So now we have to make money on just the labor, but wait they build tons of stores they know how many hours it takes per sq ft better than the EC does.
To make money at this type of job you will pretty much have to do it
faster than any other EC before you.
There will be no meaningful extras on this type of job, they know what they want when the prints go out.
But sloppy cuts are probably acceptable as long as there ore no burrs and it's not so bad that the integrity of the connection is compromised.
Pete I do not want anyone to make sloppy cuts. I want people that are willing to adapt to different methods. With practice good cuts can be made without all the steps you describe.
Think of it like bending pipe, with practice you can make great offsets without measuring.
After all, the inspector does not inspect this. You only have your pride to live up to.
The inspectors look at darn little of what we do, I work like they will take it apart. Pride in my work keeps me coming in. I can be proud that I provided a quality job
and did it quickly and efficiently.
I must admit that I have a disadvantage in this field since I come from a background in maintenance.
Your right it is a different world, I have done both also.
We pay much more than a maintenance job, we also provide you with the right tools, safety equipment and stay after the GC to provide a safe work enviorment. For this we expect you to go home tired sore and dirty. You will drive to the job site and
work 7hrs 40min every day to get paid for your eight.
One problem is that you have to deal with the shortcomings of construction short cuts.
True and sometimes those short cuts where the fault of the contractors, just as likely the short cuts where cost cutting measures by the person footing the bill.
Some people are happy with a KIA others want a Mercedes. There is no shame in providing a KIA to those that want one.
Bob