I joined Hanson Audio Video, a highly respected Ohio-based integrator with showrooms in Cincinnati and Datyon, as an additional Project Manager in 2017.
All Project Managers at Hanson AV were tasked to work with a specific AV System Designer. Our job was to review the project with the System Designer and then meet with the client to go over the job and to set up a job completion and work schedule. If there were any changes, we would adjust our plans based on the review outcomes.
Our process called for a meeting with our Field Operations Director, who managed our technical teams. His process called for putting together a team from a pool of technicians to assemble and match skills and experience for the job.
As you can imagine, each PM had their favorite technicians and wanted to get them on their team — which at times resembled a WWF match for final selections.
With different teams in different jobs, it was confusing for our technicians. Over time, our Field Director concluded that consistency in having a dedicated team for each Project Manager would be more efficient.
The Project Managers agreed as we each had our favorite techs, so we started the first Hanson AV draft picks.
A minimum team structure was established to consist of a Lead Technician and an Apprentice. The Lead Technician had responsibility for job completion but also teaching the Apprentice.
Since then, further refinement involved the addition of a Master Technician, which is a tech that is extremely knowledgeable with the experience basically to install and program everything we do as a business.
On large or complicated projects, a Master Tech works under the PM but leads the installation, clarifies any issues, reviews job completion, and closes the job with the customer. The team structure for these jobs has evolved to include a quartet comprising PM, Master Tech, Lead Tech, and Apprentice.
It’s been a few years now since we started doing this and I have to say it’s been awesome.
I have the same team, and my Master and Lead Technician can pretty much read my mind. Jobs are completed faster and go backs are minimized.
It’s important to note we utilize a documented standard process for consistency across our teams. This provides a guide for educating Apprentices and along with HTSA education, CEDIA certifications, plus vendor and on-the-job training they can elevate along a career path to a Lead Technician, Master Tech, or even a PM.
Team chemistry is important for ultimate efficiency and productivity. We can occasionally adjust team members based on team maturity, employment changes, and promotions which provide for a healthy environment for employee growth and opportunity as we constantly look for process improvements in our business.
Rick Smith is a Project Manager/Designer at Hanson Audio Video.
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