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The worst advice ever about Commercial Building Maintenance

Commercial Building Maintenance – Avoiding nightmares and mistakes

Owning your own property is a proud milestone for any business owner. Maintaining a building can feel overwhelming. When it comes to commercial building maintenance, knowing what to worry about, and when, will help you to protect your investment from decay due to lack of upkeep. Routine maintenance can also help reduce overhead costs, such as electrical and HVAC expenses.

How can you prevent your building from becoming a scary place in the neighborhood??? By planning ahead for routine building maintenance!

Preventative and routine maintenance should be tasks that are incorporated into a regular, recurring plan. Such items can be performed by several independent companies, or provided by one company that specializes in “property maintenance”. Bundling the services is more convenient, but make sure it is clearly stated what services are provided and ask specific questions, such as:

Will there be on-going inspections with feedback of any additional care needed, such as a broken window, water stains, leaky irrigation pipe, etc.?

Will there be any annual inspections to specifically address areas covered, or not, by the maintenance agreement, such as inspecting the smoke detectors?

In the Midwest and Northeast, discuss the amount of de-icer to be used on your sidewalks… Your insurance agent and attorney will tell you to “pile it on”, but your concrete company will tell you “use it SPARSELY”. Discuss the amount of de-icer used with whoever is providing your snow removal. You may find that companies often over apply the product so they don’t receive a call to return and add more. Finding a balance is often hard – you may ask the snow removal company to “lightly salt the walks” and then place a container of de-icer by each door so that you can apply more as needed. Magnesium chloride has become popular as it melts ice below zero and is less damaging to sidewalks (bonus, it’s plant and pet safe!), and seems to work best at very cold temperatures. Also, consider using sand to give traction to the ice, especially on cold days when melting just won’t happen.

In areas that rely on salt to remove ice, pay special attention to the integrity of your sidewalks in the spring. Watch for lifting, chipping, pitting and separating, which may indicate the need for caulking, repair, or replacement.

Preventative and Routine maintenance includes:

Janitorial Services
Window Cleaning & repair
Parking Lot & Sidewalk maintenance
Landscaping
Snow Removal
Floor Care
HVAC
Electrical
Pest control

Additional areas of maintenance that building owners don’t always consider, include:

Painting & Sealing (interior & exterior)
Tuck pointing & caulking
Foundation repairs
Roof maintenance/vapor barrier
Gutter cleaning
Drainage control & Erosion repair
Storm damage
Emergency repairs

If you hire a property maintenance company to handle recurring items, make sure you don’t overlook the items you don’t have a maintenance contract for. Any of the above that are neglected can slowly lead to a BIG problem, for example:

Concrete blocks require a sealant or paint to prevent moisture from leaking from the outside. As blocks weather, sealants and paint begin to wear thin and become less effective. Moisture from rain, snow or humidity can enter the blocks and expand when temperatures become hot, or below freezing. As the blocks expand and contract, the integrity is compromised and eventually the blocks will begin to crack, chip or slough off. When this occurs you are now allowing for even more moisture to enter and for the process to accelerate. It’s not uncommon to find a random weed growing from the blocks of a building that has been neglected!

Additionally, moisture can leak into the building causing water damage and/or structural issues. A good coat of paint applied before an issue is noticed is your best line of defense, along with having gutters that function properly.

The worst advice ever about Commercial Building Maintenance is the advice you are NOT given; Plan ahead, and budget for routine and unexpected building maintenance and emergencies!

Download our complete suggested maintenance list here:

Additional Resources:

Buildings.com provides their own detailed list of suggested maintenance and inspections.

Image sources: Scary building by L.C. Nøttaasen, via Creative Commons license; Winter sidewalk de-icing by BU Interactive News, under Creative Commons license; and Commercial Box Gutter – via wikipedia

LEAN in Manufacturing and Business

Why LEAN?

LEAN in Manufacturing and Business IS essential to maximizing productivity. When combined, reducing the amount of wasted time and resources, your rate of return increases. While it’s easy to understand where efficiencies can be increased in the manufacturing process, we don’t always realize there are many other places within our businesses that can benefit from LEAN.

“Lean for Production and Services”, an article from LEAN Enterprise Institute’s website further explains;

“A popular misconception is that lean is suited only for manufacturing. Not true. Lean applies in every business and every process. It is not a tactic or a cost reduction program, but a way of thinking and acting for an entire organization.”

If you are a business owner, a manager within a business, even support staff, you can look for ways to streamline your processes and to save money.

For example:

Office staff may chose to move to electronic filing of documents for safe storage. Saving documents electronically reduces the amount paper used and office space requirements, which can also reduce operating costs! How is that so??? When less space is needed for filing cabinets and shelving for boxes, you require less space for your office needs. If your office is smaller, operating costs, such as rent or heating and cooling expense will also be reduced.

Additionally, electronic filing allows you to search for documents without leaving your desk or having to go into the office. The time saved searching for files is therefore reduced, which saves staff time and costs!

As a manager, establishing LEAN thinking and processes is a great way to show upper management, and your employees, that you care about the company. Knowing that you are taking steps to think smart and manage costs, employees may be more apt to care about the same ideas. Helping employees manage their workload and time can also be an effective way to boost productivity and reduce errors. The following list from Intelligent Management’s article, Resource Optimization, provides a few recommendations;

“An efficient use of resources to carry out a project requires us to:

Have a shared vision of the global goal to be achieved (remove unnecessary protection from individual tasks)
Eliminate multitasking (increased effectiveness in the tasks)
Identify the constraint (the critical chain) and protect it with a buffer of time (thus protecting the project from variation)
Carefully manage the operational phases of the project (capitalize on time gained)
Carry out a statistical analysis of the project buffer consumption using Statistical Process Control (SPC) (more effective project management)”

Becoming LEAN starts today. LEAN is not all about implementing a new process; it’s about starting a new way of thinking, which leads to creating new processes. “The word transformation or lean transformation is often used to characterize a company moving from an old way of thinking to lean thinking. It requires a complete transformation on how a company conducts business. This takes a long-term perspective and perseverance.” (From the LEAN Enterprise Institute’s website)

Don’t wait until tomorrow, make today the day to transform; It’s time to become LEAN.

For more information on LEAN in manufacturing, view our blog, “Lean Manufacturing Tools – A Quick Summary”.

Find out how our efficient handling of Project and Government processes can help you build, or purchase a building, for your business!

2016 Lakeville Manufacturers Appreciation Reception

Our team had the honor of attending the 2016 Lakeville Manufacturers Appreciation Reception last evening at the Holiday Inn and Suites just off of County Road 70 and I-35 in beautiful Lakeville, Minnesota.

This is an annual event our entire team looks forward to each October, and this year was no exception. In fact, this year, the City of Lakeville staff worked very hard on an impressive video which summarized the history of the Airlake Industrial Park. The Airlake Industrial Park is our backyard and where we first started our business almost 30 years ago. Thus, this year’s focus on the history of the park is near and dear to our hearts.

In this video, you will learn about the history of Airlake Park and how it has grown to be the second largest industrial park in the state of Minnesota. Additionally, you will see some pictures of and commentary from our fearless leader, Jack Matasosky, which is sure to bring a smile to your face – we know it certainly did for our team!

Simply click on the image below to watch the video, “History of Airlake Industrial Park” created by the team at the City of Lakeville.

After viewing the video, you may also click on the following related links, which may be of interest to you:

Airlake Industrial Park Reflections
The Advantages of Airlake Industrial Park

As we attended last evening’s event, as with each year, we find ourselves grateful to serve our local community over the years and the opportunity this event affords our us and our community to thank all manufacturers and those who are a part of the industrial park (transporters and distributors, too!) for their very important role. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the success of our friends and neighbors in Lakeville, Minnesota!

Our team has been honored to be a part of the growth of the Airlake Industrial Park. Today, we continue to erect new buildings as the park continues to grow. And, our APPRO team is continually helping business owners alter their buildings to meet their ever changing needs through additions, expansions and remodels of their already existing spaces. Likewise, our CERRON team continues to help owners find new space in existing buildings within the park.

Whatever the space need, our team is available to help. If you find that your space needs have changed, we hope that you will consider working with our team.

Pet Friendly Office Design Ideas & APPRO and CERRON’s Furry Friends

Learn more about Pet Friendly Office Design Ideas…and our team’s favorite furry friends!

In recognition of “Hug Your Hound Day” which happens to fall on September 14th, our team decided to have some fun sharing some pet friendly office design ideas and a little more about our “furry friends” in an interactive game.

Below, you will find a quick link to a game that we created (with the help of the Qzzr app/website). Test your knowledge of our team’s best friends, and see how you stack up against other players.

Once you have played the game, take a look at our “Pet Friendly Office Design Ideas” section to learn more about bringing your furry friends to the office and ways to make it work.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO START PLAYING THE GAME…

AFTER playing the game, click here:
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We also encourage you to jump on Facebook or Twitter using the hash tag #hugyourhound2016 to share pictures of your favorite hound.

Pet-friendly office design ideas

Dogs make us smile, smiling reduces stress, reducing stress increases overall health and that helps to fight off illness, therefore reducing the amount of time taken off of work and the costs associated with employees seeking medical treatment, which sounds like a good thing to me!

As people are waiting longer to have (or choosing not to have) children, it is common for working adults to turn their attention and care on a beloved “fur baby”. Companies are learning that when a person is allowed to bring their dog(s) to work, they don’t need to rush home and they can remain at work to finish projects and meet deadlines and surprisingly, their productivity goes up and their overall feeling of job satisfaction increases. In 2015 almost one in ten workplaces is now “dog friendly” as reported in a “ survey conducted by Human Resource Management, 8 percent of workplaces in America allow employees to bring their pets to work.” (Source: “Pooch perk…”)

How does a place of employment make the move to being a dog-friendly work place???

To become dog friendly, if you don’t own your building, you will need to read your lease and seek permission to have dogs on-site. Having a plan written up on how you will address the “wear and tear”, along with a “potty plan”, will help your landowner to recognize your willingness to be a responsible tenant. You may also need to consult with current employees to find out if there are any allergies or concerns with the transition and it would probably be a good idea to talk to your insurance agent as well.

Once you make the move to become a dog-friendly environment, a few considerations are:

How will the dogs be kept in their own area? Private offices are ideal, but cubicles work great in an open concept office. A kennel can be slipped under a desk to allow the employee’s dog a place to lay down and relax and a baby gate (the walk-through swinging kind) will limit a dog from roaming and distracting co-workers and their dogs. There are now crates designed to look like furniture, an existing desk can be altered to accommodate a crate, or a fabric crate cover can be used to conceal a pet when needed, such as during client meetings.

Where will the dogs play? IF you are fortunate enough to have a large area, use it for scheduled playtime! A dock area can work great for this, as long as the floors are clean and a fence can be put around the designated play area. There are different types of pet-friendly flooring that will reduce slipping and is easy to clean up, such as rolled rubber flooring and tiles. Artificial turf looks great in cubicles, but isn’t easy to clean up messes from.

Where is the doggy “restroom” going to be? Designate an area that employees can take their dog to get some fresh area and do their business. If possible, this area should be away from the main entrance with a trash container placed down-wind from the entrance. Adding a sprinkler system to flush the lawn nightly will help to reduce the “doggy smell” and will help keep your grass happy. Plant trees or shrubs that won’t be affected by dog urine and to add privacy to the area, if needed.

Work with an architect to create an interior build-out that will be inviting to your employees and their pets, the costs involved in making some minor (or major) changes could be recouped in the savings earned by reducing employee turnover and increased employee productivity! Changes can include installing non-slip flooring, a bowl cleaning and watering area, custom cubicles with swinging gates, a dog-friendly entry that will prevent runaways and converting an office or unused space into a sound-proofed playroom. Also, keep fabric covered furniture away from areas where dogs will be walked to avoid dog hair or the over zealous boy from using your ottoman as a fire hydrant.

The following article provides some further information on, “To Dog or Not to Dog: What You Need to Know before Making Your Office Pet-Friendly”

An idea of a dog friendly designed office can be seen here: Dog Friendly Office Design

We hope you had fun getting to know our entire team a little more with our fun game and also learned how to create a pet-friendly work environment! We have a great team here at APPRO and CERRON (including our furry friends) and would appreciate the opportunity to have you meet more of our team members.

Please contact us to schedule a meeting with any of our team members to start your next commercial or industrial property solution.

1. Just plain cool architecture

2. Cool Minneapolis St. Paul Office Space @ Ergodyne

3. Modern Architecture’s Intense Rivalry

4. Augmented Reality’s Impact on Construction

5. Trending Restaurant Design (the Modern Burger Joint)

LOVE DESIGN TRENDS?

We do, too! You may also be interested in these articles and links:

Architectural Design on APPRO Website
Commercial Office Design
Retail Design Ideas

We hope you enjoyed this article and if you would like to read more blog posts like this one, we would encourage you to sign up for our newsletter for a monthly dose of design and architecture ideas, as well as construction, real estate, local community events, and more:

7 Misconceptions about Commercial Building Construction Projects

Having worked in design-build and commercial construction since 1978, our construction team has heard a lot of questions, comments, and a few misconceptions about commercial build projects.

We would like to share with you some of the misconceptions we have heard over the years regarding commercial build projects and bring some clarity to this topic. Take a look at the following misconceptions and each of our responses.

Seven Misconceptions

1. Building a commercial building can take a really long time.

Reply: The length of time it takes to build a new building initially depends on three major factors, which include: design, site selection, and financing.

With regard to the design of the structure, if an owner has a clear idea of their wants/needs/goals, the initial design can go rather quickly. This process may also depend on who is making the decisions. How many decision makers are involved? Does an individual make the decision, or will it take multiple committee meetings to make a decision on the final design? These all play into the amount of time it takes to determine the final design of the building, which is the origin of future activity (like competitive bidding and overall project budgeting).

The site selected also factors into the overall time it takes to build a commercial building. If, for example, a site is “shovel ready,” which according to the State of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), means “planning, zoning, environmental studies, title work, public infrastructure and other pre-construction activities have been completed on the site,” a project may begin sooner. The idea is that the site is as ready as it possibly can be and construction may begin upon purchase of the site. If, on the other hand, the site is considered “raw land” there will be more time involved to go through the various processes to get that similar parcel to the same stage.

Thirdly, getting financing in place will contribute to the time it takes to start a new project. Surveys, title work, appraisals, and any other lender required activity, if not already complete, in addition to the underwriting process, can all have an impact on the time it takes to get the project off the ground. Working with a reputable lender, who understands the commercial building process can make a world of difference in the length of a project. The sooner the choice of lender is made, the sooner the process can begin.

With regard to overall timing of a new project, a typical new construction project can range in time from months to as much as a couple of years, and as stated previously, depends on many factors. Our advice is this…you can never start the process too soon.

2. It is better to buy an existing building than to build new.

Reply: For some business owners, this may indeed be the case. Again, there are a variety of factors that play into this decision. These factors may include: geographic location, zoning, proximity to competing business, price, municipal support, and many more factors. A business owner may find that existing buildings simply do not exist in an area of interest, satisfying all items on their “wish list.” In these cases, the only option may be to build new. The age, condition and amount of demolition, renovation and improvements should be identified and compared to a new build.

3. The property taxes are higher on new construction.

Reply: Actually, the first year taxes will be based on land only (verses land and improvements) and will be lower, as a result. The next year’s taxes will be based on both land and improvements at a rate determined by the local taxing authority (State, City and County), and based on assessed or “estimated market value.” This rate is not higher than other existing buildings, nor is it higher simply because it is “new”, but it will typically, at least in the state of Minnesota, be higher than a residential property tax rate. Additionally, there are sometimes incentives available which may lessen the initial tax burden for companies in exchange for a new building which brings new tax revenue for a community, as well as the promise of an increase in jobs. An example of this is TIF, which stands for Tax Increment Financing and is sometimes used by various cities to create a TIF district to encourage new development (both residentially and/or commercially), or in some cases for existing businesses to stay and add onto their building (and staff). This activity benefits all involved including the city with increased tax revenues and increased employment rates within their community.

4. Projects always cost more than originally estimated.

Reply: Pricing a new construction project will always vary from company to company. We can only comment on our company’s methodology – which is an open book policy and the process we use to convey pricing to our clients. The team at APPRO takes great pride in providing a clear and transparent approach to our construction estimates. Our goal is to provide the most accurate picture for owners so that they can make an informed decision. We recently had an example of a bid in which we came in second. While we were disappointed we did not win the bid, we felt we were accurate and honest with the applicable costs. Later, the owner approached us to let us know that he thought he had made a mistake by not working with our team. While the other company was lower in their bid initially, they ended up adding costs during the construction process, and they ended up higher than our initial bid. We aim to be accurate and forthright in all that we do in order to avoid frustration or disappointment down the road. We believe that our long history of repeat customers, who have appreciated our upfront approach, speaks volumes in this regard.

5. Projects always take longer than originally estimated.

Reply: Once the major aspects of design, site selection, and financing have been completed, the actual construction process may be determined. From the onset of a new project, our team creates a key event schedule which lays out all of the necessary steps to get a project under way. Outside of issues like unforeseen weather, a supply shortage, or owner initiated changes to design or materials selected, a construction project can be easily summarized into an overall construction schedule. Our goal is the same as that of our owners – to complete the project on time, and on budget.

6. The city process is next to impossible to navigate.

Reply: Each city has different nuances in their approach to a new building project, but overall the main steps are the same. City process on a new building project typically includes a preliminary development review, then zoning, land use reviews, platting process (if un-platted), construction permit review and construction plan review, and construction inspections, before a final certificate of occupancy inspection upon construction completion. We understand the process and every step along the way, and our team expertly helps each of our clients through the process.

7. Land prices & building materials are priced so sky-high, you really can’t afford to build new.

Reply: Land prices across the metro area vary, based on location, size, platted vs. un-platted, and zoning. Concerning building materials, items to consider are concrete (used in foundations, tip up panels, etc.) and structural steel. These are what we refer to as “long lead items” and are typically the largest costs in a commercial or industrial new construction project. While in years past, the cost to build new far outweighed the cost to purchase an existing commercial building, more recently, we have seen valuations on existing property increase, and the supply of existing buildings begin to diminish. The lower existing inventory at increased valuations, coupled with low interest rates for new projects, might make now an ideal time to start a commercial build project.

If you think you might be interested in starting a new building project, we encourage you to meet with our team. Our process is pretty simple, and begins with a short meeting in which we listen to your needs, and then determine next steps. We are here to help.

Click here to contact our team:

Top Ten Reasons to Join the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce

The team here at APPRO is a proud member of our local Lakeville Chamber of Commerce. We have loved being Chamber members for more than twenty years and strongly believe there are so many benefits. So, we decided to create a “Top Ten List” of reasons we joined and remain members of the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce. We hope you enjoy and this may help you make the decision to join, if you have not already!

Our top ten reasons include (in no particular order):

We grow in knowledge of relevant community and business topics: State of the City, Speakers/Luncheons, and Women’s Luncheon, plus more…
We can access savings offered by other members: Hot Deals
We learn about the new businesses and services offered by fellow members: Directory
We increase our brand recognition through a variety of marketing opportunities: Link to our Available Properties and Design-Build Services
We gain a voice in government. The Chamber is your voice before elected appointed and regulatory officials: See sources & Economic Development.
We give back (and have fun): Lakeville Foundation Bowling Tournament, Golf Classic, & YEA!
We meet our neighbors: Morning Brew and After Hours
We learn what is going on in our community: Newsletter and Facebook
We visit newly opened (or relocated) businesses: See Threads and Inks Relocation…
We continue to work with fellow chamber members all the time: See fellow Chamber Member, Express Employment Pro’s new digs…

If you are interested in talking to us about membership in the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce, you may contact a member of our team HERE, we would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Otherwise, please consider signing up for a membership today by clicking on the following LINK.

Lean Manufacturing Tools – A Quick Summary

LEAN MANUFACTURING TOOLS – A QUICK SUMMARY

Our team recently came across an article that is really more of an infographic on the topic of Lean Manufacturing Tools. It is an excellent resource and tool to explain some of the essential Lean tools which can be used in manufacturing. The name of the article is, “32 Essential Lean Manufacturing Tools”and although it was published a couple of years ago, its relevance continues to hold true. As a “manufacturer” of new buildings (and building additions or remodels), we understand the necessity of having a streamlined process, and use many Lean tools. Our team selected our “Favorite Five” from the list and would like to share some of the reasons these are our favorites and how we utilize these tools with our business.

Before we dig into our “Favorite Five”, we wanted to offer a quick summary of Lean, for those of our readers who would like to learn about the basics. According to the Lean Enterprise Institute, “The core idea [of lean] is to maximize customer value while minimizing waste. Simply, lean means creating more value for customers with fewer resources.”

Per the Lean Enterprise Institute, “Lean applies in every business and every process…A lean organization understands customer value and focuses its key processes to continuously increase it. The ultimate goal is to provide perfect value to the customer through a perfect value creation process that has zero waste.”

You may visit our Lean Principles page for more information on the basics of Lean.

Top Five Lean Manufacturing Tools List:

As previously mentioned, this article published by New Castle Systems, summarized 32 tools – that is a lot of tools for your Lean toolbox! We have simply selected our favorite five tools from that list in order to share some highlights on how we have incorporated them into our property solutions business.

1. Continuous Flow – Less wait time, less waste, more efficiency

Our combined APPRO and CERRON team, works to create an efficient process to help business owners achieve their goal of finding a property solution (build a new building, lease a retail space, purchase a new building, add onto an existing building, etc.) with clear and concise communication. While working with a single source, utilizing a streamlined plan, the chance for error or miscommunication is diminished.

2. Kaizen – “Combines the collective talents of the company … to eliminate waste”

On an annual basis, our team identifies opportunities to improve our processes, and we engage in a collective “Kaizen” event. As we work together, we share opportunities to combine our different knowledge, skills and abilities, to benefit each of our clients in our overall process of providing the ideal commercial or industrial property solution.

One example of an outcome of a Kaizen event for our team was our Safety protocol. Working together, we created our standards for a safe work environment in the commercial new construction environment. You may visit our website HERE to learn more about the outcome of this project and our team’s commitment to safety practices in the field of commercial building and construction.

3. Mind Maps – Visual tools to organize and present interrelated ideas

Having the opportunity to share our ideas visually can make a difference. At a time when we were working with a local marketing company to design our logos, we saw that many of the services we provide to our customers, overlapped. As a result, the following graphic was created and used to illustrate the services that both of our companies may become involved and provide services to our clients.

4. SMART Goals – Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Specific

Our team works to set annual goals, which we then work toward throughout the year, and revisit on a regular basis to measure the successful attainment of each goal. By having each of the aspects for which “SMART” is an acronym incorporated into the stated goal, the likelihood of achieving the goal increases exponentially.

According to a recent article written by Emily Esposito, titled, “The Essential Guide to Writing S.M.A.R.T. Goals” and published at SmartSheet, they have provided an excellent article on S.M.A.R.T. goals. You will want to consider the following when writing out your goals (the following section is directly from the previously referenced article – with minimal re-wording; the full article may be linked to by clicking on the article title above):

SPECIFIC – When setting a goal, be specific about what you are trying to achieve. In this step – you are going to answer the “W” questions, as summarized in the SMARTSHEET article:

Who – Consider who needs to be involved to achieve the goal (this is especially important when you’re working on a group project).
What – Think about exactly what you are trying to accomplish and don’t be afraid to get very detailed.
When – You’ll get more specific about this question under the “time-bound” section of defining S.M.A.R.T. goals, but you should at least set a time frame.
Where – This question may not always apply, especially if you’re setting personal goals, but if there’s a location or relevant event, identify it here.
Which – Determine any related obstacles or requirements. This question can be beneficial in deciding if your goal is realistic. For example, if the goal is to open a baking business, but you’ve never baked anything before, that might be an issue. As a result, you may refine the specifics of the goal to be “Learn how to bake in order to open a baking business.”
Why – What is the reason for the goal? When it comes to using this method for employees, the answer will likely be along the lines of company advancement or career development.

MEASURABLE – What metrics are you going to use to determine if you meet the goal? This makes a goal more tangible because it provides a way to measure progress. If it’s a project that’s going to take a few months to complete, then break it down into bite-sized, manageable chunks (“mini-goals”) to help track your progress along the way.

ATTAINABLE – This focuses on how important a goal is to you and what you can do to make it attainable and may require developing new skills and changing attitudes. The goal is meant to inspire motivation, not discouragement. Think about how to accomplish the goal and if you have the tools/skills needed. If you don’t currently possess those tools/skills, consider what it would take to attain them.

RELEVANT – Relevance refers focusing on something that makes sense with the broader business goals. For example, if the goal is to launch a new product, it should be something that’s in alignment with the overall business objectives. Your team may be able to launch a new consumer product, but if your company is a B2B that is not expanding into the consumer market, then the goal wouldn’t be relevant.

TIME-SPECIFIC/TIME – Anyone can set goals, but if it lacks realistic timing, chances are you’re not going to succeed. Providing a target date for deliverables is imperative. Ask specific questions about the goal deadline and what can be accomplished within that time period. If the goal will take three months to complete, it’s useful to define what should be achieved half-way through the process. Providing time constraints also creates a sense of urgency.

5. Value Stream Mapping

Provides a road map for improvement through the future state. Our team has used Value Stream Mapping to create a road map for our entire construction process – from site selection to purchase, and from design through the completion of construction. If you have an interest in seeing our construction timeline, you may request a link here:

This is a visual demonstration of our process and ties into the first tool listed above.

NEXT STEPS:

Take a look at our Lean Page to learn more about how our team uses the Lean process and …

If you are in search of lean manufacturing construction companies, we encourage you to consider our team. We understand the principles of Lean Manufacturing and apply them to our construction process. Meeting with our team to discuss how your manufacturing business is running is a great first step. Simply click on the button below, fill out the form, and a member of our team will follow up. It’s that simple! Thank you for your consideration.

Gear Image Source: freepik.com

SMART Goal Worksheet:

New Manufacturing Facility Breaks Ground in Lonsdale, MN

TECHNICAL METHODS – NEW MANUFACTURING FACILITY BREAKS GROUND – LONSDALE, MN:

On Thursday, June 23, 2016, Technical Methods broke ground on an exciting new project which will be located at 1951 Commerce Drive SE, Lonsdale, Minnesota.

This building will be the new home for Technical Methods, Inc. which will be relocating from Lakeville, MN to this new manufacturing facility. Many community members were in attendance, including Mayor Rud, City Administrator Joel Erickson, and City Planner, Benjamin Baker, as well as City Council Members, and local Lonsdale Chamber members. Technical Methods owners, Nick Nelson, Nate Nelson, and Dawn Smith were joined by their team and family members to celebrate the momentous occasion.

The APPRO and CERRON team was in attendance and was moved by speech shared with the crowd gathered at the site of their new manufacting facility, and the comments made by Mayor Rud. Construction to start immediately with a completion date anticipated

PICTURES:

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LAUNCH A SLIDESHOW OF IMAGES FROM THE GROUNDBREAKING EVENT.

We couldn’t be more excited for the entire Technical Methods team to start a new chapter in a new location!

NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH METRO:

This project is pretty exciting for both TMI and the City of Lonsdale, as this is the first project to launch in the Lonsdale Businss Park. You may read more about this project by visiting the APPRO Project Page for TMI, HERE.

You may also click on the following link for an article by Lori Nickel in the Lonsdale News Review, in her article, “First tenant breaks ground in the Lonsdale Business Park.”

If you are interested in starting your own new commercial construction project. please click on the following link to get in touch with our team.

Growing Colors by Gardenworld Groundbreaking in Cottage Grove, MN

GROUNDBREAKING FOR GROWING COLORS BY GARDENWORLD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN:

Our team is excited to announce the groundbreaking of a new project for Growing Colors by Gardenworld to be located in Cottage Grove, MN! On the morning of June 24, 2016, a groundbreaking celebration kicked off a new project for the owners and employees of Gardenworld, Inc. Attendees of the event included: Dave Van der Sman, Owner, and Stephanie Paquin, CFO, who were joined by numerous family members and fellow Gardenworld employees. Mayor Myron Bailey was a speaker at the event for the City of Cottage Grove. Additional attendees included Cottage Grove City Council members, members of the Planning Commission, EDA, local Chamber, and APPRO Development and CERRON Commercial Properties team members.

GROUNDBREAKING PICTURES:

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LAUNCH A SLIDESHOW OF PHOTOS

You may also see the entire project description and details at the following LINK.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS:

The Growing Colors by Gardenworld project is just one example of the wide variety of commercial buildings and project types our team creates for our diverse clientele. If you have a project you would like to discuss with our team, or want to know how to start the new construction process for a new building, please feel free to contact us by clicking on the link below: