Inspection Technicians

[JW]

Most of our accounts are within 75 miles. We currently have inspections
handled by our service technicians (they're considered low-priority service
calls). I know some companies have the inspections done by different
technicians (who may not be able to do much in the way of handling any
problems if the arise) and don't get the opportunity to get much
cross-training unless promoted. I think a case can be made for doing things
either way... what are you doing and what do you wish you'd done
differently?

Thanks!

 

[Crash Gordon®]

Yearly inspections was one way I'd use to up-train installers to more techie stuff. Installers are certainly capable of changing a battery, checking all contacts for proper operation, cleaning & testing a pir/gb/smoke...and checking signals.

If he got bogged down I'd support him from the office.

(talking about residential)

 

[J. Sloud]

Most of our accounts are within 75 miles. We currently have inspections
handled by our service technicians (they're considered low-priority service
calls). I know some companies have the inspections done by different
technicians (who may not be able to do much in the way of handling any
problems if the arise) and don't get the opportunity to get much
cross-training unless promoted. I think a case can be made for doing things
either way... what are you doing and what do you wish you'd done
differently?

Thanks!

We recently switched from having dedicated fire alarm inspectors to
having regular service techs handle them as part of their workload.
As you said, a case can be made either way. Dedicated inspectors will
improve day-to-day efficiency at the expense of flexibility. According
to "management", cross training makes people more "valuable," -
whatever that means. Some people may prefer job variety while some may
want the regularity of knowing what they're doing each day. I don't
know if way is any better than the other. The same case can be made
for alarm runners, installtion only techs, etc.

 

[petem]

As a technician point of view,
I think that having someone do only one job is the worst scenario..

First for the tech, he will be pretty good at this after a few month then he
will stagnate...

second for the company,If the install tech start doing some error cause of
new product or new reglementation..and the feedback to the tech is not
perfect,you will have more problem...

one other thing..leaving only one tech to find small incompatibility or such
annoying little bug is not a wise idea,he could not be the most skilled to
do it..its like putting all your eggs in the same bucket..