| 21 T T Sue Russell An engaged team central to success Waikato Hospital carpark under construction. Modern Construction DEVELOPMENT Industrial Blasting and Painting. 07 843 4915 | admin@hamiltonblastandpaint.co.nz | www.hamiltonblastandpaint.co.nz Phil Counsell, Managing Director of Modern Construction says spending the time on due diligence to build the business’s head-office in Hamilton was time well spent. “We built where we are back in 2007 and we took two years to design the factory to make it as efficient as possible. Looking at other ways to improve productivity, by investing in good welding equipment, and gantry systems so that we give the guys what they need to be efficient and safe has been our best investment strategy,” Phil says. Having a very efficient and safe working environment leads to happy staff with a lower risk of injury. Phil says, the company has the capacity to extend the factory in the future as demand warrants. Efficiency translates into all aspects of how the company produces its steel building members, used in a wide array of construction forms. From 40,000sqm store rooms to multi-storey office and apartment buildings. As few as 14 staff are required to work on the floor processing significant volumes of steel. Once fabricated and painted Modern’s site teams take over utilizing the company’s own cranes and access equipment. 3D models sent to iPads help site teams map out and erect the steel in an efficient manner. Phil says there are many factors that contribute to operating a successful, versatile business. He likes to provide opportunities for the staff to gain a variety of skills as they progress from entry level. “That’s really important to me. Your best asset is your staff and the investment in providing them with opportunities to gain further skills and qualifications is really important and such a positive thing for them and for the business.” When engaging new staff Phil looks at really good basic things such as their enthusiasm. “It’s as simple as that; then you know that they will turn up for work and enjoy what they’re doing and, in time, grow into other roles and responsibilities provided. “If your team is engaged, learning and growing in their work place then everyone benefits. They have a sense of ownership and pride in their work and look forward to coming to work each day.” Developing staff slowly, working with them and giving them time to shine in their work are key reasons why Modern Construction is the positive successful company it is today. “If your team is engaged, learning and growing in their work place then everyone benefits. They have a sense of ownership and pride in their work and look forward to coming to work each day.” “We try to build their self-esteem up and the flow-on from that is huge. They go home happy. We operate a very flat management style with no airs and graces. “We don’t have lots of ‘managers’ and we want staff involvement to help problem-solve any issues to find solutions.” Success has also come down to building relationships with clients over time so that when they require a new building, having experienced the quality and service Modern Construction delivers, they will come back directly to the company for any additional projects. Some of Modern Construction’s current projects include the Big Chill coolstore and Maersk coolstore for the new Hamilton inland port, with a combined floor area of approximately 30,400m2. The company is also in the process of finishing the new foam plant, the first building for the Sleepy Head project. Modern Construction Limited looks forward to the changing challenges that the engineering environment brings, through developments in fabrication technologies to developed design changes to meet evolving building requirements.
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