The Bedford, Nova Scotia-based Municipal Group of Companies, through its school called the Dexter Institute, provided training to approximately 185 foremen, superintendents and project managers over the past two years.
A major construction contractor based in Nova Scotia is taking an unusual approach to employee education with an ambitious training initiative tailored to supervisors.
The Municipal Group of Companies, through its training/education school called the Dexter Institute, provided training to approximately 185 foremen, superintendents and project managers over the past two years.
Such a large-scale training initiative for managers is rare in Atlantic Canada’s construction industry — and throughout much of Canada, says Brad Johnson, director of training and development for the corporation. The Municipal Group works in various construction fields, including the roadbuilding, mining and environmental sectors.
The training courses or, modules, covered a variety of topics including: productivity improvement methods; change-order management; leadership in the field; mentoring and coaching; effective communication; negotiation skills; planning and scheduling; plus a three-day program on job cost and document management specific to the corporation’s new ERP tool, Viewpoint Construction software.
“We recognize that we have quality employees and will continue to invest in their professional development. We believe quality training provides value to the employee and the company,” says Johnson.
Moreover, by upgrading the skills of its supervisors, the Municipal Group expects to see a boost in production in an era when fine-tuning business methods is essential to meeting ever-tighter bottom lines.
Johnson says one priority this year was to improve the effectiveness of critical path method scheduling (CPMS) for project management teams.
“CPMS is a project management tool that allows managers to organize and co-ordinate tasks necessary to complete even the most complex projects.”
“It helps management teams identify impacts of changes as they occur, allowing a proactive verses a reactive approach to project management,” he adds.
The Municipal Group’s management courses are accredited through the Canadian Construction Association and attendees get credits towards Gold Seal Certification, the CCA’s national standard for project managers, superintendents and estimators.
Johnson points out that previous training initiatives have keyed on new employees. Although the emphasis to train and hire new employees will continue, training has expanded to include upgrading the skills of longer-term employees.
While training will continue for project managers, supers and foremen, Johnson says the company is also attentive to the educational needs of other management personnel, including shop managers and equipment dispatchers. It will also offer management upgrading courses yearly.
Meanwhile, on-the-job monitoring will help to evaluate the success of the training initiatives, he points out.
“For example, we are standardizing our cost codes or phase codes to track how we’re doing.”
The Municipal Group offers training on the labour side as well. Its heavy equipment operator program is an example.
While there are other heavy equipment programs in the province, they aren’t as comprehensive or specific enough to the company’s work environment.
The Municipal Group is based in Bedford, N.S., and works throughout eastern Canada. During peak construction periods, it employs about 2,500 workers.
This year its roadbuilding division, Dexter Construction, is working on the $600-million Rte. 1 Gateway project, which includes 55 kilometres of new four-lane highway from the New Brunswick border at St. Stephen.
Other notable projects include the Shefferville area iron ore mine operation, runway and terminal work at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and the completion of a new airport runway in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean.
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