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2005-2006 CMCEF NATIONAL SEMINAR PROGRAM

The Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation, in cooperation with MCA Canada, is excited to present our National Seminar Program. This specialized seminar series provides our industry with a comprehensive management training program covering a variety of contractor and construction related topics. The National Seminar Program will travel across Canada bringing the very best presenters in the industry. Each program is carefully crafted to meet the needs of today’s leaders, managers and supervisors.  Please see below for a list of Gold Seal Accredited Courses.

Seminars are available in half-day, one-day and two-day sessions, which are focused on management, field management and financial management skills. The National Seminar Program offers you and your company a tremendous return on investment by improving productivity, reducing reworked material, increasing efficiency and reducing employee turnover. 

To download the seminar brochure, which includes course descriptions, pricing, and registration please click here . To download the complete schedule please click here  . 

If you would like to DOWNLOAD the Adobe Acrobat Reader to print out the Seminar Information form just double click the yellow button.

All programs will be taught by highly qualified instructors who have worked closely with CMCEF and MCA Canada over the last few years. These instructors have designed each course to meet the unique needs of our industry and in many cases, come directly from our industry. Pricing and course scheduling to follow…

To participate in a course, or to make program requests, please contact Daryl Sharkey, Director Membership Services at 613-232-0492 or Tania Johnston, Executive Director at 613-232-5169, or email daryl@mcac.ca or tania@cmcef.org.

There are a limited number of programs with a limited number of seats available so don’t delay – schedule your future today.

• Choosing jobs
• Tips on checking on estimate
• Good estimating procedures
• Application of labour factors
• Labour units and cost codes
• Common estimating and management mistakes
• Application of key components of the estimate
• Material purchases analysis of the bid summary
• Project scheduling
• Determination and recovery of correct overhead

Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
The Microsoft line of products include outlook, word, excel and PowerPoint. These industry-standard programs are taught individually in a one day format which includes computers and take home work books. You will learn the basics of e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets and professional presentations, as well as some of the more advanced features and system automation. Each of the programs is a one day course

Profitable Contracting GSA
During this half day program, participants will engage in the most important facets of business management including understanding profits, estimating, manpower management, materials & tools, change orders, cost controls, billing and more.

Change Management
Change is a constant and the rate of change is accelerating: rightsizing, mergers, takeovers, new technology. Participants are challenged to examine beliefs and fears associated with change. Master techniques to transform fears of change into positive anticipation and enthusiasm.

Cumulative Impact of Change Orders - GSA
This program will examine the cumulative effect that change orders have on labour productivity for mechanical contractors. With three separate studies undertaken for the Electrical Contractors Foundation, the Mechanical Contracting Foundation and the Construction Industry Institute, this review of the effect of change orders will look at types of change, recoverable change orders costs, methods of quantifying the impact of change orders on labour efficiency, the Cause and Effect Method (Factor Approach), characteristics of projects impacted by change orders, and much more. A must see seminar.

Managing Conflict At Work - GSA
The focus is to examine various ideas with regards to dispute resolution. This invigorating workshop will allow participants to develop techniques to assist in consistently achieving positive results when negotiating. Various strategies will be reviewed. 

Financial Statement Analysis - GSA
Your bank and your bonding company know how to read  your financial statements, do you? They have you at a decided disadvantage when you don’t understand the impact of the information that you are giving them. Learn how to read your financial statements and, more importantly, how to structure them to your advantage. Includes a comprehensive workbook.

General Business Practices - GSA
Hone your skills in time management, negotiations, marketing, TQM and several other key business practices. Hands on ideas that you can implement straight away. Includes a comprehensive workbook.

You Charge WHAT Per Hour? - GSA
This program is based on the successful book of the same name. One contractor says he makes an additional $20,000 profit a year from following just one idea in the book. Learn how to position yourself as a successful service contractor. This program is focused on those who want to develop a successful service business.

Cost Controls and Estimating for Project Management - GSA
This course is designed for the Construction Estimator and Project Manager who wish to better manage their projects. We will explore all the required elements of an estimate which are needed to determine a successful project outcome. The course will show how to establish the baselines of schedule, manpower & cashflow. Through these control measures the PM will be able to determine corrective actions at an early stage and manage the job to a successful completion.

Operation Model for Maximizing Profitability - GSA
This course addresses how to prepare for labour relations and new market realities such as reverse auctions and alternative procurement methods.  The course will also address principles that have increased productivity of: labour, project management, office management, operational theories.  Participants will learn the implementation steps for an Optimal Mechanical Construction Business Model that will improve productivity and profits by better than 30%

Strategic Planning for Mechanical Contractors - GSA
This workshop will enable the participants to understand the emerging operational models in the areas of increasing profitability; increasing productivity; new markets; partnership with suppliers and manufacturing; training needs for supervision; and sub tracking from operator’s point of view.  Using this newfound knowledge, the workshop participants will be able to assess their current capabilities, plan a strategy, and incorporate this new operational model into their companies.

Improve Profits by Reducing Labour Risk - GSA
This course will enable participants to identify the sources of variation in their profits; select the methods that will reduce variation in operations; create management tools to continually improve predictability of labour and management; create a Labour-Risk management methodology; and improve how the company appears to lending and bonding companies.

Pricing, Profits, & Cash Flow - GSA
Learn how to impact these critical areas of your business. Do you know how to calculate your break even sales? Do you know how to double your profits? Do you know the importance of working capital and how to use it to your advantage? These and other key elements of a successful business are covered in this module. Includes a comprehensive workbook.

Introduction to Project Management - GSA
This course is designed to give new project managers, project team members, and support staff an understanding of the essentials to achieve project success.  Participants will learn terminology and standards that assist in planning projects and project communications - the sources of most project difficulties.  This is an ideal course for field personnel entering management or to kick-off a project team.

Planning and Control - GSA
You can only manage what you can measure. Unless you keep control of your projects form day one how will you maximize the profits and minimize the risk? Use these techniques to increase your rate of success. Includes a comprehensive workbook.

Construction Purchasing - GSA
A guide to techniques for purchasing and subcontracting for contractors.  Topics include an introduction to contract law, contract types, expediting and logistics, centralized vs. decentralized purchasing, sourcing suppliers and making purchasing decisions, processes, and standard templates and forms.  A discussion of standard documents issued by the Canadian Construction Association will be included.

Change Notice Management - GSA
This course is designed specifically for the contracting industry professional with project responsibilities. The course deals with management of the change notice process.  Students are introduced to the concept of change notice and its effect on the "Base project". In class exercises are conducted and practical examples of change notices are analyzed. A workshop environment is employed, case studies are reviewed, and techniques for managing the change notice process are taught and demonstrated. Students are expected to take an active role in all group work.

Managing Field Productivity to Improve the Bottom Line - GSA
This seminar discusses the causes of poor labour productivity, measuring productivity for controlling items of work, performance factor, forecasting project outcomes, productivity measurement, daily productivity measurements, performance evaluation reports, factors affecting labour productivity, what to do to reduce the impact of schedule compression and acceleration, manpower loading and s-curve, preplanning, site logistics, site layout, deliveries, storage, and how to keep material handling alive.

Time Management For Project Managers - GSA
Time management is about gauging how time is spent in determining how to organize time more efficiently and effectively.  In this workshop you will learn to prioritize and set goals aligned with your organizations strategy for success, and apply sound time management practices to both solo and collaborative work.

Leadership in the Construction Industry
This seminar will enhance your skills and competence in leading people toward success. In this communications workshop, you will develop leadership skills and principles, as well as, learn to manage the performance of yourself and others.  Additionally, you will learn to facilitate meetings efficiently, delegate tasks and motivate others toward your company's goals. 

Transportation of Dangerous Goods for HVAC–R Plumbing Industry Certification
Recent changes to the transportation of dangerous goods legislation have removed the exemption on the HVAC-R service vehicles. Under new transportation of dangerous goods Clear Language, all people who handled dangerous goods must be certified. This course is tailored to the HVAC-R industry and includes WHMIS review and safe handling for refrigerants. This course will provide you with the certification required to handle the transportation of dangerous goods.

Purchasing For Contractors - GSA
This program is designed as a guide to techniques for purchasing and subcontracting for mechanical contractors.  Topics include an introduction to contract law, contract types, expediting and logistics, centralized versus decentralized purchasing, sourcing suppliers and making purchasing decisions, processes, and standard templates and forms.  A discussion of standard documents issued by the Canadian Construction Association will be included.

Rescuing a Project in Crisis
Students will be able to determine at what point in the project a “Crisis” exists; recognize the special personal and organizational challenges that a “Project Crisis Manager” has to face up to; identifies the issues related to ‘crisis recognition’ by key stakeholders; ‘team disintegration’; ‘communication breakdowns’; ‘control strangulation’; able to organize the recovery process through the effective use of the ‘Williams Recovery Process’; recapture control and planning disciplines within the Project Office and more.

On Site Administration - GSA
Designed to develop readiness for roles and responsibilities of foremen and on-site project managers, their relationship to head office and their ability to provide administrative support to construction contracts. Topics covered include workload plans, progress payments, site meeting topics, bid shopping, quality control, inspection and job close.

On Site Construction Management & Controls - GSA
Participants learn to organize the cost and to schedule the management of work to ensure proper overall management of the process, productivity of subcontractor and supplier work. Practice targeting, monitoring progress, control steps, and reporting productivity calculations from the bid invitation to closing.

Setting Up Projects For Success – “Risk Management For Contractors”
Pro actively identifying project risk and taking steps to insulate your project from their impact greatly increases the chances for improved bottom-line.  To hands-on workshops, you'll learn easy and applicable strategies to managing risk.  Practice developing a risk management plan will prepare you to develop templates or your organization, and practice tools to identify risks, analyze their impact and apply risk response techniques.