SO, in this episode of "You guys haven't given me a good soap opera name that is catchy yet lol), lets update a bit more of what was discussed this last meeting.
Direction of the company ..........I point blank asked what is the future here? Marcus (CEO) said to continue to build the company, but to also streamline things to be much more efficient. In what way where it concerns the pm/repair of the equipment? He admits it's a clusterf*&k and not in respect to me. He said they spent over $1 mil last year in repair costs to the Deere dealer here alone. That is NOT me sending Deere stuff or calling them on jobs to do. That is from super's doing it with zero discretion. He asked how much could we have done in house? A lot of it providing I have the facility and tooling to do so. Since I am not aware of the things Deere did last year, I couldn't say if I could have.
What would I need in reference to make things happen to change the direction? I told him SUPPORT!! I said this company still has the same shop and less tooling than when the company started with 3 pieces of equipment and as long as I have been around, there has never been any investment of significance that I have seen on the pm/repair side of the equipment. That has to change and he agreed. You have over 150 pieces now and its an impossible task currently.
I could use 2 guys under me that are efficient and/or trainable starting at a decent livable pay. I told him a big problem in the past was that the company was notorious for skimping on raises. If you want me to take on training someone, I have to be able to pay them what they are worth. No more of that .50 cent raise bs every 2 years .....if they even get a raise. I want to pay them and do pay raises according to what their abilities are.......no questions asked. I explained that if you want to train someone to replace me or anyone else you better be ready to do what it takes to keep them. I told him it would take me 3 years to have someone proficient enough that I think they could handle most things on their own.........and THAT is a crash course full speed ahead. If we don't take care of them, they will bolt the company for another $1 an hour and I will be starting that 3 year cycle ALL OVER AGAIN.
More to come tonight...........plenty more, but I gotta go to work. Episode 2 is coming shortly.............