As I embark on the journey of trying to blog weekly, this will undoubtedly become a space for me to think critically about the architectural woodworking industry, on micro and macro levels. I’ve grown up in the construction trades and owned a commercial woodworking company for nearly a decade. While I no longer make my living as a woodworker, my love for the industry continues to grow. Recruiting gave me the opportunity to still contribute, while also having my eyes opened in amazement by the incredible companies and clients I have the pleasure of working with.
In a nutshell, I help companies find qualified candidates for what I call “butts-in-seats” positions. At an architectural woodworking company, this includes roles such as Engineer, Estimator, and Project Manager. For various reasons, I typically do not help my clients find fabricators – the people doing the hands-on work. In a commercial environment, fabrication roles can include CNC operators, saw operators (the “cut guy”), assemblers, cabinet makers, and custom woodworkers. The last one being the most traditional and, maybe, romantic in your minds eye (think hand tools, wood shavings, and a near magical ability to turn two dimensions into three).
Below you’ll find a not-so-exhaustive list of the types of roles that I help my clients fill: those butts-in-seats positions.
Engineering
When I first started in this industry, the person doing the drawings in the office was known as the Draftsman. At the very first shop I worked in, the Draftsman used pencil and paper. We now refer to the person creating shop drawings as an Engineer. I’m not sure when this changed, but I have a suspicion it has to do with the proliferation of computer aided design (CAD) software and the subsequent disappearance of pencil and paper from this person’s toolbox. Engineering departments will vary, depending on a company’s size, and will include varying levels of seniority up to Director. While most companies use some form of AutoCAD, they also typically employ one of the many industry specific drafting programs. These include, but are not limited to, Microvellum, Cabinet Vision, and Mozaik. In my experience, some of the best Engineers got their start working on the shop floor.
Estimating
I’ve often argued that the estimating department is where art and science meet in the woodworking world. No two projects are alike and you are tasked with hard bidding custom engineered products. Talk to any architectural woodworking shop owner and they’ll tell you that a company lives and dies by the quality of its bids. So, it goes without saying, that the Estimator plays an integral role in a company’s success. Key proficiencies an Estimator must possess include the ability to read architectural drawings, perform take-offs, and accurately compile a scope of work. While there are number of tools to assist in completing these tasks, some of the more common options include Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff, and the trusty homegrown Excel spreadsheet. Beyond these hard skills, the Estimator must also develop relationships with their counterparts at general contracting firms and learn to communicate with design professionals. As with the Engineering Department, Estimating positions range from beginner to senior.
Project Management
The Project Manager at an architectural woodworking company is responsible for taking a project from start to finish after it has been awarded. While responsibilities can vary slightly from company to company, this typically involves confirming scope of work; communicating with the client regarding schedule, submittals, and requests for information; reviewing shop drawings; coordinating schedules both on site and in the shop; and seeing a project through fabrication, installation, and completion. Most project managers split their time between the office and the field. And the Project Manager is an integral part of any company’s sales process as they interact with the client regularly. Depending on company size, specific roles in the Project Management Department include Assistant Project Manager (sometimes called a Project Engineer), Project Manager, Senior Project Manager/Project Executive, and Director. A number of software programs exist to aid the Project Manager in doing their job, but, as production continues to automate and we share more and more information digitally, enterprise resource planning software (ERP) is becoming increasingly more popular. Some of those popular options include offerings from TradeSoft, Crowsnest, and Innergy.
The “C Suite” and Production
The nature of the architectural woodworking industry tends to create a certain amount of inconsistency between a role’s specific responsibilities and its associated job title. That is nowhere more evident than at the management level. Beyond department director roles, most architectural woodworking companies will have a role dedicated to overseeing all activities on the shop floor. Typically, this role will be called Operations Manager, Operations Director, Director of Operations, or, in corporate America parlance, COO. It likely goes without saying that this person will also regularly interface with the other departments of the company. Above the senior level operations role, sits the company manager at large. In some organizations, this role will be called General Manager, while others choose to stick with the more traditional, if not corporate, President or CEO. In smaller shops, this person is likely very involved with day-to-day operations and may, in fact, also function as the Director of one of the companies departments. At larger companies, this role is likely afforded a view from a much higher level and can spend time working on the business rather than in the business.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading (or at least skimming) all the way through. See you next week!