Peter Kodner
Re: Reports from the front: Installer-Inspector Workshop
From reading the post conference posts, it sounds to me like the mission statement needs to be reviewed and rewritten. Not a bad thing, but will be of great value for keeping on track for Conference II.
A very basic question has to be resolved: Is this a training seminar or a communication conference? Neither is good, bad or mutually exclusive, but I see some logistical issues given the time allotted for holding it, i.e. 2 days.
If it is to remain a communications conference (more correctly a program to open communications) it seems the format worked well. If this is the way to go forward, I suggest more effort be made to increase awareness within the industry and increase the attendance for this end. The topics will be far easier to decide and moderators would probably be easier to get commitments from.
If the intent is to train, I believe the format will need to be modified. I would see the need for presenters/experts to conduct the topics. Can we afford to pay the people that may attract new attendees? Will we be commercializing the event?
Maybe there is a place for both at the same conference?
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For what its worth............
(Let's see if I can get this point across)
In view of the apparent success of the Workshop and those in attendance and in view of who the sponsors are (
F.I.T.S./TFP) my thoughts are that the Workshop would serve a deeper and more meaningful purpose as a communications forum and leave the training to the (new to be organized)
F.I.T.S. training classes.
This particular group may well have the ability to in time become a recognized authority in creating channels with which to communicate rank and file thoughts and issues to the industry. Occasional training exhibitions would of course be necessary but not to teach installers to make proper installations and not to better teach inspectors to improve on their inspections skills and not to teach retailers ways to sell their products or run their businesses. But instead to poll those entire communities about their concerns and to develop and determine better and more sophisticated ways to consolidate the industry.
For example; There is mention of the limited ways in which CRI's mere existence is made (or not made) available to everyone. Why couldn't this "Building Bridges Workshop" be the voice that asked the mills for compliance in once again getting printed documents into every roll of carpet?
In my recent experience in giving a tile seminar in Kansas City I told you that none of those installers present had heard of or used the TCNA Handbook For The Installation of Ceramic Tile. Why couldn't the "Building Bridges Workshop" take on lobbying efforts to get all tile manufacturers to include mention of the TCNA existence and availability of the TCNA Handbook in printed form on their tile boxes or by the use of stuffer sheets in tile boxes?
What if the "Building Bridges Workshop" were to develop some type of written outline of "Floor Installation Minimum Standards and Information" for use by consumers to be made available to all consumers at the point-of-sale at all Big Box Stores nationally? Not a "How-To" make the installation but a "How-To" find a qualified installer in their area and "How-To" find the required Do-It-Yourself information necessary to complete a successful installation.
Flooring installations aren't going to improve by any great leaps until the masses of both installers
and flooring consumers can be made aware that rules do (in fact) exist. Techniques and practices are much too scattered with no real focus on any of the great information that is available.
At one time I asked: "Where are the schools?" And tho there is plenty of short term training for installers the actual schools are limited.
Why couldn't the "Building Bridges Workshop" become a principal voice that stimulates communication from all segments of the industry and be the clearing-house that all participants could go to to funnel information and in-turn broadcast common information goals throughout the industry?
Leave the training of individuals to the
F.I.T.S. Programs and leave the need for workings of a routine and daily "gathering place" to TFP.
Something else has reoccurred to me......
Why shouldn't flooring installations become a segment of building that requires a permit and an inspection by local governments the same as plumbers and electricians. I realize plumbing and electrical work contains health and safety issues but with prices skyrocketing once again and flooring failures increasing by leaps and bounds why shouldn't the consumer be able to get some relief from a local inspection? Think about the mold and mildew issues we have all encountered in floor covering over the years. There's enough health and safety issues right there alone to get someone's attention.
Why shouldn't someone rally a movement for local governments to inspect floor covering installations and even maybe require an installation license or certified installer. And why shouldn't that "someone" be the Building Bridges Workshop?
Just thinking just thinking.
Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you!
