Heavy Metal Camp Introduces Teens to Work in Trades - 4

There are fewer places where this is evident than in the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades. Technology within these individual spaces is evolving at a breakneck pace, with contractors having to keep their heads on a swivel to understand, much less successfully employ all the new tools and technology potentially at their disposal. At the same time, there is an incredible opportunity to utilize these tools successfully, and it's not hard for contractors to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of assets at their disposal. When you factor in that business owners and technology managers must also juggle the reality of day-to-day operations, maximizing the potential of innovation becomes challenging. This apparent reality could leave contractors in a spot where they see themselves leap-frogged by their competitors, harming their ability to compete long-term.

With the express goal of bridging these knowledge gaps, SMACNA annually conducts the MEP Innovation Conference in cooperation with the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). The conference offers several critical and unique opportunities for all MEP contractors to grow their knowledge base on how technology is evolving within our space.

Travis Voss, SMACNA's Director of Innovative Technology and Fabrication, outlined the core goals of the MEP Innovation Conference: "We are all trying to solve the same or similar problems across the MEP space. The MEP Innovation Conference highlights those struggles and challenges. It allows our memberships the opportunity to collaborate on how to address them. A great deal of care goes into building the educational sessions around those issues and then pairing members from each association giving real-world examples of contractors attacking them."

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The general sessions let attendees hear about broad themes impacting the MEP sector from industry pacesetters. One of these instances featured the national presidents of the three organizations, including SMACNA President Carol Duncan. This panel talked about how the industry has changed during their time as business leaders. This conversation was thought-provoking for all attendees as it painted an incredibly accurate picture of how quickly the tides of innovation are indeed changing.

Additional general sessions included similar content designed to illustrate the forces currently in play within the MEP trade from a macro level. Concepts such as how cross-border and cross-cultural interactions and relationships can prove pivotal in addressing international challenges within the sector. SMACNA Premier Partner Procore's Sasha Reed delivered general session remarks on how data can help contractors relieve the financial stress caused by inevitable delays and how technology can be deployed to maximize the bottom line.

In addition, breakout sessions occurred throughout the event. These sessions tackle a variety of essential topics for those in attendance. They ranged from the impact that technology has on recruiting and talent development, how to successfully take technology from the drawing board and implement it  throughout your corporate structure, and learning some of the best practices in building an overall culture that is one where innovation is encouraged from top leadership all the way down to the apprentice level. SMACNA participated in several of these sessions, including a safety session where Justin Crandol, SMACNA's Director of Safety, served as a panelist along with his counterparts from the other associations.

"The theme around this conference has always been sharing. Attendees truly embrace this, which is apparent in the sessions and the breaks between. The discussions are powerful and refreshing."

The 2024 edition of the conference, held in Orlando, Florida, served as an avenue for learning about the available state-of-the-art solutions and providing a unique opportunity for contractors across the MEP trades to network with their peers. This type of face-to-face engagement can go a long way in helping contractors better understand the best practices that their colleagues are employing within their own shops. By talking to individuals who have encountered similar challenges, MEP attendees can discuss challenges and develop peer-sourced solutions that can positively impact their businesses. This combination of cooperation and innovation is at the core of what the MEP Innovation Conference tries to accomplish, and the 2024 edition was no exception.

Voss expanded on these opportunities, stating, "The theme around this conference has always been sharing. Attendees truly embrace this, which is apparent in the sessions and the breaks between. The discussions are powerful and refreshing."

The lessons learned at the MEP Innovation Conference will prove crucial as the trades strive to remain state-of-the-art in their processes and adoption of technology. As technology changes and evolves, the industry must do so as well.

Jennings elaborated on where she thinks the MEP trades are going, "The construction industry does not stand still. Just as duct, pipe and wires can be walled in during the construction process without proper planning, contractors too can be left behind without collaborating and innovating their processes — whether it's in the design phase, in their back-office procedures, in the fabrication shop, or on the job site. The MEP Innovation Conference provides attendees hands-on opportunities to collaborate, innovate and grow within the changing construction landscape."