Time management plays a big role in Canopy Tree Service’s success. Our crews have established consistent routines that contribute to efficient workflow, enabling fast and thorough results. We understand that our clients have busy schedules, and we strive to complete our work efficiently while still maintaining high-quality standards.
We recently lifted the canopy at a customer’s ranch house near Hwy 281 and Bulverde Rd in North San Antonio. One of the tree-trimming goals was to lift the canopy of some of the trees high enough that horseback riders could safety travel underneath. The owner faced additional challenges with pre-existing tree stumps obstructing the travel area and several trees perilously near the house, which required removal.
One of the key factors in time management for Canopy Tree Service is proper planning. Before beginning any job, our teams conduct thorough assessments of the project site to identify potential obstacles and determine the best approach. This allows us to allocate resources and plan out a detailed timeline for completing the task at hand.
In addition to planning, another important aspect of time management is having skilled and experienced crew members. Our team consists of highly skilled professionals, adept in a broad spectrum of tree care practices and techniques. This expertise not only guarantees the safety of our operations but also enhances efficiency, allowing our crew to execute their tasks swiftly and effectively.
Organizational Skills Lead to Customer Satisfaction
| Customer: John Neitzel Date: 03/01/24 |
| Stars Rating |
 |
| 5 out of 5 |
| “Very timely and thorough. The crew knocked out a ton of work in no time … Well Done.” |
Time Optimization begins at 7 a.m.
The first step in optimizing time management is to discuss the tasks that need completion. From that conversation, the crew decides what equipment needs to be on the chip trucks or loaded on our trailer to take to the job site. If, for example, we will be trimming backyard trees where there is a pool, then we need to bring a pool cover to prevent debris from blowing into the pool.
As always, there is a discussion of the weather and what personal or protective items of clothing might the crew need from warm base layers to electrolyte hydration packets for extreme hot weather. Failure to plan for the day before leaving for a customer’s home can cause a return trip. If a crew of 3 hourly wage employees has to drive 60 minutes roundtrip to pick up a forgotten essential tool, it gets expensive. Because of strong organizational skills and good habits, our pre-job routine obviously has to include a walk around inspection of our trucks to make sure they are road worthy.
For this recent ranch property tree care project, our crew loaded onto the truck a gas-powered extending saw and telescoping blade. The hand-held telescoping blade allowed the crew to fine-tune the appearance of the trees that framed the key property elements such as the house. The gas-powered extending saw is a time optimization tool in that it eliminates climbing the lower part of the tree canopy.
Thorough On-Site Inspection Creates Efficient Workflow
Upon arrival at the job site, it is the responsibility of each employee to assess the conditions of the site. Are there trip hazards? Are there any signs a seemingly healthy tree has hidden decay that could cause the tree to suddenly fall? How can we design the site to streamline workflow and bolster safety for both pedestrians and nearby traffic? Additionally, what is the optimal location for our tree limb chipper equipment to reduce the hauling distance for the limbs? How can the crew avoid underground sprinkler equipment to avoid time intensive repairs?
Clear Sense of Purpose
The crew leader describes the customer’s goals for the tree care project. Having a clear sense of purpose helps the crew create an efficient workflow.
Pomodoro Technique: Taking Breaks
The crew works in focused intervals followed by short team breaks. Tree work is highly demanding physically and frequent rest breaks lead to higher productivity. Many customers do not realize that the gas-powered chainsaws weigh 12 pounds. This weight can be very tiring on the arms. The crew is not just encouraged but required to take frequent breaks. Breaks avoid muscle fatigue that can lead to accidents. Community breaks also help crew members monitor both their own health and also evaluate the health of their co-workers, making sure nobody begins to suffer from dehydration, heat stroke, exhaustion or even frost bite.
Deadlines are Noted but Flexible
In time management books, it is often recommended to set a deadline. This adds urgency to the tasks and keep crew accountable. Canopy Tree shares the deadline the customer wants to achieve, when relevant. It is important to note that Canopy believes deadlines can be dangerous for the crew. Events out of our control can influence meeting deadlines. Weather conditions can slow trip destination times, or the presence of potential lightening or intermittent rain can force the crews out of the trees. A deadline cannot trump safety.
“Stop Doing” List Aids Time Management
For time management and safety, the crew must operate as a team. Sometimes it is necessary for a ground crew member to do nothing but observe. For example, we advise ground crew to wait until receiving a “clear” before moving toward a down tree limb. Entering the tree limb “fall zone” before the lead crew trimming member approves can subject a grounds person to serious injuries or even death. Sometimes the ground crew may have limbs ready to chip beside the chipper but is advised to hold off. An inexperienced grounds person might feel useless, but we assure them that it is all part of efficient workflow. Sometimes it takes a change of mindset to stopping thinking only of one’s organizational skills and to start thinking of the team’s organizational skills instead. Turning off a noisy piece of equipment so that crew members can communicate with one another about the job can be critical. In this way, the “stop doing” list contributes to time optimization.
Employee attitude: Our “Secret Sauce”
We are fortunate to have employees who arrive early to work and are eager to start the day even when it is cold or extremely hot out. They relish the excitement and challenge of bringing a large tree down safely and without damage to surrounding property. They take pride in efficient workflow. They are an athletic bunch who thrive on physical exertion and can provide an aesthetic viewpoint to tree trimming. To get an idea of how our crews can made your trees beautiful, please submit a request for a free tree estimate. Recently, we gave a “haircut” to another customer’s trees which you can read about here.
