#trade school

Tech Tips:

Finishing Trade School? Some Things you Need to Know

So, I hear you're just finishing trade school. Well done. You chose to take an excellent path, and now your journey is just beginning. How this will go is really up to you, and that's a good thing! You aren't going to be forced in one direction or another; you get to choose. Let's talk […]

Trades and the Skills Gap – A Manifesto

This article is a year old, and I'm recycling it because it's on my mind today. I had a fun conversation with Richard Trethewey on the podcast that has me thinking along these lines today. The link is HERE if the player isn't showing up. I have a confession to make. I'm a bit of […]

Storming the Gates to Trade Education

Before we jump into the stuff that will make folks angry, let's start with some common ground. Most of us can probably agree that the desired result of education in the trades is: Knowing what you are doing and doing it as safely, efficiently, and correctly as possible. If we can agree that we all […]

Jose Ayala
#hvac school #Technician #trade school

Check out our most recent video

How to Evacuate an AC system, Full Vacuum Procedure

Our latest Podcast

HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

In this podcast episode, Bryan, Jacob, and JD provide an in-depth look at a significant HVAC project that tested their team’s ability to adapt, learn, and improve. The discussion centers on a large-scale apartment building project that presented numerous challenges in project management, team dynamics, and installation processes. What began as a chaotic and inefficient workflow ultimately transformed into a more streamlined and collaborative effort through careful analysis and strategic adjustments.

The team candidly discusses their initial struggles with project management, particularly around materials handling, piecework compensation, and team coordination. They highlight the importance of moving from an individual-focused approach to an assembly-line mentality, which dramatically improved both productivity and team morale. The podcast reveals the critical nature of communication, ownership, and consistent processes in managing large-scale construction projects.

A key theme throughout the discussion is the evolution of team culture and interpersonal dynamics. The participants emphasize that effective teamwork isn’t about being friends, but about mutual respect, individual accountability, and collective goal achievement. They stress the importance of merit-based performance and creating a work environment where team members are motivated by productivity and quality rather than personal relationships or financial incentives.

Key Topics Covered:

Project scope: New ground-up apartment building HVAC installation
Challenges with initial project management approaches
Transition to assembly-line production methods
Materials handling and staging strategies
Piecework compensation challenges and improvements
Team dynamics and communication
Importance of consistent processes
Breaking down installation into specialized tasks
Balancing speed and quality of work
Learning from project experiences for future improvements

Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 6th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android