DIGGIN’ IT
IT’S A DIRTTy JOB Getting messy and raising money
ALL SYSTEMS GO!
Looking at the launch of Project Rocket
LEAN INTO IT
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SAFETY FIRST
Celebrating an operations milestone
Spring 2020
FROM KEVIN
MESSAGE
DIRTT’s DNA is about people At DIRTT, we do a lot of things. We innovate, we create, we
build, and we deliver. But what we do doesn’t define who we are. It’s important, there’s no question. Especially now. But
who we are is the energy that makes it possible to do what
we do. And, it’s that energy, that comradery and that genuine caring for each other that makes DIRTT, DIRTT.
Enriching and improving the lives of our people and others is part of our DNA. That’s who we are.
Over the past month, instead of isolated, me-first thinking,
I’ve seen this team behave with compassion and kindness.
I’ve also seen renewed commitment to doing what we can to
deliver healthy spaces and life-saving solutions to the people and places that need it most right now. Thank you for putting together and hands up
ENRICHING AND
movement bringing
OF OUR PEOPLE AND OTHERS
your hearts in, heads
to be part of the global critical infrastructure and protection to healthcare providers and patients.
IMPROVING THE LIVES
IS PART OF OUR DNA. THAT’S WHO WE ARE.
Thank you for finding the courage and the energy to continue to perform your duties with professionalism and dedication. Thank you for taking time to check in on each other and caring about the well-being of your colleagues. Yours in solidarity and safety,
Kevin
2
BUILDING HEALTHY
SPACES
DIRTT partners with ATCO to bring healthcare solutions where ever they’re needed
As part of COVID-19 rapid response, DIRTT is partnering
ATCO and DIRTT team up
with ATCO to create mobile care units. ATCO is a
structures and logistics company known for the trailers that are used as support buildings on construction sites. DIRTT is known for modular off-site
construction. Together, DIRTT and ACTO are turning trailers turn into patient-care facilities that can be
deployed almost anywhere in Canada. Here’s how. On April 3, ATCO’s first, 40-foot trailer rolled into the Primer Plant in Calgary. Frames were tipped
up. Power was connected and panels installed. In about eight hours, DIRTT turned an empty trailer into a four-room patient-treatment space. And it had healthcare grade power and hospital grade
The ATCO 40-foot trailer before being outfitted with DIRTT solutions
finishes for infection prevention and control. Days later, ATCO’s second 60-foot trailer
arrived to receive the same treatment. With the extra length, we added a fifth patient room and millwork for storage.
Seeing these trailers come together in such a short time is a reminder of all the things DIRTT does so well. We create solutions that work anywhere. We use off-site
construction to build spaces to heal. We do it quickly and we make a difference.
The same trailer with healthcare-grade finishes and power 3
KICKING OFF A SAFE 2020 The first three months of the year have been milestones for DIRTT
facilities are in the process of obtaining Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) certification. This is
Everyone at DIRTT knows how important safety is.
a national program in the US that recognizes
core values. But it’s one thing to talk about it and
and safety management systems and maintain injury
have the statistics to prove it.
with COR in Canada, the major benefit of VPP is the
January 2020 was the first time since November
management program and continuous improvement.
free month. And then we did it again in March.
That’s a lot on the go. But our team is up for the
total recordable injury frequency (TRIF) is 0.76.
safety team that supports all our facilities. They are
That’s something we can all be proud of. We set
of being safe at DIRTT and at home. As a company
performance in 2020 and with our first quarter
standards policies and safe work practice (SWP)
surpassing them.
we are tracking and addressing near misses that
Looking forward, our Calgary plants are working
aggressively taking corrective actions to prevent
It’s one of our core values. Actually, it’s two of our
workplaces that have implemented effective health
another thing to live it. At DIRTT we live it. And we
and illness rates below the national averages. As
2014 where DIRTT achieved a recordable injury-
reduction of workplace injuries through an effective
That is an amazing milestone. Our year-to-date
challenge. We have a fully staffed health and
It’s a 93% reduction from our 2018 level of 10.5.
working across the company to spread the value
very aggressive goals for improving our safety
we are actively implementing new health and safety
results we’re well on the way to achieving or
training for all the employees in our factories. And could have resulted in safety incidents. We’re
to earn a Certificate of Recognition (COR) from
incidents in the future.
Partnerships in Injury Reduction program. This
What does that future look like? Safe. In fact, our
efficient health and safety program that meets
program that will be rolled out to the whole
the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board
is awarded to employers that have developed an
health and safety team is working on a training
provincial standards. That COR certification will
organization via DIRTTu during the next few months.
reducing workplace injuries.
If you have any safety news or questions, please
show that we have the tools in place to continue
4
South of the border, our Phoenix and Savannah
contact safety@dirtt.com
WHO’S WHO
IN H&S Need to know who to talk to when it comes to safety? Here’s the updated lineup for 2020.
The DIRTT Health & Safety Team Davide Careddu (Safety Advisor - 7504)
Jacqui Fisher
Why is this safety advisor smiling? Ask him about our TRIF!
(Disability Coordinator - Corporate)
Adrian King (Safety Advisor - Savannah)
Jessica Koberna (Safety Advisor - Phoenix)
Ian Opelik (Director HSE - Corporate)
Emily Tran (Safety Analyst - Corporate) Dale Warkentin
(Safety Advisor - 6335/5620) Trent Whalen (Safety Advisor - 7303)
5
PROJECT
ROCKET
THE BACKGROUND DIRTT has seen extraordinary growth over
its 17+ year history. This includes expansion
25
Individual Projects
12
Project Owners
20+
Subject Matter Experts
ONE GOAL Transform DIRTT’s commercial team to support sales and growth targets for 2020 and beyond
into new markets, new product lines, an IPO
and listing on Nasdaq. This means that it’s
no longer just business as usual.
• Stakeholders have increased along with requirements and governance
• Clients have grown more sustainability focused and tech conscious
• The ever-evolving competitor landscape
needs to be addressed in order to stay
ahead of the pack
• Our Commercial team needs to evolve to
MILESTONES
keep up with this rapid change
THE SOLUTION
Project Rocket! The commercial transformation
2018
2019
2020
2021
Engaged Boston Consulting Group to help run strategic commercial survey
Official Project Rocket launches with new team
Major commercial initiatives in progress
Ongoing strategic plan changes and updates to ensure continuous improvement
plan. Rocket creates a strategic and cohesive
program that addresses the commercial needs of
the organization. The Project Rocket goals are to: • Increase revenue generating opportunities.
• Develop and launch inspiring marketing programs. • Engage global partners and clients. • Invigorate market interest and demand. • Affirm DIRTT as the go-to solution for interiors.
• All while help DIRTT meet and exceed market and sale expectations for 2020 and beyond.
6
WHAT IS CHANGING To help DIRTT’s commercial team build on its
previous success and evolve for the future, there
are new initiatives and solutions being implemented in each of these groups: • Sales. • Marketing. • Sales specialists. • Channel operations and management. • Tools and technology. With 25 unique projects to help DIRTT’s commercial transformation efforts, there’s a lot of work and
activity going on. Here’s a little window into each.
SALES TEAMS
This effort helps build our go-to-market sales
strategy. It ensures our segments, territories and
sales roles are strategically aligned for growth. This includes hiring or reassigning existing staff. It also
ensures personnel are properly onboarded to their new roles and that their training is ongoing.
MARKETING
This ensures we have dedicated resources
where we need them. This includes a partner
marketing and marketing analytics team. We have segment leads that ensure coverage and growth in healthcare, education, government, millwork,
timber and commercial. This also includes a lead generation, qualification and allocation engine.
SALES SPECIALISTS
• The development of a dedicated team
to identify, recruit and support strategic accounts for DIRTT.
CHANNEL OPERATIONS + MANAGEMENT We’re focused on ensuring we attract, recruit
and onboard the right partners. It’s an essential part of DIRTT’s ongoing growth plans. Partners who champion us in a variety of regions and
sectors are essential to our overall success. This effort includes establishing an expanded partner
development team. We’ll develop comprehensive
training and onboarding programs for existing and new partners. We’ll also be implementing a new partner portal.
TOOLS + TECHNOLOGY
Providing our sales and analytics teams with
customer relationship management (CRM) is an important part in our development as a highperformance organization. CRM tools offer
enhanced ability to better track and manage
opportunities, manage the allocation of sales, as well as providing greater accuracy in our data gathering and forecasting.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Our 25 Project Rocket initiatives have launched and we’re tracking their progress closely. We’re
dedicated to supporting the owners and subject matter experts. We’re helping them manage
project goals and delivery dates to success. We’ll showcase select projects and deliverables over the coming quarters to keep you up to date on the Project Rocket journey.
This project establishes specialized sales teams
to support DIRTT’s growth in specific categories including:
Strategic project group.
• Strategic account management group.
• Segment specific reps for government, education and healthcare.
GOT QUESTIONS?
GOT FEEDBACK?
Reach out to either Brandon Jones bjones@dirtt.com or Luisa Saavedra lsaavedra@dirtt.com for support 7
IN-YOUR-FACE
FUNDRAISER Calgary office gets DIRTTy for a good cause February 20 is national cherry pie day. It comes a
it in my face and drag it in a upwards motion so that
national Pi day. There really is a day for everything.
boss would affect my shower schedule as bad as he
DIRTT HQ celebrated with a pie day of our own.
snot out of my nostrils trying to get all the chocolate
month after national pie day and three weeks before
it went straight up my nose. I never thought that my
Never ones to let a party (or a pie) pass them by,
did. It took literally 10 minutes of just blowing brown
The premise was simple. In order to raise money
syrup out.
for the Calgary Food Bank, a few brave DIRTT
Kaitlan Bohan: : I may never be able to eat
price to lob a pie was a donation to the Food Bank.
up from the event (which required a fair amount
Kaitlan Bohan, team lead of finishes and freight
helmet. It was all worth it to be able to support
employees put themselves in the line of fire. The
pricing: My boss Brian Cassie donated $100 to the food bank to pie myself and Kassandra Ward with
a plate full of chocolate syrup. I’m sure it was very therapeutic for him.
Brian Cassie, VP operation and execution: It felt
great. It was a fun way of getting back at Kassandra for all the old-guy jokes!
Justin Panman (left) and Luan Khuu (right) carpooling into work on Earth Day
8
Kassandra Ward, PM team: He proceeded to slam
chocolate syrup again. After we had cleaned
of work), the syrup had hardened almost into a
such an amazing organization like the food bank.
I’d do it again, only this time maybe I’d ask for the caramel syrup.
Rodas Asres, finishes and freight pricing, and
event facilitator: It was felt so good that a fun event also had a positive, tangible impact.
Morissa Villeneuve, resource development
coordinator at Calgary Food Bank: It was honestly awesome. And it was wonderful to be able to come
Kassandra Ward needed a shower after this
and the see staff engagement and to see everyone come together. It was such a creative way to raise money, support local and get everyone involved.
After all the pies were thrown, DIRTT raised $1322 and 32 pounds of food for the Calgary Food Bank. Morissa Villeneuve: For every dollar we receive we’re able to distribute five dollars of food. So, a 13-hundred-dollar donation really does go a
long way in helping support the community and helping people who are experiencing food insecurity.
Rodas Asres is happy to help
Total number of pies thrown:
116
116 Total number of Total food items Bohan may never eat chocolate syrup again piesKaitlan thrown: collected: 52
Total number of pies thrown:
116Total food items collected:
Total money raised:
52
Total number of Total food items Total money pies thrown collected Total food items $1,322 raised: collected:
52
$1,322 Total money raised 9
DIRTT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AT ECO CITY Earth Day is April 22. This is a great time to
reflect about DIRTT’s sustainability platform.
THE ON
EXISTING BUILDINGS KEEP IT REA Thousands of tons of debris go into the Approximately 40% o
(OK, every day is a good day to think about
sustainability, but you know what we mean).
In late 2019, DIRTT was a sponsor the Ecocity
World Summit in Vancouver. As a long-running
gathering that looks to address building cities in
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo courtesy BCIT
balance with nature, Ecocity was a perfect partner for
The DIRTT Process
DIRTT. The theme for the summit was understanding and developing socially just and ecologically
sustainable cities. Right in DIRTT’s wheelhouse.
VIRTUAL REALITY
As an conference presenter, DIRTT created aAt largeDIRTT, sustainability starts during design. Virtual lets people create, explore and change their format poster as part of our presentation. It reality highlighted space digitally. It eliminates the need for wasteful
the potential existing buildings have and how it can be large-scale mock-ups. The VR file feeds information to the factory, creating a space that fits the base unlocked with what we do. Using DIRTT to retrofit a space building perfectly.
that already exists, means you don’t have to build a new
CLEAN CONSTRUCTION building. As a result, the energy and materials savings have
BREAK IT DOWN
DIRTT solutions are designed for disassem Break it back down to its components. Rec the insulation and aluminum extrusions. Or yet, upcycle. Since DIRTT is non-generation reconfigure it. Like a LEGO® experience. C space that responds to your needs.
FUTUREPROOF YOUR SPACE
DIRTT solutions are manufactured off-site and install What if your space could evolve with techn huge impact on the environment. This generated a ton of Lisa MacIntosh repping for DIRTT and the easily. Preassembled components connect simply. DIRTT it can. Add outlets. Reconfigure entir planet at the Ecocity World Summit materials Innovior. to create. Fewer people to install. DIRTT will never become obsolete, so you positive brand recognition for DIRTT and ourLess partner Virtually no on-site waste. It’s one-third faster than to throw it away. Make fast changes with m conventional construction. And it allows everyone environmental impact. Keep the neighbourh to meet their sustainability goals. Fewer construction waste bins. Less noise. “DIRTT’s name was everywhere,” said DIRTT’s sustainability
expert Jessie Stenftenagel. “Our name was mentioned in other
attendees’ presentations. ‘Go see the sustainable construction people-they are doing important, necessary work.’ Many
people came up to us and said they had read about DIRTT or
You’re not just building an office space,
heard about us during the conference. This was very cool.”
YOU’RE BUILDING A COMMUNITY
This is just one of many things our sustainability team did this year to show the world what we do.
Looking for ideas about what to do for Earth Day 2020? Click here to change a behavior and be part of the global sustainability movement. 10
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo courtesy BCIT
“The greenest building is
THAT IS“The ALREADY BUILT.” greenest building is
- Carl Elefante
“The greenest building is THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.” NE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.”
g a high-efficiency office sounds great. Until you tear down an old building to do it. - Carl Elefante mbodied energy used in construction is lost. Conventional construction is wasteful. - Carl Elefante rials landfi ll come from conventional andtodemolition. ildingina the high-effi ciency office sounds great. Untilconstruction, you tear downrenovation an old building do it.
AL Building aenergy high-effi ciency office soundsisgreat. you tear down an old building to do it. . Embodied used in construction lost. Until Conventional construction is wasteful. landfill. Embodied energy used construction construction, is lost. Conventional construction is wasteful. materials in the landfi ll come frominconventional renovation and demolition. of all materials in the landfill come from conventional construction, renovation and demolition.
One existing building,
THREE POSSIBLE TENANTS One existing building, One existing building,
THREE POSSIBLE TENANTS THREE POSSIBLE TENANTS
mbly (DFD). cycle better nal, just Create a
nology? WithCORPORATE re rooms. CORPORATE never have minimal hood intact. .
01 CORPORATE
01
NON-PROFIT
01
NON-PROFIT NON-PROFIT
02
02 02
EDUCATION
03 0
EDUCATION EDUCATION
DIRTT makes it possible to update building interiors and minimize the environmental DIRTT DIRTT makesmakes it possible to update building interiors and minimize the environmental it possible to update building interiors and minimize the environmental impact. Our solutions are an investment that will adapt over time. They usenew less new impact.impact. Our solutions are anare investment that will over over time.time. TheyThey use less Our solutions an investment thatadapt will adapt use less new material and they reduce manufacturing. All this means less ends up in the landfi materialmaterial and they manufacturing. All thisAllmeans less ends up inup thein landfi ll. ll. ll. andreduce they reduce manufacturing. this means less ends the landfi
Y. 100+ 2,100+ 2,12,00+
Pounds of prevented drywall waste prevented Pounds of drywall waste from entering the landfill entering the landfi ll Pounds of from drywall waste prevented
from entering the landfill
recycled content recycled content recycled content
62% in wall solution 62% in wall solution 85% in millwork solution 85% in millwork solution 62% in wall solution bio-based content in wall solution 1.5% bio-based content insolution wall solution 85%1.5% in millwork
1.5% bio-based content in wall solution
11 1111
Pounds of paint-based, drywall mud Pounds of paint-based, drywall mud and VOCs prevented of tape-based paint-based, drywall mud andPounds tape-based VOCs prevented from VOCs off gassing from off gassing and tape-based prevented
from off gassing
Allcorporate stats based on corporate space.isDrywall is based on Cornell University study (Managing waste at the residential construction site) of of drywall 1 pound of drywall All stats based on space. Drywall waste basedwaste on Cornell University study (Managing waste at the residential construction site) of 1 pound square foot. VOCsassuming are calculated assuming requiring coats with 0.83 pounds perversus gallon VOC versus DIRTT’s no-VOC chromacoat waste per squarewaste foot. per VOCs are calculated standard paint,standard requiringpaint, two coats withtwo 0.83 pounds per gallon VOC DIRTT’s no-VOC chromacoat All stats based on corporate space. Drywall is based on Cornell University study waste the residential construction site) of 1 pound of drywall formula requiring one coat.waste Assumes 0.053 pounds of mud per square foot (Managing of wall with 2% VOCsatby weight. formula requiring one coat. Assumes 0.053 pounds of mud per square foot of wall with 2% VOCs by weight.
waste per square foot. VOCs are calculated assuming standard paint, requiring two coats with 0.83 pounds per gallon VOC versus DIRTT’s no-VOC chromacoat
249 249 249
denim Recycled Recycled denim jeans in jeans in wall insulation Recycled denim jeans in wall insulation
wall insulation
11
THE SECRET OF
OUR 6S DIRTT goes Lean in the quest for operational excellence At DIRTT, we’re all about finding better ways to
do things. That’s part of what prompted us to get Lean. What is Lean? It’s a manufacturing method
that increases productivity and quality by training people to work with awareness and flexibility.
What started as a tool for the auto industry has
spread throughout all departments of successful businesses across the globe. And DIRTT is no exception.
During late 2019 and early 2020, DIRTT
employees across the company took part in Lean 101 workshops. These workshops are designed to introduce our teams to the basics of Lean, in order to get everyone through their day in the
safest and most efficient way possible. The goal
was to change the way we look at the work we do.
12
This means, in every scenario, employees ask
themselves if the way they are completing a task meets Lean’s 6S criteria. As TIM WOODS says, make efficiency a behavior. The Steps of 6S • Sort – Remove what doesn’t belong. • Set – A place for everything and everything in its place. • Shine – We all love shiny clean DIRTT. • Safety – If you see a safety hazard, take a minute to eliminate it. • Standardize – Can you make this the standard for all people who use this work area? • Sustain – How can we make this effort stick and stand the test of time.
TIM WOODS’ lean behaviour • Transportation – Unnecessary transport of parts and materials.
• Inventory – Making more than needed, just in case. • Motion – Unnecessary movement, walking back and forth, receptive motion in one spot.
• Waiting – Time spent waiting is a waste.
Freddie Robinson is an innovation superhero in Savannah
• Over processing – Duplicate or redundant operations.
Before
• Over production – Making products ahead of time. • Defects – Unable to produce quality parts the first time. • Skills – Not providing opportunity for people to share their knowledge or skills.
Check out the cool innovations DIRTT employees created after Lean training. If you have more Lean initiatives you want to share, drop a
line to cyost@dirtt.com
Safety is one of our core values
6s in action After
The right tool for the job
13
STAYING CONNECTED WITH OUR COMMUNITIES
EVEN WHEN WE’RE PHYSICALLY APART DIRTT Savannah raises money for a local Down syndrome organization March 21 was World Down Syndrome Day. To celebrate, members of the DIRTT team in Savannah, Georgia decided to raise money for the Lowcountry Down
Syndrome Society (LDSS). They’re an organization
based out of Savannah that offers support for anyone touched with Down syndrome.
DIRTT employees held raffles, contests and events
throughout the year and in six months raised $4,666. The plan was to host team members from LDSS for a luncheon at the DIRTT café. Unfortunately, COVID-19 prevented that from happening. But
Jon Bogardus founder of LCSS
people at DIRTT are good at adapting and using technology. The Savannah team wasn’t going to let the pandemic stop them.
On March 20, Laura Lee Bocade presented
president and founder of LCSS Jon Bogardus with a check via video chat. “Honestly,
(the video presentation) felt strange but wonderful,” says Laura Lee. “It was
humbling, happy, heartfelt and hopeful.”
Laura Lee Bocade shows her DIRTT giving spirit and presents a check to LDSS 14
DIRTT HELPS MAKE-A-WISH
COME TRUE
DIRTT HQ hosts Hawaiian luau for an amazing 14-year-old who battled leukemia For the past few months, DIRTT Gives and Make-a-Wish® have been working together to create something special.
Jasmine is an amazing 14-year-old who battled leukemia
in 2019. Now that she’s recovered, we got to surprise our wish child. Her dream was to go Hawaii with her family. Thanks to Make-A-Wish that dream is coming true. And what better way to celebrate than with a
Hawaiian-themed party. With hula dancer on hand and tiki bar full of refreshments, Jasmine’s close
friends and family joined us at DIRTT headquarters to toast her health.
Seeing Jasmine happy and healthy was a special moment for all of us at DIRTT. And we couldn’t
be prouder to support this incredible foundation. Our friends at the Make-A-Wish foundation have a unique ability. They can transform the lives of a child and their family life during some of the
most difficult moments. To learn more about this
YOU KNOW
YOU’RE A
DIRTTBAG WHEN • You work your contacts to talk to the government of El Salvador about healthcare solutions. • You decide to teach your first virtual yoga class to help your co-workers with health and wellness. • You create sales tools in a few hours that would take other companies a few days. • You compress already impressive lead times to 10 days to accommodate rapid response healthcare. • You switch from daytime DIRTT pajamas for work to night-time pajamas for sleeping • You reconfigure machines in the metal factory to make monitor stands so people can work remotely.
wonderful organization and how you can get
involved in their mission, visit makeawish.ca
Savannah Kuemper brings balance to accounting and to DIRTTbags via virtual yoga 15
HAVE A STORY THAT SHOULD BE FEATURED IN DIGGIN’ IT?
Marketing@DIRTT.com
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