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MACNA and SMART professionals with an eye for technology will make the greatest strides, says New Horizons Futures Study. Are you prepared? The industry’s identity is evolving with new market sectors unfolding and technological leaps changing the way of business. Just how far will it all go? Many of the industry scenarios – including projections for the next five to 10 years – are outlined in the 2016 HVAC and Sheet Metal Industry Futures Study. Tom Soles, executive director of both SMACNA’s member services and the New Horizons Foundation, says many of the 2016 study’s projections have been accurate. SMART’s Director of Craft Services, Charles Mulcahy, agrees and sees this as an important time for members to listen up. “It’s not a time to embrace the good old days,” he says. “Contractors have to look to new technology and work with their local training center and union to make sure they are on top of new market sectors.” The study is based on research conducted by Continuum Advisory Group (CAG) that included numerous in-depth interviews with sheet metal contractors, HVAC equipment manufacturers, and other industry professionals. New market sectors and technology are highlight findings noted by CAG, which is a multi-national management consulting firm that works around the globe in the building and construction industry. 6 » Partners in Progress » www.pinp.org
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By / Don Procter
Among those findings is that the “solutions first” approach to buying construction services is growing. Contractors that take a solutions-first approach to HVAC systems do an assessment of an owner’s total building needs now and over the long term. Less focus is spent on specific equipment and its upfront costs. Soles says focus in this area isn’t surprising. Customers traditionally seeking the low bid are paying more heed to contractors solving long-term issues. “It’s a very important piece of business for sophisticated customers,” he says. Soles expects a rise in medium-sized sub-subcontractors from the HVAC and sheet metal sector to enter the solutions first game. “Among the data centers, the Amazons, the Googles . . . you are starting to see more SMACNA members doing that kind of work.” Mulcahy adds the industry will continue to see more work in building enclosures—particularly in architectural sheet metal. Nate Scott, a principal of CAG, says owners will be the “big driver” for prefabrication and modularization, but growing labor shortage is also pushing the sector. CAG’s research indicates that prefabrication is preferred by some owners geared to lean construction—an approach that could gain ground in years to come. Soles points out that, depending on the job and location, even smaller and medium-sized contractors will participate
