topsites
05-24-2005, 12:22 AM
Hi,
This is likely to be another hot topic (lol) as I begin the discussion with a tough claim: For increasing production, machines are my pick of choice as they are cheaper and better than employees.
The cost of my machines average a few to several hundred dollars, and can easily cost a few thousand (the most expensive is the fixdeck toro + velke, at $3300). With a brand-new Toro, production increased by 25%.
Now to train an employee also costs about 3 thousand dollars. Really, you first need to interview 10 people in order to make sure you have ONE worker after all is said and done, but buying a Toro involves a fair hassle as well, so I think we're about even here.
With an employee, once the training is over you SHOULD be able to increase your productivity by maybe 50% (don't even dream 100%, it never works that way), but you're lucky if you get 25.
With a machine, once you make the modifications that allow you to run it above and beyond manufacturing specs, you will get at least 25% every time (Of course this also shortens its useful lifetime, violates the warranty and your insurance as well - another reason I don't carry it - I'm in violation of their policies anyhow). Cost-wise, we're about even - Employee is trained, machine has been purchased.
Now comes the fun part.
Machines:
- Run free of labor, taxes (well, almost) and insurance. The maintenance cost of the machine is way lower than hourly wages, thou you need to do most of it yourself so you can fully benefit from this.
- Never Call in sick, especially when they're not (or once/2 weeks).
- Always show up on time, and work up to their full potential.
- Always work the whole day, are never tired, never want to quit, never give you any lip. Some are a bit temperamental, but other than that...
- Do not lie, steal, or scam - Watch out for that, employee uses your equipment to do a quick job on the side for cash but wait
- Do not fall for scams - Yeah don't that s*ck, you finally find an honest employee and one your customers skru's'm - Customers are TWICE as likely to try and scam an employee vs. an owner, did you know that?
- Do not drink alcohol or do drugs - Not even on their own time.
- Do not openly lust after your female customers, or their daughters (guys).
- Don't get pregnant (ladies).
- Do not curse, or swear.
- Don't need bathroom, smoke, coke, or lunch breaks every 15 minutes...
- Do not pretend to know how to do something.
- Do not try to 'cover up' bad jobs. That they do a bad job somedays, ok.
- Are precise, predictable, fast, and accurate - everytime.
- Never lack motivation, their power motivates You!
Machines DO:
- Break, and need maintenance, are very heavy when not running.
- Need oil, fuel, filters and parts. Consumable, and finite resources.
However, one can, for a cost of about 1000 dollars, replace a lawn-mower every year with a brand-new one, reducing down-time and maintenance considerably as MOST things don't even wear out the first year.
Peace out.
Pascal
This is likely to be another hot topic (lol) as I begin the discussion with a tough claim: For increasing production, machines are my pick of choice as they are cheaper and better than employees.
The cost of my machines average a few to several hundred dollars, and can easily cost a few thousand (the most expensive is the fixdeck toro + velke, at $3300). With a brand-new Toro, production increased by 25%.
Now to train an employee also costs about 3 thousand dollars. Really, you first need to interview 10 people in order to make sure you have ONE worker after all is said and done, but buying a Toro involves a fair hassle as well, so I think we're about even here.
With an employee, once the training is over you SHOULD be able to increase your productivity by maybe 50% (don't even dream 100%, it never works that way), but you're lucky if you get 25.
With a machine, once you make the modifications that allow you to run it above and beyond manufacturing specs, you will get at least 25% every time (Of course this also shortens its useful lifetime, violates the warranty and your insurance as well - another reason I don't carry it - I'm in violation of their policies anyhow). Cost-wise, we're about even - Employee is trained, machine has been purchased.
Now comes the fun part.
Machines:
- Run free of labor, taxes (well, almost) and insurance. The maintenance cost of the machine is way lower than hourly wages, thou you need to do most of it yourself so you can fully benefit from this.
- Never Call in sick, especially when they're not (or once/2 weeks).
- Always show up on time, and work up to their full potential.
- Always work the whole day, are never tired, never want to quit, never give you any lip. Some are a bit temperamental, but other than that...
- Do not lie, steal, or scam - Watch out for that, employee uses your equipment to do a quick job on the side for cash but wait
- Do not fall for scams - Yeah don't that s*ck, you finally find an honest employee and one your customers skru's'm - Customers are TWICE as likely to try and scam an employee vs. an owner, did you know that?
- Do not drink alcohol or do drugs - Not even on their own time.
- Do not openly lust after your female customers, or their daughters (guys).
- Don't get pregnant (ladies).
- Do not curse, or swear.
- Don't need bathroom, smoke, coke, or lunch breaks every 15 minutes...
- Do not pretend to know how to do something.
- Do not try to 'cover up' bad jobs. That they do a bad job somedays, ok.
- Are precise, predictable, fast, and accurate - everytime.
- Never lack motivation, their power motivates You!
Machines DO:
- Break, and need maintenance, are very heavy when not running.
- Need oil, fuel, filters and parts. Consumable, and finite resources.
However, one can, for a cost of about 1000 dollars, replace a lawn-mower every year with a brand-new one, reducing down-time and maintenance considerably as MOST things don't even wear out the first year.
Peace out.
Pascal