Our New Fire Protection Consultants at the National Fire Protection Association’s Conference – Start Business Networking Early
We recently attended the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) Annual Conference and Expo for the opportunity to strengthen ties with other members of the community. I decided to take two of our newest fire protection…
Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and Smokeview (SMV) – Bringing Fire Analysis to Life
In the last 15 years, scientists and engineers have developed two powerful tools for fire modeling and visualizing the complex phenomenon that is fire: Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and Smokeview (SMV). Together, they can help…
Collaborating with Fire Protection Contractors via the iPad
When we inspect a new construction site for fire alarms and sprinklers, we are a tool in the fire protection contractor’s arsenal. Our comments help insure the fire alarm and sprinkler contractors produce a fire safe, code…
Using iPad’s Bluebeam App for Fire Protection Inspections
The iPad can be an incredibly useful tool for fire inspections and fire testing, but it requires some customization first. Through experimentation, collaboration, and experience with the iPad, we have unlocked more of the…
Touting the iPad for Fire Alarm and Fire Suppression Testing and Inspections – Part 2
We rolled out iPads to key staff-members in 2012, and Jim Tuten received one of them. Jim opted to use the mobile device for his on-premise fire alarm and fire suppression inspections. The mobile device saves time and…
Touting the iPad for Fire Alarm and Fire Suppression Testing and Inspections – Part I
About one year ago, I made a conscious decision to apply new information technology to fire protection engineering. That decision has transformed, and continues to transform, our processes in ways we weren’t even expecting.…
How One Chemical Engineer Chose the Path Less Traveled: An Uncommon Journey to Becoming a Fire Protection Engineer
We recently sat down with Robert McFeaters, Fire/Explosion Protection Engineering Consultant, to talk about his experience and professional growth since joining Harrington Group one year ago. Rob recalled his first interview…
All Work and No Play? Not at Harrington Group!
While we have been keeping busy developing fire protection solutions for our clients, it’s not all work and no play at Harrington Group! Having fun at the office is important to us because it’s an easy way to build morale,…
Recognizing The Challenges Of Open-Book Management
Open-book management can be fun, but the flip-side to any game is that sometimes, you will lose. Many employees will take the ball and run with it. But some people don’t want the responsibility of managing a business’ bottom…
Games For Business Results
Open-book management requires consensus and planning, but implementation isn’t just grit; it can be a fun game. To encourage participation and make the financial statements meaningful, Harrington Group employees played games.…
Open-Book Management in Motion
When employees have access to all relevant financial information and critical data, they have a better understanding of how the company is doing as a whole and are more likely to make better decisions and perform their jobs…
Open-Book Management In Harrington Group
In early 1998, I was browsing through the bookstore, looking at the shelves in the business section. Something always jumps off the shelf when I do this and, mysteriously, the subject matter always seems to be just what I need…
Introduction To Open-Book Management
What if there was a business process that could motivate your best employees to do better and help to weed out the employees that are causing problems? Open-book management is a process that doesn’t involve firing or aggressive…
Think Win/Win
In recent events, we’ve seen an emergence of winner-takes-all strategies come into fashion. A winner-takes-all approach to business turns relationships into a competition. Dog-eat-dog business strategies are unsustainable, and…
The 7 Habits Of Harrington Group
The economic recession in the early 1990s hit the real estate markets hard between 1990 and 1992. Architects suffered because new commercial and industrial construction dried up during this period. As a small fire protection…