We’ve all heard about this project by now. The WASPO project allows all of our resources to unite as a single team: civil, mechanical, electrical, and engineering. From the beginning, this was the vision of our founders and has become a reality. And people are finding out about it…UPS, for instance!

It’s a story worth telling so we turned to Rafael, Farley, and Justin Green to learn more.

Here is Rafael’s report from the first phase of the team onsite.

The success of the WASPO project rests on the civil team completing their portion on time for the rest of the team to succeed.

The project started with a surprise, learning of a drawing change two days before excavation began. Surveyors were called to the property to verify dimensions and adjustments were made. The team was able to overcome the last-minute adjustments by several 12-hour days.

Since then…

Farley Young is the project manager for the WASPO job. This is a new horizon for Farley. He recently managed logistics for the Mebane project and has carried out various project management responsibilities in the past, but this is his first assignment as PM – give him a shout!

Farley reports very positive interactions with the UPS team and their onsite representatives, Centerpoint Integrated Solutions.

He also confirms everything we know about our Civil Team: this group is unstoppable.

“Rafael has created an excellent environment for the team to succeed. And they move fast. Sawcut, haul-off, you name it. They put us miles ahead of the UPS timeline. That team leans in – they never flinch at working 7 days a week, or 15 hours a day.”

Justin is the Electrical Manager for the project, and as mentioned Hugo and the Electrical Team are already onsite providing utilities and panels for the in-process structure. Those tasks will dovetail directly into energizing conveyor equipment within a few short weeks.

Conveyor equipment and the Millwright Team will be arriving during the week of Memorial Day. Scott Cully has been preparing to launch the mechanical phase, dispatching Brad Rogers and Richard Eichhorn as mechanical leads. Brad and Richard were previously at Mebane.

Before all of this, a much less photogenic process has been unfolding in the Tupelo office.

In late March, Justin Green jumped into high gear when he was given three days to prepare pricing for mechanical installation at WASPO. Those original conversations with UPS created an opportunity to introduce SilMan’s civil capabilities. And of course, we know how that turned out!  (see above)

Material Handling System in Process

Justin is the project engineer for this endeavor, working with Harrison, Sean, and Kinsly. The group has been busy creating a schedule, procuring equipment, producing mechanical installation drawings, and providing shop drawings for platforms to be ready for the installation activities beginning this week.

Safety toolbox talks are short, 5–10-minute informal meetings held daily in the workplace each morning to discuss specific safety topics and address potential hazards. These talks are essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of TMs, as they provide a platform for sharing important safety information, reinforcing safety protocols, and promoting a culture of safety within our organization.

Here are three ways Tool Box Talks can impact your job site.

Are you a Team Leader? Plan your safety topics every week to ensure the team covers a wide range of safety topics and how they relate to the current job.

Safety Toolbox Talks play a crucial role in promoting a safe work environment, preventing accidents, and protecting employees from harm. By making safety a priority, and consistently discussing safety topics, organizations can create a culture of safety that benefits everyone in the workplace.

-Turner