• TOOLS OF THE TRADE; MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions

    Jan. 1, 2010
    Each month, Contracting Business picks a leading contractor and takes a look at the products, tools, and services that he or she has chosen to help make their company successful.

    MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
    Seattle, WA

    MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions is one of the largest design/build mechanical contractors in the Pacific Northwest. Services include mechanical engineering, Design/Build construction, custom metal fabrication, service and maintenance of systems and equipment, and energy management programs that include a high-level of utility rebate dollars for lighting and HVAC solutions. Established in 1965, the company employs more than 150 office staff and 450 field personnel. In 2008, MacDonald-Miller's gross sales exceeded $160 million. MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions won a 2009 ContractingBusiness.com Design/Build Award for the Shoreline City Hall project (see http://bit.ly/ShorelineCH). Derrick “Gus” Simonds (pictured above) is president.

    • Number and type of trucks/vans: six cars (including two Toyota Priuses);166 Chevy vans; 118 full size and small Chevy and Toyata pickups; 11 mid-size flatbed Chevy and Isuzu trucks; five Chevy and Isuzubox trucks; four Toyota and Lincoln SUVs; one International Harvester bucket truck.
    • Test instruments technicians carry: Fluke 902 multimeter; Testo manometer; Supco M500 megohmmeter; JB micron gauge; Bacharach Fyrite Pro combustion analyzer.
    • Tools provided to technicians: Appion 65 recovery machine; DeWalt power tools; Bachrach Informant 2 leak detector; Victor MC cutting/welding torch kit; JB 7CFM vacuum pump; WEY-TEK 713-500 recovery scale.
    • Preferred field communications method: Sprint/Nextel; Motorola cell phones featuring Nextel Direct Connect® service (technicians and field foremen).
    • Preferred ladders: Werner.
    • Preferred business management software: WennSoft; G.P. Dynamics; Microsoft Office 2007; Adobe CS4 for internal graphic design.
    • Preferred load calculation software: Trane Trace 700.
    • Preferred sales management software: Microsoft CRM.
    • Preferred computers/printers: Hewlett-Packard.
    • Preferred photocopiers: Panasonic; Canon.
    • Business connection to the Internet via: Qwest.
    • Preferred uniform supplier: Cintas.
    • Credit cards accepted: VISA; MasterCard.
    • Preferred HVAC equipment brands: Carrier; Trane; Reznor; RBI boilers; Aerco.
    • Preferred accessories: Nailor; Titus; Greenheck; Ruskin; Shoemaker.
    • Preferred zoning equipment: Nailor; Titus; Enviro-Tec.
    • Preferred Indoor Air Quality equipment: Kele.
    • Number of technicians currently certified and type of certification: 100 technicians covering HVAC, electrical, lighting, controls, commissioning, TAB, and plumbing. All are certified based on trade.
    • Preferred distributors: Ferguson; Gensco.

    IN THE TRUCKS

    IN THE OFFICE

    IN THE SHOP