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project management


In the jobs market today, finding and retaining good employees can be a challenge. The Society for Human Resource Management reported that on average it costs a company 6 to 9 months of an employee’s salary to replace an employee. So if an employee makes $75,000 per year it will cost the company $37,500-$56,250 in recruiting and training. We all know that your employees are the face of your company, they are the people that make your products, they are the people that manage your projects, and they are the glue that holds your ship together. There are many things your company can do such as competitive salaries, benefits, etc. Below are a few things you can do, that really don’t cost much, to retain your productive employees.

About ASST - Our people make all the difference.

Make sure that you show appreciation for good work with positive reinforcement. Sometimes a simple “nice job” or “thank you” can go a long way. Employees want to know that Going Beyond is recognized. If you have employees that manufacture a product, share with them the end result of their work. For example, if you manufacture millwork for hospitals, show employees completed pictures of the hospital. Let them know that because of their hard work, a place for healing has been created. If you build schools, let your employees know that because of their hard work our future leaders have a place to learn and grow.

ASST employees are the key factor to our success.

The US Chamber of Congress list “Allowing employees to speak their minds” as one of the most important methods of retaining employees. It is important for employees to feel that their opinions about the business are being heard by management. Make sure that employees have a method to share their opinions with management. Make sure that you address all suggestions no matter how silly they might sound. If your employee Bobbi suggests that everyone gets a new car you could respond by saying “Hey Bobbi, this isn’t the Oprah show… you get a car… you get a car… but we are providing lunch for everyone at the employee safety meeting on Friday”. If you have an employee that makes a suggestion, that helps with efficiency, and that suggestion is implemented, acknowledge the recommendation in front of that person’s peers.

Happiness is infectious and happy employees are more productive than disgruntle employees. Forbes recently cited a study by Camille Preston that happy employees are up to 20% more productive and with sales people that number increases to 37%. A simple smile when passing someone can have a profound effect in how that person feels. Start meetings with a piece of good news. This can set the tone for your meeting. Make happy part of your company culture.

Encourage a work life balance. If you are in a manufacturing or labor intensive industry give your employees flexible start/stop times. Let your employees know that you understand that they have a life outside of work and you want to promote a healthy balance.

At ASST, we know that productive employees need more than continued employment. Our employees are the face of our company and they really are the glue that holds our ship together. Our employees fabricate and install your best work!!


Inova Loudon Hospital

What does it take to successfully manage the millwork package for a $200M+ healthcare project? There is no single ingredient that defines a successful large millwork project. The overall process has to be complete and well-defined. From initial contract to project completion, there are many steps in between. These steps will define whether the project is successful or not.

Hershey Children’s Hospital

Have you ever received a submittal and asked yourself “is this company looking at the right specifications”? Have you ever received shop drawings and wondered “do these people even know what an AWI standard is”? Every General Contractor has been in a situation where they have received shop drawings for approval and the casework is on the wrong side of a wall or something similar.

Reading Hospital

On every large project, the schedule is one of the most difficult things to control for a project manager. It can be difficult to fabricate when the time between field measuring and installation is compressed. When this is not planned correctly other trades can get pushed as well as occupancy deadlines. What happens when your millworker cannot meet the deadline for completed installation?

United Therapeutics

At ASST, our process for success is well-defined and is continuously reviewed. We have a team of Submittal Coordinators that will push to get approvals back in a timely manner. Our Project Planners have the right tools for field measuring and handle site verification. They handle machine programming and fabrication scheduling. Our Project Managers have decades of experience and the ability to handle dynamic environments. Our shops are set up to handle the most unique custom projects as well as very large high capacity projects. All of our employees have the tenacity to be successful.


Do you feel that good working relationships are important to the success of your project? Do you feel you can trust the solid surface contractor and have the ability to communicate openly? Establishing/maintaining a good relationship is the key to a successful project.

What are the consequences of a bad work relationship? Relationships are part of human nature. They affect who we love, dislike or even who we are most comfortable spending time with. Work relationships are no different and establishing positive ones can go a long way to improving productivity levels. Good relationships in the workplace make the difference between completing a project on time or watching things go up in flames. You’ve probably been involved with a team where missed deadlines and fractious co-workers made it almost impossible to get anything accomplished.

ASST follows a 21 step Critical Operating Events/Tasks process providing a total project solution from start to finish. Working with the contractor from the beginning to set expectations for success is the key. Projects are coordinated with diverse fabrication techniques and materials. Materials range from solid surface to translucent resins, woods, plastic laminates and more. ASST chooses to work directly with the Architects, Designers and GC’s throughout the entire process. Utilizing proprietary in-house software and live working documents, we record and track every step of the submittal process. We openly invite our clients to access, as well as update, documents to allow for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information possible for every project. This helps secure a successful project and increased profitability.


ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications you require and the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.


How important can a meager piece of material be when it comes to your project? Does it have the ability to bring all forward progress of a project to a crushing halt? If your palms are starting to sweat and your blood pressure is rising just from the thought, then you already know how much you actually need all of those little pieces of material.

You are excited, after all the days and weeks of planning, your finished solid surfaces are arriving at site ready for installation. Everything is going just great and all is right in the universe… Then the General Contractor calls to your attention the blindly obvious mismatched materials used throughout the entire project… How is this possible? What went wrong? All of sudden, those little scraps of material that you used as your coffee coasters reveal their value and you begin to see just how big of a role they play in your project.

Submittals tend to be one of the most overlooked areas in project planning and yet are one of the most critical areas when it comes to the success of any project. A submission, when used in its simplest form, can be defined as a process. A process in which product data, material samples, and renderings are examined so as to be approved or rejected for use in a project. Missing this step or failing to acknowledge it can be the moment where success is breached and financial loss is the only sure outcome; thus making the submittal process one of the most overlooked areas of project management and material logistics.

ASST has made considerable efforts to organize and capture the submittal phase of project planning in an attempt to ensure success of every project awarded to our family of customers. ASST chooses to work directly with the Architects, Designers and GC’s throughout the entire process. Utilizing proprietary in-house software and live working documents, we record and track every step of the submittal process. We openly invite our clients to access, as well as update, documents to allow for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information possible for every project. This helps secure a successful project and increased profitability.


ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.


No one ever thought portable devices would revolutionize a variety of industries so quickly. Organizational processes coupled with technologies to track projects and maintain schedules have become of paramount importance to an organization’s financial health.

The impact of iDevices have changed business in ways that those who have failed to adapt are in jeopardy of business failure. Innovation in processes are also important to keep work flowing smoothly through a fabrication facility. Unfortunately, constant deadlines preoccupy many fabrication business Owners from thoroughly examining their work flow. Developing a coherent system of transmitting accurate communications via portable devices is a necessity in today’s world. Costly errors are usually the result of poor communications which can add additional pressures to General Contractors who subcontract solid surface fabrications.

To address this issue, ASST takes the organization and management projects seriously. ASST’s Critical Operating Events and Tasks (COETS) for organizational process is one of the key benefits of working with us. From the beginning, your project is organized into 21 Event Steps from initial pricing to final onsite installation. The details of your project are properly planned and field verified, with shop drawings, prepared for approval prior to fabrication. Items for large millwork pieces are labeled and coded with field seaming joints and/or match lines indicated for the onsite installer. During production, your project is also checked for Quality Assurance to confirm that AWI standards are achieved. Portable iDevices are utilized to record that production tasks conform to Architect’s specifications. These are just some of things we do to get a overhead view of your whole project. All of these 21 Event Steps are accessible via portable devices for use by project managers, installers and the fabrication team. We are always aware of the specific Event Step your project is presently located if you ever have a question!


ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. Even our EMR safety rating is outstanding at .793! We look forward to Going Beyond to address your exciting project challenges. For a quote,  contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.


Your customer wants millwork that is within budget, will last until the end of the earth, is functional, and looks like Gio Ponti designed it. Meeting one of these requirements can be difficult. Trying to meet all of these requirements can be downright daunting. You may as well quit your job and plan your retirement based on that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Creating a great design, with a product that is durable, made with sustainable materials and in budget is a problem that all architects and general contractors face on a daily basis. We would all like to work for that customer who has a money tree on top of their 200 hundred story world headquarters and writes us blank checks. The reality is that our customers are looking to get the most for what they are spending; using renewable materials that are aesthetically pleasing.

At ASST we have 20 years of experience value engineering projects with sustainable materials. We understand that all projects have a budget, need to be durable and need to be functional. We have worked with most solid surfaces and understand how to implement function and form.


ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project.  Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications you require and the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.


University of Maryland Solid Surface Bathroom ProjectIn construction, successful completion of a job is accomplished through effective project management. Delivering a quality project to your client on time and within budget while also turning a profit is no easy feat. It requires careful planning and detailed monitoring of project progress. Communication and collaboration with the General Contractor and other team members is of paramount importance.

Detailed strategic planning is the most important aspect of successful construction project management. The more complex the project, the more planning will be required. A well-planned project maximizes efficiency and provides a step by step roadmap for completing the work on schedule and within budget. For example, college student housing projects can have very tight schedules. Students are scheduled to arrive back from summer break at a specific time. Delays and setbacks many times are not addressed quickly enough to hold the schedule by many solid surface subcontractors.

ASST has a wealth of project management experience in dealing with tight schedules for college student housing projects. For a recent project with Elizabethtown College, there were multiple delays on site that were slowing the job progress. In response, ASST’s Project Manager quickly mobilized the installation team to work longer days and weekends to meet the deadline. Doing what ever it takes and Going Beyond for our customers is of prime importance. Our innovative team of estimators, planners and project managers collaborate and deliver project results in a way few competitors can. Contact us today to see how we can make a difference on your next project!

ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. Even our EMR safety rating is outstanding at .793! We look forward to Going Beyond to address your exciting project challenges. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.


No one ever thought portable devices that would revolutionize a variety of industries so quickly. Organizational processes coupled with technologies to track projects and maintain schedules have become of paramount importance to an organization’s financial health.

The impact of iDevices have changed business in ways that those who have failed to adapt are in jeopardy of business failure. Innovation in processes are also important to keep work flowing smoothly through a fabrication facility. Unfortunately, constant deadlines preoccupy many fabrication business Owners from thoroughly examining their work flow. Developing a coherent system of transmitting accurate communications via portable devices is a necessity in today’s world. Costly errors are usually the result of poor communications which can add additional pressures to General Contractors who subcontract solid surface fabrications.

To address this issue, ASST takes the organization and management of it’s projects very seriously.   ASST’s Critical Operating Events and Tasks (COETS) for organizational process is one of the key benefits of working with us. From the beginning, your project is organized into 21 Event Steps from initial pricing to final onsite installation. The details of your project are properly planned and field verified, with shop drawings, prepared for approval prior to fabrication. Items for large millwork pieces are labeled and coded with field seaming joints and/or match lines indicated for the onsite installer. During production, your project is also checked for Quality Assurance to confirm that AWI standard are achieved. Portable iDevices are utilized to record production tasks conform to Architect’s specifications. These are just some of things we do to get a overhead view of your whole project. All of these 21 Event Steps are accessible via portable devices for use by project managers, installers and the fabrication team. We are always aware of the specific Event Step your project is presently located if you ever have a question!

ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. Even our EMR safety rating is outstanding at .793! We look forward to Going Beyond to address your exciting project challenges. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.


Chevy Chase PavilionArchitects, Designers and General Contractors need solid surface subcontractor resources that are willing to develop the finer technical details of a project. Time spent “upfront” by a qualified subcontractor addressing these issues can contribute to the overall success of a project.

Construction schedules today have become tighter in our innovation and technology focused world. Design Professionals are challenged to find the time necessary to develop project design details. Communication slowdowns from Architect RFIs contribute to schedule delays resulting in headaches for the General Contractor. Focused on the “bigger picture” of running a project, General Contractors are then squeezed to find solutions to keep their projects moving.

ASST is proactive in our approach to providing the necessary design assistance and addressing the details of fabricating. ASST was asked to assist with the development of a large clear resin panel media wall for the Chevy Chase Pavilion. Working closely with Bethesda–based architect Streetsense, ASST arrived at a design solution for a custom bracket and aluminum joint system to connect the resin panels across the face of a media wall. A mock-up was created for the Owner with the LED lighting modules to test the distance required from the face of the resin. This was a critical dimension. Too close or too far and the projected images would be distorted. The Chevy Chase Pavilion project was an amazing success and an example of the kind of collaborative design assistance we perform here at ASST. It is our mission to ASsiST!

ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications you require in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond™ to address your exciting project challenges. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.


BarringsGeneral Contractors want nothing less than subcontractors that are on time, organized and ready to mobilize on-site when scheduled. Building a large piece of solid surface millwork is one thing. Delivering and installing it correctly to an Owner’s satisfaction is another. Subcontractors need to demonstrate their dedication to performing their jobs with an attention to detail that ensures a successful solid surface millwork installation.

Many General Contractors can tell “horror” stories of poor installations or uncoordinated work that could not even fit in the elevator. Problems like this over time can damage reputations and contribute to a loss of business opportunity and profit.

To address this serious issue, ASST takes the organization and management of its projects seriously. ASST’s Critical Operating Tasks for scheduling is one of the key benefits of working with us. From the beginning, your project is organized into 21 Event Steps from initial pricing to final onsite installation. The details of your project are properly planned and field verified with shop drawings prepared for approval prior to fabrication. Items for large millwork pieces are labeled and coded with field seaming joints and/or match lines indicated for the onsite installer. These are just some of things we do to get a overhead view of your whole project. The sum of a projects parts are important and you have to be able to assemble them correctly!

ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications you require and the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.