roofer

lead technician

solar technician

director

account specialist

Performed initial evaluations of equipment failure, planned, repaired and test ran operation; analyzed downtime and root cause analysis of repetitive repairs; served as technical troubleshooting resource; maintained proper supply and materials inventory for maintenance.

Performed and supervised the maintenance and repair of all building facilities; troubleshot, cleaned and repaired water heater burners and thermal couples; performed preventative maintenance on reverse filter systems; repaired sprinklers and controllers; maintained safety shower/eyewash stations throughout the plant; performed weekly and monthly fire pump safety checks.

Conducted planning meetings for scheduled maintenance shut downs and communicated with team members; coordinated plans and design reviews with operations manager/supervisors, operations superintendent, engineers, project managers, raw materials manager, mechanical, controls and electrical groups; discussed implementation/expedition of all planned work; conducted update meetings on progress of daily shut down work; assured plant start-up readiness; attended Plant Leadership team meetings. 
  
Maintained mechanical and electrical personnel records; evaluated employee performance evaluations to ensure quality operations; prepared reports with recommendations for corrective action; investigated accidents and prepared relevant reports; evaluated accountability of each maintenance technician and planned skill development for each technician; organized training development of new and existing equipment for technicians; scheduled safety monthly training for the engineering, maintenance and electrical departments; planned and scheduled internal and external training and in-service for new and experienced technicians; assured that maintenance personnel had all the requisite skills needed to perform their job; developed and implemented maintenance procedures.

Maintained records and prepared reports for budget purposes as needed; ordered supplies and prepared specifications for purchase of materials.


Contacted local vendors for machine break downs and repaired service requisition spare parts; worked with local utility companies for plant related problems; responsible for facility and grounds upkeep including seasonal buildings and grounds maintenance; worked with outside vendors and manufacturers regarding machine/equipment concerns, maintenance, repairs, best practices and operation; scheduled manufacturer training services for the technicians.   

Collaborated with the Environmental Manager; ensured OSHA regulatory standards were in compliance; assured that Environmental, Health and Safety reporting was in compliance; participated in Environmental, Health and Safety programs such as behavior safety programs, pre-job work planning, energy control, hot work permits, industry health hazard training; assured that hazardous materials and storm water management were maintained.

Working dayshift i usually arrive 30 min before start time.wich i spent changing my clothes check my ppe and get pass down from the night shift.If there wasnt anything urgent that needed emidiate attention.i would prepair for start up.check/change drive settings depending on production shcedule.check compressors,pumps etc.Talk to production supervisor to see if he had any concerns.Talk to operators to see if there was any concerns.adjust what was needed.Then start up that could take anywhere from 20 min to an hour or more.After line is up and running without problems i usually went to talk to my supervisor to let him know what i had planned for the day and if there was anything he wanted me to do.lots of times there was projects in progress.I wrote and implemented electrical pms for the plant.some on dayli basis others weekly,biweekly or monthly.I carried a radio for comunication and was on call through out the day for electrical or mechanical issues.planned and ordered material for projects.and kept up with the electrical parts inventory.Did safety audits.Rebuilt air cylinders,valves,pumps.etc.worked with 5 more maint.technicians.we complimented each other very well and had a great team.Maintenance dep. also had a great supervisor and plant engenier.and together we keept the plant running very well.and constantly made improvements.Safety was allways priority.and we all loocked out for each other.There was a lot of hard work.under very hard conditions.Extreme heat,hot asphalt and oil,confined spaces.extreme dust etc.but we allways got recognized for our hard work and acomplishments.

The environment started out great, and it was much to learn in the beginning. But with changes to management, and shift of positions things started to take a downward plunge. It was more about get product out, and not not acknowledging the problems we had first at hand. Machines kept breaking down, and maintenance would only resolve the problem for a short moment without diagnosing what was the cause of things. We’ve had countless times of downtime, and the blame was pushed on  production, when it was maintenance slapping a ( band aid) on problems, and expecting things to run smoothly. Seniority in production caused many employees to feel like they didn’t have to lower their standards, and help out new hires on manual task such as the foot saw, or teaching them how to run the stations. When things did run smoothly once in awhile, you could catch your seniority production associates sitting down on a table, and on their phones. The supervisor for production had his favorites, and he would lie to cover his back if you reported him to HR for his actions. I honestly felt as if it was a high school environment, and things were chaotic with any structure. Management was only concerned about themselves, and making sure they looked good to corporate, and hid everything else behind closed doors. There’s plenty of things to go on about such as running some nights while being short on labor, going without breaks at times, and being pushed passed the limit of exhaustion.

As a member of the front office, there is a touch more flexibility in hours, I currently run about a 7am-3pm.  

I have been in my position for just under a year and there is plenty of room for growth and encouragement to voice what exactly you are hoping to get out of a position.  In my short stint here I have see multiple employees move up in position either from the plant floor to management or further up the management chain.  

Open doors are definitely a policy at GAF and everyone is encouraged to speak up if there is an issue, longevity in employees is wanted and encouraged.  Issues are solved as quickly and efficiently as possible.

As the plant builds back to being a 24/7 operation, there are definite times of long hours and hold overs, but moves are being made to alleviate and support everyone at GAF.  

There are occasional bonuses, both monetary and in the form of food (steak lunches, turkeys at Thanksgiving, etc.) that are provided by management in hopes of giving at least a small pat on the back for the hard work done to keep the plant on track for the yearly goals.

It is a company that doesn't put up with excuses that have no backing to them, so if you are willing to communicate issues, work hard, and give it your best GAF Minneapolis is a good fit!

I'll try to make my review as fair and as reasonable as possible. I'll give my opinion of 3 positives and 3 negatives and then offer a couple bits of advice for management.

Positives
-The compensation is good. After 48 hours of work your pay is doubled.
-In my opinion the social enviornment is good. People tend to get along with each other and help each other.
-The vacation is good. There is some downtime through out the year where you will get some time off. This is supplemental to your regular vacation time but it is unpaid. You will have to file for unemployment. Typically no work on holidays.

Negatives
-If you are looking for a good healthy work/life balance, this company is not for you. There will be plenty of forced overtime and weekend work. 
-There is no room for growth. This company does not promote from within. If you start on the floor here, that is where you will always be if you stay with the company.
-Management is disconnected. Management often does not ask nor seem to care what you think. This can make employees feel devalued. There is little to no incentive (aside from being afraid of getting fired) to do well at your job.

Advice to management:
-Connect with your employees. Value their thoughts, opinions, and feelings. Everybody likes to feel important, needed, and included.
-Create better incentives for employees to do well and promote a positive work environment. 


The pay is good for now, but management does not care about you or your family, they will write you up and try to fire you over anything. Since I’ve been here the schedule has changed 3 times and is about to change again for the fourth time. Management gets mad if you complain about anything and they over react and try to screw you over. In January they told us we would work 12 days and be off 2 but then want to schedule you to work the 2 days you’re supposed to be off then they get mad when you complain that you want the days off. Now they are about to cut our pay in half to retaliate for people complaining about 2 days off that they told us we are going to have. The union here is a complete joke they are in bed with the company and agrees to what ever the company wants, they won’t even hold a meeting to let the members know what is said in their meetings with management. Anytime people complain about something they find a way to retaliate by hitting your pocket. If you want to hate your job and hate coming to work everyday this is the place for you. They don’t fix anything in the plant then yell at you, and threaten your job when you’re down because of them. They have also changed the bonus program 3 times in the last 2 years and they say it’s better for us but when you look at it it’s makes it way harder to get a big bonus. Not a good place to work. 

Pros- The pay. That's it.

Cons- Very dirty work environment. Asbestos, sand, dust, fumes. All blown around the air to breath in. Rated one of leading cancer causing plants due to lung exposure. The management is a joke. They look down on all floor employees like they're dumb and don't know what you're talking about. You have no voice there. You're constantly being looked at for things you're doing wrong, instead of highlighting your good actions. They're pro non-union. They don't want you to have any sort of backing. If they want to discipline you or have you terminated, it's their choice. Very high turn over rate. Either people getting over stressed or smart and leaving or them terminating ppl for whatever the deem fit. Certain jobs are a cake walk, but the majority are just stress ridden areas. When bad material is made,"red tags" everyone has to stay over and break down the bad material. They don't want to look for a better, more efficient way of doing this. They can't even keep an HR manager long term. They get stressed out from demands, and how management expects them to screw over any employee that walks in their door. It's not a career at GAF, if anything, it's a resume builder to move onto something better for your life. Don't let the money blind you.

Great money, can start out with no experience. Plenty of room to advance to hirer level and pay machines if you work hard and show good work ethic. Good money, paid breaks, quarterly/yearly bonus(not that much money), full benefits that are average(dental/health/life/vision/401k/etc.) Learn a lot of machine knowledge and trouble shooting experience. Major cons though. No sick or personal days, limited vacation days with lower experience, terrible point system for tardiness or being sick. Regardless of how sick or a family emergency or what not you have to take a point, only get 12 points before being fired, points lock in for extended periods of time after acquiring 3points/6points/9points (4months/6months/year) to fall off. Very little help or leniency for any reason regardless or major or not. If a fellow operator gets fired, quits, or gets hurt you are put on 8s and have to work everyday with no time off. Management sucks and and talks behind people’s back and starts problems, high stress environment, terrible work culture. Plant is bad for you’re health, they general do not care for long term health concerns of employees only care and immediate issues like cuts, good money and average benefits but terrible environment and culture. Work 12 hour shifts.

First off, Do not apply if you are a family man. You will not get to see your family if you are employed here. Only if your single and looking to save up. Compensation wise was great. It's a union so you'll get your money don't worry. Mad overtime as well. When I worked there it was 7 days a week the whole summer [4 months]. If your on the clock and the next guy taking your spot for the next shift doesn't show up guess what your stuck for another 8 hours... yesss 16 hour shift. Imagine 10pm-2pm that's unhealthy even with a $25 plus hourly rate/overtime. Thats something they didnt mention at the interview so. Environment is dangerous so watch your every step. They treat you like an animal/number in there as well. Supervisors screaming thru the PA system talking down on you if the line stops. Basically a big foundry company and it smells even from the bridge/highways. High turnover rates as well, 8 points and your done terminated. I've seen people overworked doing 16 hour shifts everyday and absolutely destroyed. Worklife balanced ain't Gucci so prepare yourself for unwanted 16 hour shifts. Goodluck!

The pay is excellent, but keeping a job there is very difficult. Plus management tends to show favoritism to undeserving workers while seemingly getting rid of their best. They need to work on a better way to train too. There are a lot of new people with hardly any experience on the job (not even a week after being qualified), training new people. Senior operators should be the ones training new people, not new operators. Then after being trained by a new worker, they expect you to know the job like you've been doing it for years. That isn't realistic. 
The 7 days a week, swing shift schedule takes some time to get used to also. It's not that bad after a year or so though. Getting time off can be difficult depending on the job you're working. You can post your job for the weekend every 2 weeks, but somebody has to sign for it in order for you to get the weekend off. You also get 5 sick days a year which don't carryover to the next. Plus vacation days. So you have to be able to play around with all that, & the rules in order to get time off.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Roofer 22 salaries reported	$36.50 per hour
Lead technician 20 salaries reported	$34.93 per hour
Solar technician 19 salaries reported	$30.29 per hour
Director 3 salaries reported	$177,667 per year
Account specialist 8 salaries reported	$69,738 per year

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