Tag: budgets

Facilities Department Not a Profit Center – But Can It Be???

Facilities Department Not a Profit Center – But Can It Be???

If you have been in the facility industry long enough, you have likely heard on numerous occasions “the Facilities Department is not a profit center”, “facilities is a necessary evil”, “you are just overhead”, and many other doozies. While the facilities department does not necessarily manufacture the widgets or process the transactions of our respective […]

The Rule of 100/10/1 – Learning to Speak Bean

The Rule of 100/10/1 – Learning to Speak Bean

If the facility management industry is to ever move beyond being seen as just a cost center, then they must learn how to see and convey the impact facility departments have on revenue generation and the bottom line.  There must be a clear understanding of the organization’s financials and how management perceives value.  The facility […]

Low-Hanging Green Fruit – Cost-Effective Ways O&M Can Save Energy

Low-Hanging Green Fruit – Cost-Effective Ways O&M Can Save Energy

For the past decade or two, the latest and greatest advances in design methodologies and sustainable products have garnered much of the attention and headlines.  However, with my stint in the energy arena, I was continually perplexed by the millions of dollars expended on technologically-advanced energy conservation projects, while ripe, low-hanging green fruit dangled untouched […]

Under-staffed? Under-funded? How do you get what you need for your Facility Management Program?

Under-staffed? Under-funded? How do you get what you need for your Facility Management Program?

Most facility departments are under-funded and under-staffed.  They act as modern-day MacGyvers trying to resolve the decline of aging systems and the increase of operational demands with a piece of gum, a ballpoint pen, and a paperclip – sound familiar?  This lack of resources and seeming disconnect with management perpetuates the costly firefighting cycle in […]

The In-Your-Face Business Case

The In-Your-Face Business Case

After multiple postponements and reschedules, you are finally in front of upper management to present your business case upon which you have spent many hours to make it as bullet-proof as possible.  It’s your turn, you’re on.  You pass the packets around the table, thank them for their time, and start walking them through your […]

Make a Negative a Positive – Using Failures to Gain Support

Make a Negative a Positive – Using Failures to Gain Support

No, I’m not trying to teach you any “fuzzy math”; rather I want to talk about failures – yes, those things that blew up on us that we would rather forget. How many of you enjoy getting phone calls from the company president complaining that their office is hot?  Or how about the breaker that […]

No More Firefighting – Planning for Success with a Capital Replacement Program

No More Firefighting – Planning for Success with a Capital Replacement Program

  Published in the July/August 2014 issue of IFMA’s Facility Management Journal (FMJ), this article discusses the need for a Capital Replacement Program and provides simple steps on how to implement one.  Follow this link to read more: No More Firefighting Sign-up for the FM360 Newsletter…  

The Need for Capital Renewal Planning by Scott Leadbetter, CFM

The Need for Capital Renewal Planning by Scott Leadbetter, CFM

Other than its employees, a corporation’s facilities are its most costly asset. In our roles as facility managers, we are constantly faced with how we can extend the life of this aging infrastructure.  Taking its toll is the deferred and/or insufficient preventative maintenance processes, which accelerates the systems’ deterioration.  Combine that with not being able […]

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail – The need for Capital Renewal Planning Program

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail – The need for Capital Renewal Planning Program

Many of you have likely heard the saying “a failure to plan is a plan to fail.”  That is true especially when it comes to planning and budgeting for the capital replacement of aging facility systems. How many of you, if asked, could provide a 3 to 5 year capital replacement list indicating which systems […]