More Than a Glorified Janitor Please do not take offense to the title of this article – I do not wish to dismiss janitors’ hard work. In fact, my intention for us, as facility professionals, is to realize the value of every team member in the facility department – from custodial and landscaping to […]
Category: Facility Management
A Tale of Two Facilities
Facility management and related services arguably have a greater impact on customer experience and occupant productivity than any other department within a building or campus. Granted, as a facility practitioner, I may be a bit biased, but, as you will see in the following examples, my statement is sound and difficult to counter. Continue […]
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 are a necessary evil”, “you are just overhead”, and many other discredits. While the facilities department does not necessarily manufacture the widgets or process the transactions of our respective […]
“Facilitopia” – A Brighter Vision for the Facility Industry
I am honored and excited to be this year’s keynote at NFMT in Baltimore, where I will be speaking about a topic near and dear to me – Facilities! This passion for the industry is the impetus behind my utopian vision for facilties, that I have lovingly coined “Facilitopia”. Now, don’t get me wrong, I […]
Getting an A-Grade at the C-Level
As facility professionals, we are pretty good at reacting in an emergency, dealing with difficult people, figuring out how to get a square peg into a round hole, doing more with less, and many other challenges that fly at us daily. However, the one key area where programs fail or struggle time and time again […]
Maintenance Management Systems: Managing the Business of Facilities
A robust, easy-to-use maintenance management system that grows with the facility program is a necessity for any facility department. Here’s how to get it right. Maintenance management systems come under many names. Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), computer-aided facility management (CAFM) systems, integrated work management systems (IWMS), and even enterprise asset planning and resource management […]
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 […]
Don’t Overlook These Critical Data Spaces in Your Facilities
Even the smallest spaces that house critical data can’t be treated like just another closet. Here’s how to make sure critical data spaces stay operational and efficient. Facility managers are often responsible for critical spaces that can range from a small converted closet that now contains a network rack to a very large data center […]
Five Keys to Effective Emergency Plans
The scope and intent of an emergency preparedness program should span an array of emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis revealed many vulnerabilities in our global economy, healthcare systems, institutions, and supply chains; and shortcomings in facility operations and management were exposed as well. This is not to say that facility management teams did not respond […]
6 Facility Strategies to Prevent Coronavirus Spread
As facilities slowly begin to reopen, consider these important infection control tips to prevent the spread of the virus. While it is too early to fully measure the global impact of the coronavirus, it is safe to assume that how facilities conduct day-to-day business will change. There will be a new norm. People will view […]