From one industry to the next, facility managers around the world share and implement best practices every day. While organizations may operate differently, the common goal remains the same: to work efficiently, cut costs, and enhance employee productivity. Facility management is an ever-evolving process, and staying up-to-date with the latest best practices is crucial to achieve operational success. Here are seven secrets that can help you improve facility efficiency and achieve your goals.
1. Automate and Streamline Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Creating a streamlined workflow is essential for effective facility management. Automating processes such as facility lighting and HVAC systems can significantly increase efficiency. By connecting HVAC schedules directly to your building automation system, you can control heating and cooling settings based on facility occupancy, leading to better energy usage. Similarly, lighting controlled on an as-needed basis improves facility energy efficiency. Streamlining facility and maintenance operations by submitting electronic work orders generated by facility management software enhances visibility and improves team productivity.
2. Customize Your Facility Management Operations
Every organization has unique facility maintenance needs. Customized workflows tailored to your organization’s priorities, whether it’s preventive maintenance, asset management, or event scheduling, are crucial for operational success. Capture, track, and report on all crucial details surrounding your facility’s processes to ensure that all decisions support the best interest of your organization.
3. Effective Communication across Teams and Departments
Clear and effective communication is key to success in facility management. Keep everyone updated on any facility changes, emergency repairs, and be open to listening to your team members’ concerns. With proper communication tools in place, you can improve productivity, maintain contractor and vendor relationships, and eliminate unnecessary tasks.
4. Implement a Preventive Maintenance Plan
Implementing a preventive maintenance (PM) plan is crucial to optimize efficiency and cut maintenance costs. A PM plan extends the life of equipment, reduces downtime and reactive maintenance, and allows you to track metrics and maintenance schedule analytics. Organizations with a preventive maintenance plan in place have saved anywhere between 12% to 18% on their annual maintenance expenses.
5. Use Data Trends for Better Insights
Collect and track as much information as possible to gain complete visibility into your facility operations. Store details such as equipment and asset information, worker labor rates and hours, inventory levels, and equipment downtime. Accessing this data allows you to set and reach facility and maintenance goals. Through reporting and analytics, analyze trends, make data-driven decisions, and improve your overall bottom line.
6. Embrace the Power of IoT
Embrace technology to streamline facility management processes. Cloud-based facility management software allows facility managers to communicate and access facility activities and schedules from anywhere, at any time. Control your facilities’ HVAC and lighting settings directly from your mobile device, saving time, cutting costs, and improving productivity.
7. Optimize Operations with Maintenance Management Software
Facilities maintenance software can help you achieve better results faster. Choose software that offers benefits such as asset and equipment management, open communication, workflow automation, time management improvements, cost reduction, and configurable reporting. Prioritize tasks, assign work orders, and store valuable information to streamline processes and decrease costs.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, utilize the tools and facilities management best practices that have proven to work for facility managers time and time again. By implementing these seven secrets, you can improve efficiency, cut costs, and achieve operational success.
Find out more about facility management best practices at Management.