January 21, 2025
6 Goals for Facility Management Success
If you wear the hat of a company or team manager, what goals do you set for success? For companies to profit, they must establish and implement internal programs and standard operating procedures. This week, we'll highlight six suggestions for success.
The Foundation of Effective Facility Management Communication
Everything starts here. From the new hires to the thirty-year veterans, communications skills act as the foundation for all relationships. This means managers must foster quality interaction between:
- Team members.
- Between members of different teams.
- Between employees and management.
- Between "maintenance" and "production."
- Between employees and vendors.
- Between employees and customers.
Work on all forms of communication. Clear and concise speaking. Listening. Email and other written communication.
Remember to emphasize the "silent" communication forms. Body language. Eye contact.
Make everyone aware of the tone of voice and volume.
Socializing helps foster good relations. Make time for non-work-at-work activities to strengthen morale.
Creating a Comfortable and Safe Workplace Environment
To help with morale and relationships, you must establish a workplace that helps employees stay productive. While some facilities have production areas that require manual labor, make sure you have adequate temperature controls and lighting available.
Keep all areas as clean as possible. As we'll see in the point, this helps ensure safety.
Provide any PPE gear. Ear protection. Hard hats. Special clothing. Protective shoes. Gloves. Masks. Other facial/head coverings.
You can't have comfort without safety. Managers should post or otherwise clearly communicate all regulations and hazards. Note "authorization only" rooms/areas. Post "hazardous material" warnings.
Conduct regular cleanings. Clean/plow parking lots and walkways. Remove ice and snow from roofs. De-ice walkways.
Part of this safety point includes inspections and preventive maintenance activities. Read on for further details on these.
Safety also refers to health safety. Have protocols to minimize disease and infection.
Safety doesn't apply to certain employees. All have the responsibility to do his or her part in maintaining safety throughout the facility.
Preventative Maintenance: The Backbone of Maintenance Management Success
Both production and maintenance teams have responsibilities. Maintenance, of course, conducts the majority of PMs. These include:
- Inspections
- Cleaning
- Lubrication
- Replacement parts.
- Tracking equipment readings.
Maintenance managers need to have quality preventive maintenance scheduling, perhaps through a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). Routine activities reduce downtime, extend asset lifespan, and increase productivity.
Production can help by performing simple PMs. They also can track readings at times. Machine operators stay on top of regulations and recommendations. They report any variances in equipment function.
PMs help improve the above points. Communication. Comfortable working environment. Safety. Maintenance managers must stay on top of PMs.
Don't fall into the reactive mindset where you pay attention to assets only when they fail or break down. This incurs extra expenses.
Part of the reason for quality preventive maintenance and maintenance in general includes cutting expenses. Keeping assets at a baseline functionality helps improve energy efficiency.
Like safety, all employees should contribute to cutting energy use. Implement the simple practices of:
- lowering thermostats in unoccupied rooms.
- turning off lights.
- powering down computers and other equipment.
These and others help lower energy usage and overall costs.
Machine operators must learn the function of their equipment. They need to operate at certain levels. Under or over-utilizing them risks energy loss, safety, and production loss. Don't try to force the machine to go beyond its design.
Every department and every team must routinely review strategy and operations. Yes, you've set your goals. Yes, you've established steps to reach short-term goals. Yes, you've acknowledged achievement. However…
Don't rest on your laurels. Keep learning. Keep updating leadership skills. Stay focused and determined. Review all goals, policies, and procedures.
Do you need to adjust? Add more? Cross off those you've achieved. Always strive for "better."
Setting Goals for Facility and Maintenance Management
What skills do you need for success? Detailing the attributes of leadership, dedication, perseverance, flexibility, and several others would fill several more posts. However, each has its importance in the scheme of things.
Look for the "weakest link" in your operations, discuss options, and implement solutions. Always strive for improvement. Bring in the talents and contributions of every employee.
MAPCON / 800-922-4336
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