TIPS

  “Controlling costs sometimes means not planning too far in advance of your operation.” Did you buy more facilities than you needed? Do you have a ton of dead space in your office? Wasted space is wasted energy. If you have an office that could house 70 employees and you presently have only 5, you are air conditioning (HVAC) entirely too much space for such a small group. Controlling costs sometimes means not planning too far in advance of your operation. Having the space, you will need in ten years during the first year means for nine years you will waste money on too much space. Get what you need, not what you desire. The other option when you have too much space is to create leasable space for someone else that can help you afford your energy costs. "Industrial Lines" by musiquedecor is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

  “Make the investment to protect those who matter.” Keeping people alive is the number one rule for any business. Placing your employees and customers in a dangerous situation is unethical and criminal, so having in place the appropriate measure to have the fire and life safety system of your business evaluated and tested regularly will provide reassurance to you and those you employ that all measures are being taken to prevent casualties. Do not leave fire and life safety up to chance! Make the investment to protect those who matter. "Wigan Tyre Fire" by Manchesterfire is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

 If we do not know how to define our practice, others will define us. The future of facilities management depends on what we do, today. Unknown

  Find time to listen to your stakeholders to understand what facilities services really matter most to them. Unknown

For facilities management to be effective and efficient, it must align its activities to support and facilitate the organization’s business operations. Unknown

Make things work as intended. Unknown

For facilities management to be an organization’s strategic resource, “Think Strategically, Translate Tactically and Target Operationally. Unknown

“Sometimes, we do what we must do to get by, but do not count your blessings too long before you begin to spend a little to secure the future of the business.” It may be time to upgrade things where you do business. If the walls have holes, the ceilings have stains, the flooring is rising beneath your feet, and it is a little drafty every now and then, then it might be time to make some investments. Taking too long to save your facility from ruin could result in the facility’s not being capable of providing safe shelter to your business operation. Sometimes, we do what we must do to get by, but do not count your blessings too long before you begin to spend a little to secure the future of the business. The process of renovation should start with the activity that poses the greatest threat to safety and operation; then, deal with the next issue that has the greatest potential to cause a threat and so forth. One by one, you will restore the ability to operate your business safely. Start ...

“The cheap decisions today feel like good decisions, but they are often not the best decisions.” HVAC systems with higher SEER ratings that cost less to operate are a good investment. Toilets that flush with a greater force reduce clogs and plumbing repair costs. The goal of spending money on your business should be to spend it efficiently and wisely. If you purchase a cheaper POS HVAC system, then you should not expect 40 years of operation from it. Similarly, if you purchase a cheap toilet and your business sees roughly 500 customers daily, you should expect plumbing costs associated with your frugal plumbing component decision. If you invest your repair,  maintenance, and capital funds into long-lasting, worthy equipment, you should see a good return on those investments. The cheap decisions today feel like good decisions, but they are often not the best decisions. Sometimes, when you spend a little more—or even a lot more—you get something a whole lot better. Spend wisely! "Lo...

"If we do not establish our identity in Facilities Management, others will. Our recognition depends on what value contributed to occupants and organizations, today." Unknown

“Being smart about your background expenses is the best way to manage your facilities.” If the doors have been locked and the lights have been turned off, then why is the equipment that does not need to be on still running? This concept sounds so simple, but several businesses leave nonessential equipment running when they are closed. Spending money while you are not making money makes no sense. The copier goes to sleep when it is not in use. The computers hibernate. The air conditioning system, whose thermostat is set to 65 degrees, will run all night when you are not there. Being smart about your background expenses is the best way to manage your facilities. "Tap with running water" by leunix is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0