Page 10 - College Planning & Management, April 2018

Maintenance & Operations MANAGING THE PHYSICAL PLANT
Benchmarking: A Checklist
We need to improve our performance, but where do we start?
BY DR. BRUCE A. MEYER
MOST LEADERS and managers would like to know how they are performing compared to their
peers and/or competition. It must be that com- petitive nature in all of us that helps us strive to be better every day.
The following list of items is compiled from training, team building, and cultural
development and is represented in a checklist format for potential implementation at your organization. Look for an expanded, more comprehensive version of this checklist on webCPM.com. üEstablish a mission statement that is committed to providing
the best service possible through facility maintenance, enhance-
ments, and safety initiatives in all campus environments. üWork closely with the Health and Safety department on campus
needs and reporting while maintaining budgetary responsibil- ity. Work in conjunction with Capital Planning and Design/Con- struction for improved customer focus and efficiency.
üDevelop/reorganize into business units, including budgets and zones, for improved accountability.
üWork directly with parking and transportation regarding routes for special events, athletics, construction schedules, commence- ment, and fall semester residential hall move-in.
üImplement a new CMMS work order system on campus for al- lowing improved transparency for the customer and improved cost tracking for labor and materials.
üClose outlying warehouse and buildings; centralize all opera- tions into fewer locations and establish a red-line method of inventory management.
üEstablish an Emergency Operations Center (EOC), including the establishment of emergency planning initiatives.
üReorganize and consolidate departments.
üWork with Purchasing and other areas to scope and bid the
custodial supplies contract.
üVolunteer to be a job descriptions/pay classification evaluator. üPromote and improve your sustainability program to a level
that it is featured in the Green Edition of the Princeton Guide.
Develop a climate action plan.
üReduce the number of fleet of vehicles, saving insurance, fuel,
and maintenance.
üEstablish and implement preventative maintenance programs
that include items such as air handlers, chillers, roofs, steam traps, water treatment, elevators, alarms, and fire suppression.
üReorganize/redesign work processes and work groups into zones to produce maximum results with decreasing resources, includ- ing new shift patterns and unique outsourcing techniques.
üChair a search team or get involved in a search at the university. üAdd shifts and redistribute the workforce team to include trades
for coverage of the campus 24/7, reducing overtime, emergency
call backs, and building damage.
üUpdate and establish links to the website to improve communi-
cation and awareness.
üProvide regular opportunities for skill enhancement, instruc-
tion for new/existing safety techniques, supervisory skills, interaction with supervisors, and leadership of the departments, including monthly safety focus groups and leadership training.
üPromote and develop a building representative program across campus for improved communication and awareness for a proactive approach regarding maintenance, health and safety, intrusion alarms, and police notification.
üEstablish a student Green Fund for sustainability projects throughout campus to help promote green initiatives and energy savings.
üParticipate in the Recyclemania recycling contest in the resi- dence halls.
üImplement a “When You Move Out, Do Not Throw It Out” program in residence halls, encouraging students to donate anything and everything that is still useable in collection boxes (Office of Sustainability) throughout campus to help students better understand recycling.
Be Courageous
Many of these items will take courage to implement, as they will impact many of the cultural and historical aspects of the organiza- tion. They will not happen overnight, and remember—we need to hit singles to keep the momentum progressing. As you continue to imple- ment the items, celebrate your successes but stay focused on getting better every day and be sure to remind your team of the importance of improvement. Set goals that are achievable and benchmark your organization with others to see how you are progressing. CPM
Bruce A. Meyer, Ed.D., is assistant vice president of Campus Operations at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, appointed in April 2010. His team currently manages 5,000,000 square feet on a campus with over 20,000 students, faculty, and staff. He can be reached at bameyer@bgsu.edu.
10 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / APRIL 2018
WEBCPM.COM