5 Habits of Successful Facility Managers

/in /by

Being a Facility Manager isn’t an easy task. You’re responsible for multiple tasks a day and ultimately you’re the person who ensures that the facility can operate as expected. It’s a job that other employees don’t notice when it’s done right, but if there is a problem with the facility you are the first person they look at.

So what does a Facility Manager need to do to keep things running smoothly? We’ve broken it down into 5 habits that are common in successful Facility Mangers:

1. Know your Building
Your building is a complex environment with many different systems. HVAC, electrical, security systems, etc. Understanding what is in your building and how it works is key to being effective and makes you more efficient in the time of need.

2. Review your Drawings
We don’t mean just know where they are and look at them when you need them. Knowing the original drawings as well as any changes is key to success. Your drawings should always be up to date and easy to access on the job. Knowing these documents like the back of your hand will make you a rock star in the time of need.

3. Knowledgeable and Effective Staff
Most Facility Managers also manage people, and this is often way more complex than managing your facility. You need to make sure you have knowledgeable and reliable employees as well as the right tools to empower them to be successful. You can have the best employees on the planet, but if they can’t access drawings or see the latest updates, you’re going to have problems.

4. Understand Your Service Contracts
Effective dates is key. When do your contracts start and when do they end? Understanding when your service contracts are in effect and what they cover will save you time and money.

5. Be Visible
Remember how we said no one is looking for you until something goes wrong? Be visible. Be available. This will help people understand how complex your day actually is, and who knows, maybe you’ll make a few new friends!

That’s our top 5. We know there are a lot of other traits that can help you be a rock-star Facility Manager, but these ones are the foundation for success!

Measuring Results with Your Project Documents

/in /by

As the days of handling projects with fine old brainpower and foolscaps transformed into days of shoeboxes and spreadsheets, people began to realize that spreadsheets could, in fact, present them with an improved way of carrying out projects. Nowadays we are going through a comparable transition from shoeboxes and spreadsheets to even superior ways of undertaking projects with dedicated, specialized project documentation software. Nevertheless, human nature indicates that we are quite resistant to change, and this is entirely comprehensible with a decision to spend in construction management software, since it is often a significant investment.

Having said that, project documentation software is totally different to what was available back in the day as it can be easily customized to suit your particular industry or business. If you’re still unsure whether to dive right in and steer clear of spreadsheets, here are four benefits of project documentation software which you could be losing if you don’t:

A Central Database

With project documentation software, you have a core repository for all your project data, rather than spreadsheets spread over different workers’ local hard disks. Two, you can gain access to the central repository from anyplace with an internet access, meaning if you’ve offices in different places, or workers wanting to access files from the site, they’re able to all access the same data. In addition, a central database means your employees work more efficiently as each one has accessibility to most drawing management data. Also, project documentation software commonly provides communication tools which can help teams in discussing challenges in real-time.  The advantage is that each member is usually kept updated, quickly addressing issues as they occur.

Greater Document Control

With a central repository comes better control over all of your project documents. They’re easily retrievable in case of a claim or dispute and are never misplaced or lost. There is also greater personal accountability as each and every user has an account (login), and you may then quickly monitor who created, approved or modified certain documents.

Seamless Integration

Construction document management software allows you integrate all project information with your own accounting system. What this means is there is no wasted time reproducing data from your project crew to the accounting unit.

Standardized Processes

With construction document management software, all your procedures become consistent across the company. Everyone enters similarly required data when generating new documents, and all the reports for every single document feels and looks the same and provides the same information. That time when different employees created different document templates is long gone, and this offers your firm and project team better unity and consistency if they’re all operating from the same data/info presented in a similar manner.

Before investing in project documentation software, it is crucial to assess the requirements of your organization.  Knowing precisely which features will be required will help to simplify the decision-making process.  Properly creating a list of characteristics and functions in terms of required and optional will assist you in deciding which software most closely fits the needs of the firm.

Remove communication problems, eliminate costly mistakes and always keep your entire team up-to-date on your project by using the construction documentation software from FASTTAC. Whether you’re in the field or in the office, our easy-to-use project management software keeps everyone on the same page on the project’s progress. Stop working with old drawings and poor project management and start taking control of your construction site with help from FASTTAC.

3 Ways Effective Facilities Management Software Can Build Your Bottom Line

/in /by

Effective facilities management solutions for your business may be a way to not only cut costs but improve your company’s bottom line. Such solutions are used worldwide and provide companies with a way to better organize, schedule and manage maintenance tasks. Whether these solutions are local or cloud-based, facility management tools available to you represent a departure from the old way of meeting your ongoing maintenance needs.

Here are at least three ways that affect facilities management software can be a financial boon for your company. These include the cost savings derived from the use of work order management software, how facilities management solutions increase efficiency and reduce redundancies, and, how the use of facility management tools can lead to more productive employees.

  1. Cost Savings with Effective Facilities Management Software

In a 2014 Facility Management trend report published by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), a take away from a prior year’s conference was the promotion of those programs and activities that drive productivity and efficiency. Where most facility management professionals understand those specific business areas that they control in commercial spaces, such as the reduction of costs through energy auditing, the IFMA concluded that greater influence can be exerted over all aspects of the management of a facility. The use of available technologies, such as work order management software, can help you move beyond the implementation of myopic costs reduction strategies and toward more substantial cost savings techniques.

The bottom line for you comes by ways in which facilities management software provides measurable savings. Automated solutions contribute to increasing revenue, a decrease in costs associated with the management of properties, plants, and equipment (PPE), a decrease in the insurance costs needed to cover risks by coordinating monitoring activities and reducing safety breaches, and helping improve your shareholder’s values and stock price.

  1. Increase Efficiency

The use of facility management tools can allow you to be more efficient in the management of your facilities. Whether work is performed in a one or multiple facilities, a centralized software solution is your key in scheduling necessary maintenance work remotely, saving the time and cost associated with traveling between locations. This means your company’s facilities management team can be more efficient in performing their duties and contribute to your overall costs savings.

  1. More Productivity from Your Employees

Towers Watson, a global advisory firm, found that four in 10 employees felt highly engaged while nearly a quarter felt disengaged in its 2014 Global Workforce Study. The IFMA concluded that a direct relationship exists between facility operations and the satisfaction of your employees, through such activities as sustainability initiatives and building controls. Better lighting, cleaner facilities, improved air flow and quality means employees that are sick less and on the job more.

Facilities management solutions that you employ for your business can go along way of lowering the disengagement of your employees. The Towers Watson report went on to further claim that in those companies with effective sustainable engagement processes, which may be achieved through facilities management tools, employee engagement was at nearly three quarters (72%). A look at effective facilities management solutions for your company may be what is necessary for improvements in efficiency, productivity, and your bottom line.

Improve your facility management and discover all the ways it can build your bottom line with help from FASTTAC. Our cutting-edge facility management software provides tech level collaboration within your company to help keep everyone organized and efficient. Stop wasting time on the worksite and request your live demo of the facility management software from FASTTAC today!