Facilities management done right: Getting ahead of potential problems
Among the many benefits of having a facilities team that really knows your campus is their ability to get ahead of issues. On a private K-12 campus, facilities management teams are juggling everything from systems and equipment breakdowns to finding time for safety training and – in a year like this one – building and incorporating all kinds of new cleaning and disinfecting processes.
That doesn’t leave a lot of room for preventative measures. But in the long term, a proactive approach saves everyone time and expense —and contributes to a safer campus environment.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take an overhaul to be proactive. It just takes attention to detail. For example, UG2 facility managers often “walk the campus” every week, specifically looking for minor issues to address. Those could be seemingly tiny problems, right down to a small crack on a stairway, or a door that doesn’t open quite right. Maybe there’s a little water damage at a corner of a ceiling tile.
All of these have the potential to turn into much larger safety issues. The stairway crack could become a tripping hazard. The door might not close securely when a teacher needs it to. That water spot may be from a leaking pipe that could burst eventually if it’s ignored.
A knowledgeable facility manager “knows” a campus, right down to what everything should look like and how it needs to function. Being proactive in identifying issues – and communicating effectively with you so your time is not wasted – can bring significant benefits:
- Cost savings: Consider the difference between taking 15 minutes to replace part of a pipe that’s leaking versus a 2-day shutdown of an entire part of the campus because of a major pipe burst, as well as the potential water damage from that event.
- Efficiency: When a facility manager is the one generating most of the work orders, that means repairs have become more minimal. The facility team can focus on more important maintenance issues without having the constant distraction of repair problems.
- Appearance and reputation: Everyone knows how it feels to be in a space that is well maintained, clean, and free of even minor issues. It simply feels better and helps a private K-12 school maintain its reputation for excellence — not just academically, but also operationally.
Value of an Experienced Partner
For more insight, check out our other blog posts, Tailored Strategies for Unique Private K-12 Schools and Making Facilities Management a Part of Your Private K-12 Community.
As you think about planning for the next semester and beyond, don’t hesitate to reach out to UG2 about how we can help keep your campus and community safe. Our UG2 ReNewSM Cleaning4Health and Engineering4HealthSM programs are designed to ensure you have what you need, no matter what return-to-school strategy you’ve chosen. We have experience being part of private K-12 environments, and we take great pride in being part of the schools we serve.