- Many/most Owners do not have the knowledge, capability, or organizational buy-in to support life-cycle management of the built environment.
- Far too often focus is upon first-costs vs. life-cycle costs.
- Your budget is largely operations/repair/renovation/maintenance, not new construction. Focus upon maximizing ROI in your costliest areas.
- Process and/or Best Management Practices, especially your “construction delivery method” impacts results more that ANY other factor. Focus upon collaborative, transparent construction delivery methods such as IPD – Integrated Project Delivery, and JOC – Job Order Contracting.
- Requiring the consistent use of terms, standardized data architectures (MasterFormat, UniFormat, IFC…), and standardized cost data (example RSMeans) is REQUIRED. You can’t manage what you don’t measure….period!!!
- Develop long-term relationships with local service providers whenever possible. They will learn your facilities and needs. Treat them as Partners, and with RESPECT! Remember, you largely get what you pay for.
- Use key performance indicators, KPIs – # of change orders, # of disputes, # of project completed on-time/on-budget, facility condition index (FCI), adequacy index …
- Leverage technology, especially cloud computing. Technology MUST support your processes but not dictate or limit them. Forget monolithic, “enterprise” systems, go for “best-in-class” plugs for all your critical areas…. construction project delivery, cost estimating, space planning, capital planning, BAS, CMMS … Don’t get caught in the 3D visualization “black hole”. 3D visualization is not life-cycle management.
- Involve ALL stakeholders early and often.
- Remember… the built environment is critical to your organization. Communicate that fact, and the associated major benefits of a life-cycle approach, or you aren’t doing your job!