Keeping up with the growing backlog of facility renovation, repair, sustainability, and maintenance is a never ending challenge for colleges and universities.
The application of best management practices for monitoring current and projecting future physical and functional conditions, as well as leveraging LEAN collaborative construction delivery methods such as Job Order Contracting can greatly improve the chances of obtaining a higher percentage of required funding and spending that funding more efficiently.
First and foremost, current, objective, and actionable information is needed. Information must be obtained from independent resources as well as internal knowledge in order to assure credibility. Further, information must be presented with the appropriate level of detail and in the proper manner for the intended audience.
The tidal wave of deferred maintenance heading for many colleges and universities has been mounting for decades. Some institutions have already fallen under the enormity of the force. While the problem is not new, what must change rapidly is the level of competence of higher education facility management professionals so that impending disaster is avoided.
Secondly collaboration is required among all internal and external stakeholders. This includes facility management, finance, building users, AE firms, construction contractors, consultants, oversight groups, etc. Information must be shared through the facility life-cycle process among ALL stakeholder from initial conceptualization thru funding, design, procurement, construction, project management, close-out, warranty, and decommissioning/recycling. Focus of ALL stakeholders must be first upon OUTCOMES, as well as collaboration, shared risk-reward, standardized processes and workflows, common terms/definitions @ data architectures, ongoing education/training, monitoring/key performance indicators (KPIs), and continuous improvement.
The links between physical buildings and infrastructure and educational goals, financial stability, and the reputation of the institution are well known. Knowledge of efficient life-cycle management of the built environment, supported by LEAN construction delivery, and enabling technology is not.
It’s time to change this.
via www.4BT.us – Best Value Solutions for Job Order Contracting and Efficient Construction Delivery