How to Formalize Maintenance Request Processes at Your Facility

In order to formalize maintenance request processes at your facility, you will need some sort of task manager that is easy to use and accessible to everyone. Having software like this will allow anyone to put in a request for something to be fixed, examined, or considered. Emails can get deleted or forgotten, post-it notes are misplaced, work orders fall on deaf ears and so on. 

Using a task manager system streamlines and organizes maintenance requests. If an employee notices something isn’t working properly, they can promptly go to the task manager and report it. The person who fixes the equipment is notified and can see all tasks assigned, allowing the maintenance to be done in a timely manner. Administrators can see what has been completed and what there is left to be done. 

A task manager can also show you where all your maintenance time was spent, as you can see the list of projects for the day and how long they took to complete. This can save time and money knowing exactly how much time and manpower is needed to keep the facility running optimally. Having this sort of system in place keeps equipment running smoothly and efficiently since it is easy for anyone to request – a must-have system for any business. 

Alternatives to Paper-Based Maintenance Management Systems

If you’re still using paper to manage your maintenance, chances are you have lost some important data by now. Paper is easily lost or damaged, and it takes up a lot of space; your office is most likely full of binders, shelves, and filing cabinets. You could really do without the clutter, as well as the time it takes to find a particular sheet. In this day and age, you can do almost anything with on a computer, phone or tablet. Using paper is an inefficient use of space, time, and money.

Using a CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) will save you time and money – it makes filing, organizing, and searching fast and easy. Extra time is something we all need, and in business extra time means the ability to prioritize.

A CMMS will allow you to input all of your paper data and pick out trends, letting you know when preventive maintenance is necessary and what you are spending on it. Instead of guessing when and how much, you can use data to make strong decisions. If you’re still using paper, take a hard look at software that can make so many aspects of your business easier. 

Want to know more? Call MaintenX today!

Tips for Using CMMS to Plan your Preventative Maintenance

Equipment maintenance for a business can be a full-time job, or even a few full-time jobs depending on the size of the company, especially if there are many different kinds of equipment to manage. You may be wondering what CMMS is and how it can help – CMMS stands for Computerized Maintenance Management System. This is a software system that makes managing equipment maintenance easier and more streamlined. With CMMS, all your equipment maintenance data is stored on a computer. This takes all of the guesswork out of tasks and timing by prioritizing and organizing tasks, leading to increased productivity and lower maintenance costs.

To get the most out of your CMMS, you will need to identify the goals of the program. If you’re not using a computerized software system, you have some type of maintenance logbook – taking a look at patterns of maintenance your equipment has needed in order to plan for preventive maintenance will help you start on the right track. You can then schedule all of this in your software system to make it easy and convenient. 

Another problem that CMMS covers is overscheduling preventive maintenance. By using a CMMS, you will be able to look at reports that break downtime and money spent on each system, as well as parts needed and downtime. This ensures you save money and time by having the right information at your fingertips. 

The Easiest Way to Avoid Equipment Failure

Equipment breakdown can be disastrous for a business that relies on machinery. The loss of time and money due to an unexpected equipment failure is obviously not what any business owner desires, so what are the best ways to avoid such an event?

It may seem simple, but having a maintenance schedule to check all equipment will save you and your business a world of trouble. Using a calendar or an app as reminders are great ways to make sure maintenance does not fall through the cracks. Anything that can fail should be put on the list, so nothing is overlooked. A simple reminder and a check-off list can save vast amounts of time and money. 

While it is true that equipment failure at a business can cause a multitude of problems, important equipment can also break down at home. Setting up reminders to check things like your HVAC filters, vents or ducts can also make life. Whether at home or at work, prevention is key to keeping your equipment operating efficiently and reliably. 

Want to know more about avoiding equipment failures? Call the maintenance experts at MaintenX today!

Ways Your Employees Can Prevent Maintenance Issues in the Office

Most office maintenance problems are avoidable if you have the proper planning in place. By following a few easy steps, office managers can make certain that they safeguard themselves and their property from the problems that arise from poor upkeep.

Check Things Regularly

A lot of maintenance problems are simple and safe to fix, but if not taken care of, they can slowly get worse over time.

Look for the Problems before they Become Bigger

If you find any maintenance issues, take care of them ASAP. Saving money now by deferring maintenance will cost you a lot more in repair and replacement in the future.

Don’t Do Office Maintenance if you Don’t Know How

A lot of people have too much confidence in their own ability to fix issues, and tackle things they aren’t qualified to address. This is dangerous and can lead to injury or even death; it can also be illegal. It’s always better to call a professional if there’s any doubt about a person’s capacity to perform the task at hand. If you try to handle electrical maintenance without a license, you’re going against the law and building code regulations. It’s best to stay safe and hire a licensed electrician for important electrical issues.

Want to know more about office maintenance? Call MaintenX today!

Top Modern Office Designs That Every Employee Will Love

Modern office design trends are slowly taking over, and they’re helping keep employees happy, energized, and more productive than ever. Here’s a list of some great office design trends that will boost efficiency while keeping employees content at work.

New Take on an Old Space

Flexible office space design opens lots of possibilities. Office furniture can be moved from one place to another, desks are changeable, mobile impromptu meeting areas are always nearby. Flexible spaces let your workforce work in diverse and customizable areas that can be easily changed to suit the purpose needed at the time without the tedium of being stuck in cubicles for hours on end.

Peace with a Plan

If workers want a little solitude to really focus on a task that needs their full attention, they can easily move to a discreet corner or soundproof room so they can get their work done in peace. Offering employees the freedom to move around is great for their health and motivates them to work more efficiently.

Comfort is King

Making workers sit on painful, hard chairs and non-ergonomic workstations for hours at a time is unhealthy and can cause physical problems like sore necks and backs, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Do you workers and your company a favor and make your workplace a healthy and comfortable place to work.

What to Do When Your Facility Has Exterior Graffiti

Graffiti can be a serious problem for facilities of any size, anywhere in the world. This type of vandalism is not only unattractive and harmful to the reputation of your property, it can also cause recurring incidents – once graffiti appears on your property, vandals often come to view it as an easy target.

The first step in defending your facility from graffiti is to have it removed rapidly and skillfully, in order to prevent encouraging future delinquents from damaging your building. Graffiti removal processes can vary depending on what was used to make the graffiti.

When in doubt, speak with a professional painting contractor.

If your facility is a common target for trespassers, then you might want to think about applying exterior anti-graffiti paint. These types of paints stop spray paint from penetrating exteriors and allow quick removal – you can wash it off instead of painting over it.

The two main kinds of anti-graffiti paint are sacrificial coatings and long-lasting ones. Both are invisible when applied to any outdoor surface. This makes them perfect for painted and natural surfaces alike.

Permanent coatings typically never need to be reapplied. This type of paint forms a protective layer over the exterior paint which spray paint can’t bond to. Graffiti that is sprayed onto a permanent coating can then be easily removed with a solvent that will not cause harm to the protective coating, saving your facility’s precious property from expensive repair.

Want to know more about protecting your facility? Call MaintenX today!

The Pros and Cons of Choosing an Open Floor Plan for Your Office

Open floor plans are rapidly replacing the cubicle-lands of the corporate past. Sure, they’re currently fashionable, but open floor plans are not ideal for every office. Before rearranging your entire office into an open floor plan design just to be trendy, consider the pros and cons.

Make the Right Choice for Your Unique Office

In an open-office floor plan, your workstations are situated close together instead of spaced out in traditional private offices. In spite of being so trendy, open office floor plans can sometimes have more disadvantages than benefits.

Improved Communication with Colleagues

When there are no physical barriers in a workspace, workers feel freer to connect with one another and tend to work more cohesively as a team.

Open office floor plans are also a fantastic option for freelancers who would work from home without having a space. Renting a workspace in an open office lets self-employed people talk and network with others. This opportunity can be helpful for their businesses while getting them out of the house and connecting with other people in-person.

Get Rid of the Barriers between Workers

One main reason that more companies are selecting open floor plan offices is that they eliminate obstacles between workers and managers. An added bonus: there are no offices for administrators to hide from their employees in.

Maintaining Facility Restrooms and Break Rooms is the Key to A Happy Office

Advances in modern cleaning technologies are changing the way we clean today’s facilities. Good cleaning practices are still the foundation of facility restroom cleaning, however. Below you’ll find some tips for facility managers everywhere on how to keep their facility’s restrooms clean and sanitary.

Color Coding

Think about starting a color-coded cleaning system for your facility’s mops and rags. This will help your staff easily know which cleaning products are meant for which tasks in your facility.

Calibrate your Facility’s Bathroom’s Dispenser Systems

Occupants must have easy access to your facility’s product dispenser systems, so calibrate them correctly.

Make Sure to Dilute Cleaning Products

Cleaning products used throughout your facility should always be diluted. When diluting toxic chemicals, always make sure to use the correct equipment:

  • Measuring cups
  • Dispensing pumps
  • Automated dilution equipment

Make sure that you know that adding extra cleaning product does not make a cleaning any easier or faster; it only wastes resources and can make cleaning jobs even more difficult.

If your facility has glass windows, think about cleaning restroom mirrors from top-to-bottom, and then cleaning all doors. Make sure to always clean glass surfaces with the correct materials.

Supply cleaning workers with the appropriate cleaning materials and make sure to properly train them on facility stocking procedures. This can lead to a substantial upsurge in efficiency.

Want to know more? Call MaintenX today!

When Is the Right Time to Schedule Facility Remodeling?

Thinking about remodeling your company’s facility? If so, there are a lot of things to consider before you begin; everything from hiring contractors to crafting budgets should be considered and done deliberately.

Keep reading to learn tips that can help you come up with an ideal facility remodeling budget for your building.

Make sure to Get a Sensible Price Estimate

Before you shake hands and sign the facility remodeling contract, it’s important to know the finances at your disposal and what your real-world costs are. Consulting a dependable contractor is one way you can grow and build a sensible remodeling budget that can be tweaked to make up for unforeseen issues. Deciding on the right price range will help ensure that you always stay within your set budget and will always be able to effortlessly account for any price changes, big or small, if they pop up.

Funding the Building Project

If your facility can afford to pay for its remodeling costs, that’s great.  Unfortunately, not every company can afford to pay for huge and costly projects out of pocket. That’s why many companies have to find funding from outside investors, partners and banks. When borrowing money for your facility’s building project, think about how much lenders can give you and integrate monthly payments and interest rates into your project’s total budget.