Category: Facilities Management

If you are a facility manager, you are likely familiar with the concept of preventative maintenance. If you are not practicing preventative maintenance for pieces of equipment at your facility, you certainly should be. This kind of maintenance is not only perfect for preventing emergency situations from arising; it can also lead to greater profitability for your facility and your company overall.

 

Preventative care also prevents a loss in profit.

 

The main goal of preventative maintenance is to help ensure that important equipment and facility systems don’t break down, especially at pivotal times. This is accomplished by performing small fixes and part replacements over time and checking the equipment and systems at regular intervals to notice and take care of potential issues early. When parts of the facility fail, it can lead to downtime in the facility, which is majorly detrimental to profitability. If people are unable to do their work, or are forced to work in a less efficient way, profitability will clearly be impacted. If shutdowns can be prevented, however, this risk will be all but eliminated. 

 

Preventative care saves costs in the long run.

 

While there is a cost to preventative maintenance care, it is significantly less than emergency repairs. Major repairs are expensive and tend to be even more costly if they are needed urgently. Preventative maintenance is not only cheaper, but also is spread out over time and therefore easier to budget for and less impactful on a long-term basis. In addition, machinery that is well kept will run more efficiently, consuming less electricity and accomplishing tasks faster. This also will improve profitability, both by getting work done quicker and in saving on energy costs. Maximizing profitability means minimizing company costs and is another major benefit to preventative maintenance.

 

We at MaintenX specialize in preventive maintenance in all of its aspects and have helped out companies and facilities across the state and country set up the perfect plans for them. We would be happy to help you as well and set you on the road to greater profitability. To learn more about the services that we offer and how we can serve your facility today, please call us at (855) 751-0075.

In the manufacturing industry, there is a standard for how to best calculate and measure productivity known as the overall equipment effectiveness, or OEE. It is the single best way to figure out how productive your facility is, particularly as it pertains to how equipment is running. Understanding how to calculate OEE will help you make future plans on how to make your facility run even better and lead to greater profitability.

 

What factors play into OEE?

 

One of the most important factors that plays into measuring OEE is the actual time that employees spend being productive. If production is moving along at the correct pace, it is a good thing and this time should be recorded. Of course, things don’t always go smoothly, which is why it’s important to record stoppages in production and events that impact performance. Some stops, such as employee breaks, are planned, but mechanical failures, power surges, and other unplanned factors cut into productivity and thereby lower OEE. The quality of production should be accounted for as well, as having to take time to correct mistakes and produce less will impact OEE negatively.

 

How to best calculate OEE.

The simplest way to calculate OEE is to calculate the ideal time production would be running, in a perfect world, and divide it by the actual time spent on production. This measurement, however, won’t break down everything that you need in order to correct issues with OEE. Instead, all of the above factors should be multiplied together, factoring in any issues with production, equipment maintenance, and everything else. This will not only give you a more accurate reading on your facility’s OEE, but will also make apparent where the problems in the facility lie and therefore allow you to correct them.

 

If your OEE problems are centered around equipment not running efficiently or time needing to be taken for maintenance, now is the time to invest in a preventative maintenance plan. We at MaintenX specialize in this kind of facility care and would be happy to work with you to limit issues with production and have your facility be as productive as it can be. For more information about our services, please call us any time at (855) 751-0075.

Having a clean office is not only important for the health and safety of employees, it also can be a major boon to productivity. When an office is kept clean, the effect on morale and employee perception of the company becomes apparent fairly quickly. Additionally, it allows for equipment to run more efficiently and thereby increases the productivity of normally running processes. If you are a facility manager, you should never forget the importance of maintaining a clean office and take measures to ensure it stays in proper condition.

 

The effect of cleanliness on morale

 

Firstly, the human factor of having a clean office should not be overlooked. When employees work in a clean environment, they not only tend to be healthier and happier, which is an important goal in and of itself, but also more productive. There has been shown to be a positive correlation between a clean working environment and employee morale. No one wants to work in an office they feel is unsafe and when people feel safe and clean, they work better, thus leading to better productivity. 

 

Clean machines are effective machines

 

Additionally, equipment that is kept clean is much more likely to be in proper working order. When machines are kept clean, there is much less of a chance that rust and debris cause processes to slow down and cause issues with the equipment breaking down. Equipment shutdown is a majorly detriment to productivity and keeping the space around it clean will go a long way to reducing this risk. In addition, machines that are kept clean tend to have a longer life span, saving costs down the lines when replacement and repairs are not as frequently necessary.

 

Office space should always be kept clean and well maintained for the sake of both employees and equipment. If you don’t have the personnel to clean or perform long-term maintenance, it is always a good idea to outsource these services to experts that excel in the field of facility and office maintenance. We at MaintenX fit this description perfectly and would be happy to serve your company as we have for many before. To learn more, please call us any time at (855) 751-0075.

Last year’s pandemic still lingers into this one and has brought with it many changes to how many companies conduct business. When times were tough, decisions had to be made to cut costs and ensure the longevity of many companies. Oftentimes, this was done through layoffs and positions and employees that were deemed non-essential to business processes were cut. Unfortunately, many companies still feel the effects of the pandemic and operate with a reduced staff, requiring creative planning to overcome facility challenges they may face in 2021.

 

Operating with a reduced maintenance staff

 

One area that many companies chose to cut is their facility maintenance staff. In theory, the logic behind this cut is sound: with fewer employees physically at a facility, there is less of a need to keep it maintained. The problems that might arise from this, however, are equally as apparent. As employees return to work, there is not only a greater need for maintenance, but the equipment and facility systems that have been idle or running at a minimal level now require greater maintenance in order to get back to proper working order. What is the best solution to this?

 

Outsourcing maintenance projects and tasks

 

There are a few ways to move into 2021 with a reduced maintenance staff. The simplest answer is to hire new maintenance employees, but this is not always feasible depending on budget and the candidates available. Another viable option is to outsource maintenance work to a third party company. By working with a maintenance company, you only need to pay for the projects and tasks that are being completed instead of keeping an employee on salary the whole time. Additionally, you can be assured that all work is being completed correctly and don’t need to worry about training and potential complications that could result from having new employees.

 

At MaintenX, we have a highly trained team of expert technicians that are always at the ready to assist in any maintenance task or project. There is no job that is too big or too small, from routine preventative maintenance to major facility renovations and repairs. To learn more about our services and to work with us today, please call (855) 751-0075.

As a result of the pandemic that began last year, many companies are actively looking for ways to salvage profits by reducing costs. While there are many routes that a business can take, one area in which it is easy to cut costs is facility maintenance. That is not to say that maintenance should be forgone or minimized, but rather that more efficient ways should be found to reduce the amount spent on maintenance, working smarter rather than harder to bring down maintenance costs.

 

Always engage in preventative maintenance.

 

The single best and most effective way to reduce maintenance costs is to set up a preventative maintenance plan. While there is an initial cost to preventative maintenance, it is minimal compared to what would be spent in the major repair or full equipment replacement that would be necessary if it is not engaged in. By performing regular checks and small modifications over time, emergency situations can be avoided and therefore actual cost is prevented in the long term. Additionally, downtime due to mechanical failure is also avoided, saving major costs in the form of lost productivity. 

 

Consider bringing in an outside maintenance team.

 

If you are running an unsustainable maintenance staff at your office or facility, it may be a good idea to consider switching to an outside maintenance team instead. Especially in smaller facilities and companies, it is cheaper to pay another company when maintenance projects and tasks are necessary than to keep a full time employee on salary for work that might not be necessary all the time. That being said, you want to always be sure you are hiring an expert company that knows what they’re doing and can complete maintenance tasks efficiently and correctly to also save long term costs.

 

At MaintenX, we strive to be this kind of maintenance team for your company and facility and have all of the skills and experience necessary to complete any maintenance task set before us. Whether you are looking for long-term preventative maintenance or a one time renovation project, we are at the ready to help where and when we are needed. To learn more, please call (855) 751-0075 any time.

Maintenance is an important aspect of managing a facility, as proper execution ensures that all business processes in the facility will run smoothly. The cost of not performing maintenance or performing it poorly greatly outweighs the cost of performing it, so it is always something worth investing in. That being said, there is such a thing as spending too much on maintenance. If you suspect that you might be spending too much on maintenance, now is a good time to assess where your maintenance money is going and what you can do to bring costs down.

 

Preventative maintenance versus reactive maintenance

 

One of the most prominent costs of facility maintenance is that of reactive maintenance, the kind of maintenance performed when equipment needs to be repaired or replaced. Waiting until equipment breaks down or gets to the point of breakdown is costly in and of itself, but becomes even more costly when you consider the downtime that is often a result of equipment being unavailable. To reduce this cost, set up a preventative maintenance that performs regular checks and small updates over time to prevent emergency situations from happening. There is a small cost to this in the short term, but it pays off greatly in the long run.

 

Employing a maintenance staff versus outsourcing tasks and projects

 

Another major cost to facility maintenance lies in the keeping of a high maintenance staff. Not all businesses and facilities can sustain having full time employees on salary and therefore it is sometimes the better option to outsource maintenance tasks and projects. By only paying for services as needed, you can reduce the overall cost of maintenance. Of course, this should never be done at the cost of not having maintenance completed, which is why prudence and planning is important when considering this option.

 

If you are looking to set up a preventative maintenance plan or hire a maintenance company to assist with tasks and projects, we at MaintenX are here to help. To learn more about our expert facility maintenance services, please call us any time at (855) 751-0075.

Recent developments in the Internet of Things are making facilities easier to operate and manage than ever before. But these powerful technologies also expose facilities and their internal networks to cybersecurity attacks that can wreak real havoc to facility systems and expose sensitive data.

Improve your facility’s cybersecurity defenses with these tips:

Keep Everyone in the Loop

IT usually takes care of a facility’s cybersecurity plan, but Internet of Things devices may also be the responsibility of facility managers.

That’s why it’s a good idea to consult with your IT department when planning future Internet of Things upgrades. This way, you can ensure the products you purchase have the most-recent security features built into them.

Know the Risks

Facility managers need to find the weak points where hackers could break into facility networks and infect it with malware or even destroy or steal sensitive data.

Luckily, most IT workers are experienced at finding system weaknesses, but if you don’t bring them into the conversation, they will not be able to advise you on the best security strategies.

Mobile Device Action Plan

Mobile devices can present a major security challenge for facility managers and IT staff. That’s why it’s a good idea to require staff to password-protect all of their devices, encrypt their data, and install security apps to keep criminals out and sensitive data protected.

Backup Data

We also suggest frequently backing up the data on all facility computers, but especially the ones holding your most sensitive data.

Want to know more about security your facility? Call the experts at MaintenX today!

Ultraviolet (UV) light is commonly used to sterilize HVAC systems. UV destroys bacteria, mold, and other contaminants often found in these systems. Cleaning your building’s HVAC system is not only beneficial to the health of your occupants, but it keeps the system running smoothly.

UV may be applied to a system’s drain pipes or ducts, but another excellent use of UV is for cleaning the cooling coils.

How UV Works on Coils

Cooling coils are a central part of an HVAC system. When contaminants build up, pressure drops and the building’s temperature rises.

Cleaning these coils is necessary to restore your system to optimal function, but the process of cleaning is normally a hassle. Traditional cleaning methods may involve pressure washing, which is not only time-consuming but may not destroy all contaminants.

When a UV light is installed in an HVAC system, it enters through the air handler and moves throughout the system. When it reaches the cooling coils, it quickly destroys contaminants like mold and bacteria. This is much easier, and much more efficient, than pressure washing your coils.

The Downsides to UV Systems

While UV is an excellent tool for keeping your HVAC system clean and operational, it’s not without its downsides. Be aware of these as you consider installing a UV system:

• Upfront costs. UV lights aren’t usually expensive, but there are additional costs, such as installation and bulb replacement. However, they save on time and energy, and there are do-it-yourself options for installation.
• Limitations. While UV light is highly effective at killing some contaminants, such as bacteria and mold, it’s not a replacement for filters.
• Radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is dangerous to humans, so UV lights should be turned off while they’re being cleaned. However, you won’t be exposed to radiation on a regular basis with UV systems.

The Bottom Line

There are pros and cons to every system, and UV is no exception, but the benefits certainly seem to outweigh the problems. UV systems can save you a lot of time and energy.