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Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software have an equivalent purpose. But are they the same thing?

Both of these solutions have the same goals: preserving, handling and defending facility assets by streamlining maintenance management. Both also move facilities from reactive maintenance to proactive maintenance.

CMMS came first. CMMS was used by large businesses to monitor their assets and maintenance. As the technology got better, there became a need to connect many facilities. EAM then appeared to do just that.

EAM software is effectively a more powerful type of CMMS. In a nutshell, EAM is a long-term, comprehensive system which includes CMMS functions.

The main functions of a CMMS include:

• Automating maintenance
• Managing facility inventory and documents
• Asset tracking

EAM can work with larger sets of users from many different places. EAM can also monitor all parts of maintenance strategy.

EAM can also perform:

• Life-cycle planning and analysis
• Maintenance monitoring
• Workflow analysis

Growth of CMMS

For over a decade, web-based cloud CMMS services have been steadily growing.

CMMS vendors have also devised modules to track data about an asset’s complete lifecycle. This gives facility managers and business owners the new ability to shift into more predictive techniques when making long-term facility management and asset procurement decisions.

To stay competitive in an ever-changing market, facility managers have started to use both types of systems in tandem.

WINT Water Intelligence was created to aid organizations with two goals: averting damage from water leaks and improving sustainability by decreasing a facility’s water consumption.

WINT utilizes artificial intelligence to do water flow tests and find leaks right at the source. It then relays this data into real-time alerts. It can even automatically shut off water to prevent damage. WINT provides thorough analytics, creates reports, and provides deep insights to prevent costly facility damage.

Water can cause a lot of damage to facilities and their valuable assets, not to mention destroy precious data and sensitive company information. An unforeseen pipe burst can irrevocably harm infrastructure and disturb facility operations while costing its facility and/or business tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is why WINT’s service is so revolutionary for facility management.

Machine learning constantly adapts to water usage patterns and then provides vital information and alerts to facility managers and building owners who can use this data to easily and quickly react.

About WINT Water Intelligence

WINT is passionate about conserving one of the world’s most precious resources, and the company is devoted to helping companies prevent the threats, expenses and waste connected to water emergencies. Using the power of artificial intelligence, the convenience of high-speed internet and cellular data connections and smart shut-off valves, Water Intelligence units allow for an all-in-one answer for many types of facilities and their management teams who seek to curb the fear of potential plumbing disasters while protecting this precious resource for the future.

The internet of things has led to more and more devices are connected to the Internet. Internet connections are now offered in sensors, speakers, cars and even kitchen appliances.

But is the IoT putting your organization’s systems at risk? Unfortunately, the answer seems to be a resounding “Yes!”

Smart buildings use technology to control processes like heating, lighting and access control. All of these avenues are possible access points for would-be hackers.

The Big Picture

There are a few areas that could allow hackers to take control of building systems. A hacker needs only access to a public IP address associated with the building. From there, hackers can access exposed ports on routers and bypass security to take control of the device, giving them complete access to facility data and the ability to remotely control almost any process.

The Danger

If compromised, smart-building devices could have a deep effect on your physical environment, allowing a bad actor to cause serious damage remotely.

Hackers could, for example, gain control of the facility devices which control server room temperatures, causing servers to overheat. Not only do these connected devices impact our physical surroundings, but they share connections with sensitive data accessible through IT networks.

Understanding the Risks

Normally, after a security vulnerability, affected code is investigated and devices updated with patches to prevent similar incidents from happening again. This has the added benefit of protecting other users with the same equipment from falling victim to attack – a little like how a vaccination teaches the immune system to repel future bugs.

Failure to act could have catastrophic consequences down the line for the business or businesses that occupy the building.

Aside from size and material type, several other factors can make a huge difference on the price of tile. Considering your options can give you the best deal.

Location, Location, Location!

Contractor fees for flooring installation vary widely based on your geographic location. Right out of the gate, you will pay more for tile if you live in a city with a high cost of living (New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.)

Who You Hire

If you want to save money, consider hiring a handyman. You might also be able to find a local contractor who specializes in tile installation.

Another option to consider is hiring an installer from a home improvement store. These stores have vetted these contractors and guarantee the quality of their work. You may also be able to get financing from the store.

Accessibility

How accessible the work site is will influence the end price tag. If you live in a small home that’s easy to get to, there shouldn’t be added charges. But, if you live in an apartment or a building with an elevator, the building contractor will likely charge you an extra fee for the added trouble.

Tile Type

Stone tile (marble, granite, slate, etc.) will be much more expensive than cheaper alternatives like ceramic tile. Stone is hard to work with; it requires specialized tools and specific know-how. Stone also needs to be sealed after it’s fitted. This all adds up to a pricier installation.

Growing pressure to not allow projects to fall behind schedule can lead to a frenzied and chaotic work schedule. Workers are doing their best to keep up the pace, but fatigue can make this not only impossible, but also dangerous.

The simple truth is that workers aren’t getting the amount of rest they need. This trend is also putting them at risk. Long commutes and lack of sleep lead to tiredness, which leads to increased rates of workplace accidents, health issues and more.

The Dangers of Fatigue

Fatigue usually results from mental or physical effort or from sleep disorders. Fatigue is scarily common, owing to factors like stress and sleep loss. A worker suffering from fatigue could experience reduced productivity, diminished decision-making ability and accuracy, irritability, anxiety, memory and concentration loss, confusion and exhaustion.

Not only will fatigued workers find it difficult to complete tasks, but they many find it difficult to pay attention to your facility’s safety rules.

Operational Cost

Regardless of the size of your company or facility, exhausted workers work more slowly, and this leads to missed deadlines. Proactive solutions are always cheaper than reactive ones.

Fatigue Prevention

Avoiding fatigue can be simpler than you may think. There are many programs to screen, test and treat workers suffering from fatigue. On the other side of this issue, employees should set aside time for between six and eight hours of sleep each night.

For facility managers and building owners who are unsure where to start with green leasing, a good first step is to evaluate relevant lease and commercial documents and compare them to the Green Lease Leaders recognition program metrics. If you’re not currently including sustainability-focused wording in your lease, the Green Lease Leaders criteria can be your guide.

Focusing on lease language may not sound cutting-edge, but the fact remains that it’s a smart vehicle for fostering a more engaged relationship between landlords and tenants that raises the starting point of the relationship. It adds enormous value by aligning main concerns and allows the acceptance of practices vital for supervision and for operating better-performing buildings.

Health and Wellness

Energy savings isn’t the only area that can be addressed by green leases. They can also incorporate health and wellness features by doing things like requiring indoor air quality plans during construction and adding measurement and verification tests for future tenants, as well as provisions for:

• Green cleaning
• Integrated pest management
• Health-conscious material selection

Focusing on health and wellness policies, programs, and amenities can help building owners gain and retain tenants. A focus on health and wellness is not just a short-term fad in the industry. Thoughtful investment in people and their health brings long-term value to tenants and businesses by increasing productivity, fostering teamwork, and safeguarding a pleasant workplace environment.

A ‘Green Lease’ is an agreement between a landlord and a tenant that defines how a building is to be managed in a greener way.

A green lease connects sustainable building schemes with commitments from both the landlord and tenant to meet ecologically sustainable goals.

Green Lease Roots

The green lease was developed in Australia and is now mandatory for all government-owned buildings there. It has since expanded around the world.

What are the Benefits of Green Leases?

For the landlord:

• The building is maintained in a more environmentally-friendly way
• The owner’s costs of maintaining the building and relevant infrastructure are substantially lowered
• The building is more appealing to environmentally-conscious prospective tenants
• The owner has the benefit of an improved and ‘greener’ public image

For the tenant:

• Safe, comfortable and greener work and/or living environment
• Creates lower operating costs/service charges passed on to the tenant

What are the Basics of a Green Lease?

• Target rating
• Digital metering
• Dispute resolution process

Target Rating

Essentially, a ‘Green Lease’ applies a target rating system into a legally-binding contract between the landlord and tenant which then allows the landlord to legally operate the building in agreement with its environmentally green plan.

This structure lets the building’s owner increase energy performance goals, decrease energy expenditures and give the building and its owner a reasonable gain in the marketplace. The tenants get a healthier and more environmentally-friendly living and/or working environment and the landlord reaps financial and reputational rewards.

Recycling in your facility doesn’t have to be a nightmare to implement. Follow these simple steps to ensure the success of your recycling program.

How Much Waste are you Creating?

Determine how much waste your facility produces to establish a baseline. Goals and action plans can then be developed using this information.

Tracking and Reporting

Determine a tracking and reporting tool that can be used to measure your program’s progress.

Gather Information

Identify a recycling vendor and develop pickup plans. It’s also a good idea to have good communication between your facility and the recycling vendor.

Do a Walkthrough

Carry out a facility walkthrough. Inspect waste disposal practices and procedures. During a walkthrough, you’ll want to:

• Figure out the best recycle container placement
• Document the removal of unneeded containers
• Train workers concerning the new recycling program

Contact Information

Define facility contacts, like department managers who can help you with staff training, communication, and program engagement.

Culture is Key

Culture is the biggest factor in a successful recycling program. Management engagement helps get everyone else in the organization on board. If the leaders aren’t knowledgeable about the program, it won’t be a success.

It also helps to include peers from different departments when designing the recycling program. Custodial staff input is particularly valued, as they are the ones on the front lines of your program and will be the people implementing it the most.

With education, information, proper planning, and engagement, your recycling program is destined for success!

Just as Facility Managers are beginning to feel comfortable with certifications like LEED, a new standard is developing. The good news is that it’s not mutually exclusive; while LEED focuses on resource efficiency, the WELL Building Standard focuses on making workplaces healthier through modifications to the physical environment.

Why the New Standard Was Created

The WELL Building Standard is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on occupant health.

Poor air quality, food choices, and work stress all have implications on the health of building occupants. The WELL Building Standard is a performance-based system for gauging, certifying, and tracking the way buildings impact our health.

WELL is managed and directed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), an organization created to facilitate the improvement of health and wellbeing of building occupants.

WELL is based on medical research that explores the link between buildings and the health of their occupants. WELL-Certified buildings and WELL-Compliant development projects aim to improve nutrition, sleep patterns and overall health outcomes of the people who live and work within their buildings.

The WELL Building Standard is certified by the Green Business Certification Incorporation, which also manages the LEED certification program.

How does WELL Work?

Three different types of certifications are available: New and Existing Buildings, New and Existing Interiors, and Core & Shell.

The New and Existing Interiors section of the certification is the most relevant to Facility Managers. 36 precondition requirements and 62 optimization criteria make up this section of the certification procedure. Preconditions are required for all Levels of WELL. Optimizations are only required for Gold and Platinum certification areas.

When thinking about all the potential advantages of creating a more sustainable facility, there’s one area that is rarely considered, although it’s vital to your success, reputation, and bottom line: your employees. Here’s why.

Sustainability and Employees

Employees stand to gain a lot from a company that decides to implement a sustainability program. Below are the energy efficiency benefits that are having the greatest impact on employee health, productivity, and job satisfaction:

Bigger Output

Facility energy optimization enhancements to your building don’t just save you money on utility costs. They can often increase your facility’s and workforce’s production capacity, output and cycle times.

Bigger Bottom Line

Lower energy costs naturally lead to higher gains for the business. In addition to signaling to the public you’re making a difference, the initial investment made on sustainability enhancements to your facility will also pay for themselves over the course of their working life. Solar panels, for example, can often pay for themselves in electricity savings in as little as two years.

Reduced Energy Compliance Costs

Administrative expenses and hefty regulatory and government penalties from failure to adhere to emissions codes can eat into the company budget substantially. It’s often much cheaper to pay the upfront costs of getting your facility in line with current standards than to constantly worry if you’ll be fined.

All of this is to say that you should seriously consider the many benefits of making your facility more sustainable. Savings on gas, fuel, electricity, operations, productivity, output, efficiency, employee satisfaction, and overall health of facility structures and the people inside it that make up the heart of your business are only a few examples.

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