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Most of modern manufacturing and industrial standards come from Japan, home of the Toyota lean manufacturing and Kaizen processes. As some of the greatest innovators in manufacturing, we can learn a lot from the Japanese style of facility maintenance and how they achieve peak efficiency at all times. 

One of the ways we use this at MaintenX is by implementing the Gemba walk practice with our clients. This simple step in our preventative maintenance programs improves our own efficiency on the job as well as the overall performance of our clients’ facilities. 

What is a Gemba walk?

“Gemba” is a Japanese word that roughly translates to “the real place.” From a maintenance standpoint, we refer to this as the place where the work actually happens – on the ground floor. The point of doing a gemba walk is to connect theory and plans to practice, and see what really works on the factory floor. 

The gemba walk aims to show facility managers how their plans and solutions work in practice, and to get feedback from ground floor employees on what needs to be done from the maintenance department. A real gemba walk is planned with an open mind and will immediately create improvements in your facility maintenance program. 

What to include in your Gemba walk process?

A gemba walk is not simply a walk around your facility checking for maintenance issues or service requests from employees. It’s a planned and calculated assessment of your preventative maintenance plan as opposed to the actions proceeding on the ground floor. For a successful gemba walk, you need the following elements: 

• A regular time and date for your planned facility walkthrough
• A focus (for example, your spring gemba walk can focus on cost-savings, while your summer walk can be focused on employee training and handling of facility equipment)
• A list of questions for employees and maintenance staff
• A list of metrics you planned to achieve (for you to compare against real results on the factory floor)

However, the most important thing to keep on your gemba walk is an open mind. If you’re simply looking to confirm your plan, you’ll miss valuable information that can help you improve your facility in the long-run. The more you listen and observe, the better your gemba walk will help you to improve performance across the board. 

To learn more about lean manufacturing and PM performance, visit our Resource Center. 

 

It’s difficult to strike the right balance between preventative maintenance (PM) and run-to-fail or reactive maintenance for large commercial facilities. You don’t want to implement a strictly run-to-fail program because of the enormous risk this strategy takes; however, preventative maintenance is not a simple set-it-and-forget-it strategy either. 

Many preventative maintenance strategies are determined solely by manufacturer recommendations, but your MaintenX team can help tailor your program to your assets’ unique histories and needs. Below are just three ways you can easily improve your PM strategy without starting from scratch: 

Prioritize the right way.

Are you prioritizing PM of non-critical over critical equipment because it’s older or has more problems? Or, are you simply avoiding rearranging your PM schedule and following a list? If so, you’re not doing your building or your maintenance team any favors. Prioritization is the most critical step to making your PM plan work, so go over it with your maintenance technicians to ensure you’re getting the most important work done first. 

Invest in a CMMS software.

A computerized maintenance management software can help you keep track of your assets’ maintenance history, service requests, technician notes, and much more. Without one you’ll likely be fixing the same problems over and over with no information on the root cause. CMMS programs can also ensure that routine maintenance requests don’t fall through the cracks and inconvenience your employees or tenants. 

Review frequency of PM tasks.

Oftentimes, we see facility managers either overscheduling or underscheduling their PM tasks without any real understanding of why they’re doing so. It’s often the case of “that’s what we’ve always done,” rather than a clear understanding of the needs of the asset and its maintenance schedule. If you’re looking to save on maintenance costs and avoid unexpected breakdowns, review this schedule with your maintenance technicians as well. 

MaintenX can help you refine your PM strategy for better asset performance across the board. To learn more about our PM services or to schedule an onsite consultation, contact us today!

 

The COVID-19 pandemic changed more than our health protocols throughout 2020 and 2021. The already shifting workforce was suddenly thrust into a purely tech-driven world, where remote working digital efficiency was paramount even for the most traditional brick and mortar businesses. Everyone from retailers to medical facilities and even restaurants switched to digital shopping and work experiences, with some deciding to never look back. 

Now, it’s not uncommon at all for employees to work 100% from home or have hybrid office spaces where coming into the office is optional. The need for desk space is becoming less and less common, especially with the increasing efficiency of mobile devices for work. 

In this rapidly changing office world, how will your business keep up?

MaintenX has seen this change coming for a while, and the past two years have truly pushed the modern office revolution to its max. We have a few recommendations for businesses as they embrace this transformation to create a simpler, more tech-friendly workplace. 

Create healthy, safe spaces.

Even with many states going back to pre-pandemic health regulations, many professionals are still taking precautions on their own to avoid COVID-19 risks. As you invite workers back to the office, making social distancing an easy option is paramount. Open office spaces set up for smaller groups to congregate are becoming much more popular than the cramped office spaces and large conference rooms of the past. Instead of traditional office spaces, add more home-like furniture such as comfortable recliners and small desk spaces to encourage small group collaboration and social-distanced working when needed. 

Connect to nature.

So many of us spent the better half of the past two years cooped up inside. As restrictions on outdoor events are lifted, people are craving connection to nature and the ability to enjoy sunshine and fresh air again. You can meet this need in the workplace by adding larger windows, houseplants, and outdoor break spaces such as courtyards to your building design. 

This is about light and sound.

The pandemic pushed many people to work from home, which has unique comforts that many workers want to bring back with them to the office. Traditional noisy offices can be redesigned to offer quiet, comfortable spaces that resemble the home office more closely. Warm lighting, spaced out offices, and soothing ambient sounds instead of the office radio can help your more introverted employees enjoy the transition back to in-person working rather than dreading it. 

This year offers opportunities for us to modernize the work environment and make it actually work for employees. Rather than going “back to business” you can decide for yourself what you want your office space to be in 2022. 

However, no matter how you redesign your office, you’ll always need to go back to basics with your preventative care and renovations. For the care your building needs to stay up-to-date, choose MaintenX for your maintenance needs. 

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become much more concerned about indoor air quality. Since the virus most easily spreads in indoor settings, many business owners are doing their part to ensure a clean, well-ventilated area for patrons and staff to enjoy. This change in perspective has created positive change for building maintenance across the board. 

If you’re looking for ways to improve your indoor air quality, either for the pandemic or for the general health of your staff, there are a few simple ways you can implement today:

Clean daily.

Dusting, cleaning bathrooms, and removing moisture from bathrooms are essential parts of maintaining indoor air quality. Not only does this make your facility a healthier place to work, but it can reduce the likelihood of mold and other indoor air contaminants building up and releasing particles into the air. 

Let in fresh air.

While it may seem normal to keep the windows shut at a large facility, smaller businesses can improve indoor air quality by opening the windows on days when it’s not too hot or cold outside. This is also a good idea on deep cleaning days. You can let fresh air in and chemical-heavy air out which reduces the likelihood of reactions from potent cleaner smells. 

Change air filters on schedule.

Air filters are easy to forget because you only need to change them once per month. However, by adding this to your calendar you can improve indoor air quality by ensuring you’re not circulating dirt and dust trapped in the air ducts. 

Invest in HVAC preventative care.

A properly working HVAC system is the best remedy for indoor air quality. An HVAC system that can properly ventilate and perform without overwork will do most of the filtration and purification you need, even for large commercial kitchens or industrial facilities. The right preventative maintenance plan can also help you maintain comfortable temperatures in the height of summer and decrease energy costs by ensuring your HVAC units aren’t overworking. 

MaintenX wants to help you improve your building’s indoor air quality through regular preventative care. To learn more about our preventative care programs, contact your local MaintenX team today!

 

Let’s take a moment to imagine a typical day on the job. You’re in the middle of a daily facility inspection when you notice something is up with your outdoor HVAC unit. You hear an unusual noise, which falls in line with some minor performance issues you’ve had recently. The unit seems to be running at full capacity during the day, but it’s not quite reaching your set temperature by midday. You call your maintenance team to schedule a consultation for the following day, and the technician says they’ve fixed the problem by that afternoon. 

Fast forward a month, and you’re running into similar issues with the same unit. You’re still hearing that noise, and even though the temperature inside improved for a few days, now it’s back to cooling inefficiently. When something like this happens, it’s likely because the technician fixed the symptom of the issue, but not the root cause. 

Root cause analysis (RCA) in maintenance is the range of practices and tools used to diagnose maintenance issues and reduce the likelihood of repeated issues within your main systems. If you want to implement root cause analysis in your maintenance program, you need to know the three R’s and teach them to your maintenance staff as the primary method for maintenance diagnostics. 

The Three R’s of RCA

MaintenX uses the three R’s to correctly diagnose root causes of maintenance issues and improve your preventative maintenance strategies for long-term performance efficiency. The three R’s of maintenance diagnostics include:

Recognize

When your maintenance team comes out to fix an issue, they must first recognize the complaint as a symptom of an underlying issue rather than as the issue itself. A noisy HVAC unit or backed-up pipe is not the problem, but rather the symptom of a performance or handling issue of the system itself. 

Remedy

Once your team has diagnosed the root cause, they can begin remedying the issue with repairs and corrective action. Corrective action includes improved preventative care, change in the operation of the appliance to prevent issues, or other corrections to the facility maintenance program to avoid the root cause issue in the future. 

Replicate

Finally, the maintenance team will replicate this solution in other parts of the facility to ensure the same issue does not pop up in other systems or areas of the building. For example, if HVAC cleaning has been neglected, a revamping of the entire building’s preventative maintenance schedule will be necessary.

Using this process, you can better take care of your facility and stop performance issues at their source. To learn more about RCA best practices and applications in commercial facilities, visit our Resource Center for help. 

Environmental sustainability is something we take very seriously at MaintenX. We are headquartered in sunny Florida, which is an area already experiencing the effects of climate change from rising sea levels, ocean pollution, and drastic changes in climate patterns that affect our hurricane seasons. While many of these issues are difficult to deal with, there is also a great opportunity for businesses to improve their environmental sustainability practices. 

If your business wants to take part in reducing its carbon footprint, there are several easy adjustments you can make:

Planning ahead.

It’s much easier to build sustainability into a building than it is to try and course-correct for an existing business. If you’re open/ing a new building or coming in as a new tenant, take advantage of the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint through building materials, structures, and processes.

Purchasing energy-efficient appliances.

MaintenX helps our clients install energy-efficient HVAC systems and electrical appliances for several reasons. Not only do they reduce a buildings’ carbon footprint, but they help save you on energy costs. While the savings may seem small at first, the long-term cost reduction from energy-efficient appliances can help your business’  budget tremendously.

Taking advantage of renewable resources.

Solar panels and water recycling programs can help commercial facilities reduce energy needs by making use of what they already have. In Florida, where MaintenX is headquartered, our clients have access to nearly 14 hours of sunlight in the summertime. Buildings that take advantage of this and convert that sunlight into energy can reduce their carbon footprint and produce their own energy sustainably. 

Choose sustainable materials.

Sustainable building doesn’t have to be expensive. Many building materials are made from recycled materials, such as EPDM rubber for roofing and upcycled wood. When planning renovations for your building, these small changes can make a big difference in the carbon footprint of your project. 

Green landscaping.

Low-water landscaping can help reduce your facility’s overall energy consumption and make it easier to care for the grounds year-round. Landscaping can also help create a more wildlife-friendly ecosystem by partially restoring natural habitats and encouraging pollination of other native species in the area.

If you are ready to create change at your facility through environmental sustainability renovations, contact MaintenX today! We offer expert recommendations and installation services for eco-friendly appliances and renovations. 

Opening a restaurant is one of the most difficult business ventures in which to succeed. The permitting and licensing process is much more complex than other business types, which means owners and project managers need to be especially attentive throughout the process. If you want a smooth opening, you need a trusted contractor and experienced staff by your side. 

As commercial maintenance and renovation experts, there are several things we’ve seen that contribute to a smooth restaurant opening for our local clients:

Find a good general contractor.

If you’re doing renovations on the building, you should take the time to find a reputable general contractor before starting. This makes the permitting process much easier, and will save you the headaches of going back and forth with the city on what is and is not required for your commercial space. A reputable general contractor will also be able to help you find excellent subcontractors for HVAC, plumbing, roofing, and electrical repairs that are needed before opening.

Get your building in perfect order before securing permits.

The licensing and permitting process is often the most frustrating for restaurant and bar owners. Even a small local establishment must go through an extensive process to meet local, state, and national requirements. We recommend getting as much of your renovation work done as possible with the right permits before beginning the licensing process for your business. 

Invest in quality equipment.

Opening a restaurant is expensive, and it may be tempting to cut corners when it comes to choosing restaurant equipment. However, we believe it’s always better to buy the equipment you want rather than buying a cheaper option and wishing you hadn’t a few weeks into opening. While you don’t need to overinvest in a small kitchen, it’s important to choose quality appliances from the get-go.

MaintenX is here to help with all of your renovation and repair needs for a new building. We specialize in the foodservice industry and can help you with a smooth transition as you open your new restaurant. To learn more about our renovation and repair services, give your local MaintenX a call today!

As a business owner, you are constantly switching roles, from salesperson to handyman to marketing expert and everything in between. When everything ultimately falls on your shoulders, it’s easy for smaller things like building maintenance to fall through the cracks. However, neglecting your facility maintenance can come back to bite you, as customers notice these issues much more readily than you might on a day-to-day basis. 

The maintenance of your building is a direct reflection of the reputation of your business in the customer’s eyes. If you want to make a great first impression, you must make sure these common maintenance issues are not happening at your store.

Leaks in the bathroom

Leaking faucets are a major red flag for any business. They not only make your bathrooms look old and outdated, but can cause rust, mildew stains, and wet spots on the floor that ruin an otherwise positive customer experience. Luckily, these are very easy to fix with one call to your MaintenX plumber. 

Damaged flooring

Old or dirty floors signal to customers that a building is not well-kept, and can make some customers walk out the door almost immediately. This is why proper flooring maintenance and the right selection of flooring material are essential for businesses. A floor that is not made to withstand your operations (such as old wood flooring for a busy restaurant) can make your business look run down even if the rest of the facility is properly maintained.

Pest problems

Pest problems are unacceptable for customers. While your landlord will likely schedule pest control services for your facility, you need to also be mindful of maintenance issues that can lead to pest invasions. Water damage and unclean kitchen practices can invite pests inside, making them more difficult to control with regular pest control. Keeping food and water damage out of your facility is the best prevention method you can do for your building. 

Out of order toilets

While you may not be able to fully prevent toilet issues, you should make every effort to fix them as soon as possible. An out-of-order toilet is not only an inconvenience, it can make your facility look more run-down than it actually is. Call your MaintenX plumber as soon as you experience toilet issues to ensure it’s back up and running by the next business day if possible. 

A low performing HVAC system

On a summer day, the best feeling is walking into a cold store to shop and escape from the heat. If you have a poorly functioning HVAC system, customers will be immediately disappointed when they walk into your building. An HVAC system that can’t keep up with the outside heat is in desperate need of maintenance and has likely not been following a preventative care protocol. Fix this issue for employees and staff by scheduling a consultation with your MaintenX team. 

MaintenX offers preventative maintenance and repairs for all types of businesses, from restaurants to retail, medical facilities, and more. To improve the customer experience and your business’ reputation, contact MaintenX to fix these issues within your building. 

Curb appeal is so important to a business, no matter what industry you’re in. Whether you’re a local restaurant, boutique, or national chain, the way you present your business from the outside matters just as much as the experience inside. 

If you are looking for ways to dress up your business storefront, try one of these ten simple renovations:

Add greenery to your front entrance.

A few hanging plants or a nice mini garden near your front entrance can do wonders for your business’s storefront. 

Repaint the exterior of the building

Old paint can make your building look run down even when the interior is freshly renovated. Make sure to repair as necessary and keep your building clean with regular pressure washing.

Add a welcome mat

A welcome mat not only keeps the interior of your building cleaner but provides a nice aesthetic appearance for smaller shops and storefronts. 

Invest in new signage.

If your signs and advertisements look old, customers may think your shop is run down when it isn’t. Invest in proper signage and maintain it to keep your exterior looking fresh. 

Sweep the sidewalk

This simple daily task will make your shop look twice as appealing to customers on the street. This is especially important for boutiques and smaller retail outlets that rely heavily on walk-in traffic.

Clean your windows.

Make sure to clean your windows on the inside and outside to showcase your products from the inside and entice customers in. 

Sweep outdoor seating areas.

Leaves, dirt, and debris from neighboring storefronts can make your business look run down when it’s really not. A little bit of sweeping in outdoor seating areas makes all the difference. 

Maintain the parking lot.

Parking lots should be smooth, free of potholes, and offer plenty of lighting to ensure it is safe at night. Make sure your parking lots are maintained and well-lit to ensure customers feel safe during opening hours. 

Advertise sales at the front door.

The best way to attract customers as they walk by is to advertise weekly sales on the front door. 

Create a dog-friendly space.

If you are a restaurant that offers outdoor seating, creating a dog-friendly section will go a long way toward attracting customers. Even if you don’t allow pets inside the seating area, adding a water bowl can entice passers-by to stop by your shop and see what’s inside. 

MaintenX can help you improve curb appeal with exterior maintenance services from painting, roofing care, outdoor HVAC unit maintenance, and more. To learn more about our exterior maintenance services, contact your local MaintenX today!

Restaurant foot traffic takes quite a toll on the flooring you choose for your building. The constant fluctuation of customers, coupled with regular spills and accidents creates the perfect environment for flooring maintenance issues to occur. However, with the right choice of floor and proper daily maintenance, you can keep your floors looking new for years to come. 

When installing new floors for restaurants, we often recommend one of these options for the easiest cleanup and maintenance: 

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is one of the easiest to clean for restaurants and other buildings with high foot traffic. While it can be styled to look like hardwood, it is often more water-resistant and cheaper to install. High-quality vinyl flooring can look sophisticated in any setting but will save you time and money in maintenance costs. 

Concrete

Concrete may seem like an unusual option for restaurant flooring, but modern concrete styles can be made to look like rustic wood. Using special finishing techniques, you can make concrete look like it is cut into boards and has a unique wood grain finish. Concrete is not only more affordable than wood using this technique, but can also help you avoid the maintenance upkeep of natural materials. 

Tile

Stone tile is less popular than other options because it can be difficult to clean and stains more easily than concrete or vinyl. However, it is incredibly durable and likely won’t need to be replaced. With the right cleaning schedule, tile flooring can outlast most other flooring options. It also looks very impressive at entrances and in outdoor seating areas. 

Refinished hardwood

Hardwood is a difficult flooring option to keep clean in restaurants but can be ideal for smaller restaurants or cafes where large messes are rare. When the hardwood is refinished with a protective stain, it will resist water damage much easier and will be easy to restain every few years to keep it looking fresh. 

MaintenX offers flooring installations for restaurants and other foodservice businesses throughout the U.S. If you’d like to learn more about installation and care for restaurant flooring, give us a call today!