Your maintenance strategy is just as important as the people and equipment you put in place. A skilled technician is essential to preventative maintenance performance, but your strategy depending on the type of facility you operate may accelerate, or conversely hinder your progress annually. Understanding your maintenance program as a whole, rather than viewing it as a set of on-demand services, will enable you to make better choices when hiring an outsourced maintenance team.
Before outsourcing your maintenance work, you should understand the differences between centralized and decentralized maintenance programs. These two mindsets shape the way your maintenance program handles emergency as well as routine procedures. Choosing the right one for your facility can help you save time and money in almost every department.
The Benefits And Costs Of Decentralized Maintenance
Decentralized maintenance is an organizational structure in which maintenance team members operate independently within an organization. Typically the maintenance staff is assigned to departments or buildings within a facility, and are independently responsible for their own services. Or, teams of specialists (such as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians) will work independently of each other to provide service to an entire facility.
This method of maintenance management moves the power to a lower level of hierarchy, offering flexibility in service requests and sometimes quicker service times. When teams are allowed to act independently they can become more efficient within their specialties. However, the lack of organization across maintenance departments can lead to a lack of quality standards among contractors. This variation in service standards can lead to problems down the road, when one maintenance worker must follow the services of another.
Decentralized maintenance is beneficial for small facilities that are independently owned or operated. They are money-saving programs that if managed by a competent maintenance manager will reduce service time. However, for larger facilities or office buildings who rely on outsourced maintenance programs, a centralized maintenance program can be beneficial.
The Benefits of Centralized Maintenance
Centralized maintenance programs utilize a network of independent contractors who are managed under one roof or company name. Whether the specialists are employees or independent contractors, they deliver services in a unified presence. When working with these companies, you can hire specialized electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, roofers, and general contractors from one trusted brand.
While these services are not always the cheapest option, and may not be available onsite, they offer several benefits for large facilities and buildings needing outsourced maintenance. Because these programs are centrally organized, there is a standard of service that can be expected no matter what technician is called out for the service request. These centralized programs also offer better internal communications, a larger pool of contractors, and can often afford high-tech equipment that smaller decentralized services cannot.
Choosing to hire from a contractor network like MaintenX can help you make maintenance service hassle-free. Contact us to learn more about our services and our quality guarantee.
