Don’t Pollute! Control Pollution by Planning Ahead for Road, Highway, and Bridge Work

While pollution may not be the first thing that crosses your mind when you’re creating a plan for upcoming road work, it should definitely be one of the top concerns on your list. Roads, highways, and bridges can be a source of a significant amount of pollution to your city’s water—so if you aren’t careful, you’re planning could create future problems. By taking possible runoff points into consideration during the planning process, it’s easy to prevent and control the runoff pollution in your local area.

Planning for New Construction

When you’re developing a grid for new streets, highways, or bridges, you need to take the surrounding land into consideration. In order to prevent unwanted pollution:

• Try to incorporate your road system or bridge into the natural characteristics of the landscape.
• Avoid building new roads, highways, and bridges where they will have a direct impact on nearby bodies of water.
• As you’re planning for your city to expand, reserve specific portions of land for roads, highways, and bridges. If you don’t allocate the land ahead of time, it’s more likely that roads, highways, and bridges will be built on whatever land is available—by controlling this, you control the amount of runoff pollution in your town.

New Construction

With the amount of Earth you’re disturbing to build new highways, bridges, and roads, it’s normal to have some runoff pollution. However, just because it’s normal, doesn’t mean that you should ignore it. Instead, develop a plan that helps you control the amount of runoff pollution created during the construction phase.

• Develop a site-specific erosion and sediment control plan
• Monitor chemical usage
• Control how chemicals are handled and stored on the construction site
• Fertilize the land you disturb to promote vegetation growth so that runoff debris isn’t flowing directly into a water source 

Routine Maintenance and Operation

You also have ample opportunity to inspect the area around your roads, bridges, and highways throughout the year to make sure your runoff points aren’t causing excess pollution. Create a regular schedule that includes:

• Seeding and fertilizing areas with damaged vegetation or slopes
• Clean drainage ditches
• Keep the shoulders and slopes of your roads clear of litter and other debris
• Regulate the amount of deicing salts used on your city’s roads to prevent over deicing
• Make sure your city’s salt trucks are equipped with calibration devices so that the salt is spread evenly

Numbers Matter: Discover How CMMS Software Helps You Make Data-Driven Decisions

You’ve heard it before; good data drives good decisions. But, even this extremely relevant statement isn’t comprised of words that are easy to follow. Mostly likely you’ve had days where you feel like you’re drowning in numbers—after all, facility managers have a lot of data to analyze. From the number of hours your team of technicians worked last week to the number of work orders you have pending, everything you do revolves around numbers. Love them or hate them, it’s all of the numbers in all of the data you’ve collected that helps you make informed, data-driven decisions that keep your organization running smoothly. As soon as you realize how important those numbers are, your job becomes a lot less stressful.

Why Data-Driven Decisions Are Important

As a facility manager, you have numerous decisions to make on a daily basis. In addition, you also have meetings to attend where you’re required to explain why you felt your decision was the best option. When you use your own intuition to make an important decision you can’t guarantee you’re making the right choice. However, when you make a data-driven decision, you’re analyzing various options, costs, and outcomes to ensure you’re choice it the best option. And, your data backs up your decision.

Imagine a cable salesman came to your door and told you that he could save you money if you switched cable providers, but he didn’t give you a dollar amount. If you accepted his offer, you’re taking the risk. You might save money or you might not. But, if that salesman came to your door with a cost-comparison between companies that outlined various service packages, reviewed the information with you, and explained that you would save $50 per month by switching service, he’s backing up his claim with numbers. The fact is, you don’t want to walk into an important meeting without the data to back up your decisions.

What Kind of Data Does CMMS Software Store?

CMMS data, like BMSI’s webDPW, stores all of the important data pertaining to the day-to-day operation of your organization, as well as historic data. The software stores the details of all of your organization’s assets so that you can view things like routine maintenance schedules, past work orders, standard operating procedures, warranties, and owner’s manuals. It even figures in the depreciation of your organization’s assets. All of the data that’s input into the system is used to create a wide variety detailed reports, including:

• Risk management
• Maintenance costs for specific times of the year
• Asset value
• Maintenance history for specific assets

You can use the reports generated by your facility management software to see how well your organization is doing, what areas need improvement, and monitor your budget.

What Kind of Information Can Your CMMS System Provide?

When you’re using a CMMS system, it’s important to remember that you get out of the system what you put into it. Your reports are only as good as the data you’ve input over time. By getting into the habit of entering all of the information that pertains to your job, you can analyze just about anything. In fact, even small inputs—like work orders—make a huge difference. Just by entering your work order information you can see what type of maintenance your organization spends the most money on and compare your maintenance costs from year to year. When you input asset information you can use that in conjunction with your maintenance data to determine things like whether it would cost more money in the long run to keep repairing an asset or it would be cheaper to replace it.

The fact is, your facility management system puts all of the data you need at your fingertips. It not only saves your organization time and money, but helps you make accurate decisions. When you’re ready for your quote contact BMSI.

Three Problems That Facility Management Software Can Solve for Your Organization

Let’s face it, facility managers have a never-ending list of things that need tracked, jobs that need completed, and meetings to attend. But, even though you have a heavy work load you don’t have to feel overwhelmed. Facility management software makes your jobs easier and as an added benefit, it solves some major problems that organizations face on a daily basis.

Conquer Your Mountain of Paperwork

Most organizations have massive amounts of paperwork that needs filed and multiple computer systems that store different types of information. This makes it difficult to find information you need, makes it hard for employees to collaborate on projects, and wastes a lot of time. When you use web-based facility management software, like BMSI’s webDPW, you don’t have to access multiple systems to find the information you need and compare reports. In addition, because the software is web based, you can access the information you need from any device with a web browser and Internet connection. By having all of your organization’s files stored in the same place, it’s easier to complete numerous tasks including:

• Tracking your organization’s assets
• Scheduling routine maintenance
• Assigning and tracking work orders
• Storing building documentation that’s necessary to obtaining LEED certification
• Track employees’ productivity
• Create employee schedules
• Ensures that all employees are viewing the same information  

Increase Productivity and Cut Costs

Multiple computer systems and mountains of paperwork can lead to an unorganized mess, which could result in miscommunication or lost items. Using facility management software helps you stay organized and gives everyone access to the same information. This way, everyone knows what needs done throughout the day and they can see which work orders are currently in progress.

Some other ways facility management software save you time and money include:

• Able to compile detailed risk management reports
• Schedule routine tasks—complete project plans or simple tasks like changing a light bulb—so that you can avoid costly repairs in the future
• Track your inventory so that you don’t over order and always have the needed supplies on hand
• Track the operating cost, fuel, repairs, and maintenance for every vehicle, as well as adjust for depreciation
• Create a service request to have a situation assessed before sending a complete crew or repair technician to the location

Budget Smarter

Creating quarterly or annual budgets isn’t easy when you don’t have all of the information you need readily available. Not only does facility management software give you access to building and asset information you might need to include in your report, the software keeps track of all of your costs, invoices, and receivables, making it easy to stay on top of your organization’s finances.

In addition, you can use your risk management reports to determine which issues are a high priority and which problems won’t cost your organization additional money if they are put off until the next quarter.

Ultimately, facility management software doesn’t only make your job easier, it makes the entire organization run like a well-oiled machine and it save money. When you’re ready for a quote or you’d like more information, contact BMSI.

Motivate Your Team, Increase Productivity, and Easily Track Your Progress

Do you truly believe that your team’s production is at its best? The majority of facility managers believe that their team does a good job—even if they have one or two problem employees. But, think about it. Do you really know how well your team performs out in the field? With the majority of your time tied up in meetings and office tasks, it’s nearly impossible for you to know if everyone on your team uses their time wisely. But, there are a few things that you can do ti motivate your team, track their productivity, and even free up some of your time so that you can spend some time in the field.

Adjusting Work Hours

The fact is, your team members are on the move the majority of the day; it’s easy for them to get burnt out. Because of this, it could be beneficial for your organization to have teams of technicians that work four ten-hour days. This gives your employees an extra day to relax so that they don’t feel overworked.

Employee Ownership

Rather than assigning random work orders and jobs to employee, consider dividing your team into groups and giving each group “ownership” of specific assets or areas. By putting employees in charge of specific types of work or assets within a certain area, it’s easier for them to determine what upcoming work needs completed.

Employee Appreciation

According to an article posted on RecognizeThis!, over thirty-five percent of employees consider lack of recognition the biggest hindrance to their productivity. Your organization may not have the funds to provide employees with monetary incentives or throw large gatherings to boost employee morale, but there are several ways to show your employees that you appreciate their hard work including:

• Posting daily or weekly production statistics in the employee work area
• Employee-of-the-year awards 
• Hang a photo in the work area of the employee with the highest productivity each month
• Occasional thank-you notes for a job well done 
• Recognize top performers in your staff meetings

Tracking Your Team Production

It’s time to give CMMS systems a second chance. According to Walt Petters, Director of Maintenance and Plant Operations for Brevard County Public Schools in Rockledge, Florida, CMMS software was web-based it wasn’t the best tool to track productivity. But, web-based facility management programs, like BMSI’s webDPW, gather pertinent information in one place so that everything you need is just a mouse click away. CMMS streamlines your entire day-to-day workflow, which helps you free up some of your time. You can use this extra time to give an extra boost to your team’s morale. Visiting techs in the field or going on short jobs with them shows them that you care about them and that you understand exactly what their job entails.

By implementing small changes that boost employee morale, give employees more responsibility, and give employees more flexible schedules it won’t take long for your organization’s productivity to increase. And, by using CMMS software to track your team’s progress, manage work orders, and monitor your assets, your entire department will run smoothly.

How to Avoid Three Common Financial Mistakes Using Cloud-Hosted Software

As a facility manager it's your responsibility to ensure that your organization's assets are properly maintained and that you stay within your budget. However, it isn't always an easy task to accomplish and you probably find yourself juggling numerous tasks each day. By using cloud-hosted software, like BMSI's webDPW software, you can streamline your organization's entire day-to-day operations and avoid some of the biggest financial mistakes that facility managers make.

Wasting Money on Bad Equipment

According to an article on facilitiesnet.com, sixty-three percent of the problems that technicians address are problems that were self-induced. As a facility manager, it is part of your job to make sure that your maintenance team has the tools and information needed to properly repair broken equipment and that your organization's equipment receives regular maintenance. Fortunately, cloud-hosted facility management software makes this easy for you. With the proper software you can schedule routine maintenance and inspections on your organization's assets, keep accurate records of your inventory—including tools and safety equipment—and store online versions of your equipment manuals so that your technicians can access the information they need in the field.

Keeping Equipment That Needs Replaced

Most organizations hold onto equipment too long—mostly because new equipment is not in the budget. However, if your organization is hanging onto equipment that is constantly breaking it may be costing more to repair than it would to replace. By using cloud-hosted facility management software, you can track maintenance for every piece of equipment, as well as evaluate your equipment costs and total costs of ownership. This makes it easy to determine whether an asset should be repaired or replaced—and in the long run saves you money.

Paying Employees with Poor Performance

One major part of your job includes overseeing employee performance. At times, your managerial duties probably seem easy compared to the rest of your to-do list, but do you really know how much time you're spending making sure other people do their jobs? Recent studies indicate that managers spend ninety percent of their direct supervision time with problem employees. Not only do you need to ensure that problem employees get the job done correctly, you need to make sure it's completed in a timely manner and that they stay focused and motivated throughout the day. Chances are, you're spending way too much time babysitting employees who are underperforming and employees with poor performance tend to bring down the morale of the team. When you use cloud-hosted facility management software, you can track the hours each employee works, as well as how many work orders they've completed. This gives you a good idea of who uses their time wisely so that you can see which employees need improvement and which ones you can let go.

The fact is, facility managers have a lot of responsibility. You have a lot of things that you need to track and numerous tasks that you need to complete each day. By using cloud-hosted facility management software, you have everything you need stored in the same place which makes your job a lot easier.

Capture Information from BMSI's Product Screens Using TNT Screen Capture

When you look at your BMSI software screen, you'll notice an abundance of data, some of which you need to remember even when you aren't looking at it. Fortunately, you don't have to continually pull up the same report. Instead, you can use a free online capture tool, like TNT Screen Capture, to capture and save everything on your screen. Whether you need the data you see on your screen for a budget meeting or you just need to remember the details while you navigate to another screen, TNT Screen Capture can help you—and those aren't the only tasks that TNT Screen Capture can complete for you.

Create Outstanding Presentations

Including a screen shot in your presentations not only makes your presentation look more professional and well thought out, but it helps your audience follow along by giving them something visual to look at while they follow along. TNT Screen Capture can capture any screen within your BMSI software with a few clicks. Once you have a screen shot captured, you can edit the image and use it in presentations.

Get Tech Issues Solved Quickly

Because BMSI's software is web-based, all of your technical issues are solved by off-site information technologies (IT) people. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to resolve computer issues quickly without being able to see what's happening on the computer screen. Free capture programs, like TNT Screen Capture, can capture what is currently displayed on your computer screen. Then, you can send the screenshot to the tech employee that you're working with so he or she can see exactly what is happening on your screen. With all of the information in front of them, the IT tech will be able to resolve any issues that you're having in no time.

Edit the Images You Capture

TNT Screen Capture gives you the ability to edit any images that you capture. When you click the capture button, the software detects the corners of the images on your screen. This means you can opt to capture your entire screen, or only one section. This option is handy when you're using your BMSI software to create a presentation for an important meeting, but there's information on your screen that you don't want to share. In addition to selecting the portion of your BMSI software that you want to capture, TNT Screen Capture has a variety of editing options, including:

• Add arrows to your image to highlight important areas of the image
• Add text to your images to relay important information
• Add a shadow behind the image for a realistic effect

Your BMSI software has a lot of benefits, but when you use the software in conjunction with TNT Screen Capture it gives you even more options. Whether you're preparing for a budget meeting or you're having technical difficulties, TNT Screen Capture will come in handy. Fortunately, you can download the software for free and start using it with your BMSI software today.

Risk Management: Using an Asset Management System to Create a Risk Management Strategy

In order to control costs and maintain your budget, you need to have a solid risk management strategy. Fortunately, you don't have to create a long, detailed plan in order for a risk management strategy to be effective. When you use an asset management system, you can track all of your assets, anticipate problems before they become major issues, and create a simple strategy that is easy for all of your employees to follow.

An asset management system allows you to track the condition of a variety of different infrastructure and equipment within your organization. The system compiles data to display details like the likelihood of failure, the cost of replacement, and the impact of failure. You can use all of this information to plan an air-tight budget for the future, as well as ensuring that every asset is properly taken care of.

When you begin using your asset management system, you'll create an initial assessment by categorizing each asset by the impact of failure and asset unavailability. This allows you to list your most critical assets and rate each asset's condition, likelihood of failure, and risk of failure. Working with your most critical assets first helps you refine your entire system, and once you have a risk management system in place, you can begin adding less critical assets.

Part of refining your system includes determining a time frame that allows you to plan for the future. For example, you may opt to track your organization's assets using a next-year and five-year parameter or you could use five-year and ten-year parameters. When you set parameters for your system it allows you to see the current condition of each asset, as well as create a future plan for routine maintenance. Routine maintenance is critical for every organization; it helps you fix problems consistently, eliminating unnecessary expenses in the future.

Your asset management system uses the condition of your organization's equipment to help you determine the likelihood of failure. Once the likelihood of failure is determined, consequence of the risk is determined and displayed using a simple very low-to-very high rating system. This information helps you determine which issues need taken care of immediately and which problems can be resolved at a later date.

Knowing what your risks and consequences are lets you develop a solid risk management strategy. For example, for some assets it may be better to focus on preventing the risk by completely routine maintenance, but other assets might have issues that will cost more money to repair than it will to accept the risk and create a contingency plan to follow if and when the risk occurs.

Ultimately, it's up to you to determine the best type of risk management strategy for your organization's assets. However, using an asset management system puts all of the information you need to develop a solid plan right in front of you. Not only does this make your job easier and save you time, but it saves your organization money in the long run.