June 23, 2014
This is Why Your District Needs School Facilities Management Software
Facility managers who are responsible for the management of educational facilities have it exceptionally tough. On top of the large number of moving assets you have to track and care for, there are also added safety concerns, as countless children roam the halls and playgrounds you maintain. If you manage an entire district, particularly in a large metro area, this task becomes increasingly difficult, as you have multiple facilities under your watch. There is one tool you can use, however, that can make your job a little easier, no matter how many schools you maintain: facilities management software.
Working within the reliability industry, you have no doubt heard of computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) and may even be aware of the many benefits it can bring to your maintenance program. However, there are some features of a CMMS that make it an exceptionally powerful tool for schools in particular.
School Districts Need Facilities Management Software
You hear it in the news constantly: School budgets are slashed, and special programs need to be cut. Budgeting is such a huge factor in educational systems, and as such, having a method to appropriately budget your department (and stay within that budget) is crucial.
A CMMS excels in this area. In fact, one of the main selling points of facility management software is its ability to help you stay in the black and cut back on unnecessary spending. When used properly, maintenance software can prevent over-ordering of spare parts and equipment via its asset tracking features.
Likewise, creating a preventative maintenance schedule will help prevent early machine death and breakdowns of critical systems like plumbing, boilers, and HVAC units.
On par with - and even part of - budgeting concerns is staffing efficiency. Issuing work orders to ensure that jobs are completed on time and properly is only a portion of your staffing responsibility. A CMMS not only allows you to perform this function but it lets you get a larger picture of your overall maintenance program as well, allowing you to identify weak points in your strategy and use your staff at its optimum capacity.
As mentioned before, safety is a crucial element of school facility management. Fixing issues in common areas (such as poor lighting in hallways and broken playground equipment) as quickly as possible will help prevent any accidents from occurring. Likewise, routine preventative maintenance and frequent, scheduled facility check-ups can prevent safety hazards from arising in the first place.
Finally, school districts can benefit from maintenance facility software because it will not only save your district money, but it will actually increase revenue, meaning you will have more funds to place where it matters most - back into the educational needs of the students.
So next time you have a school district meeting and the inevitable talks of budget cuts and restraints arise, be sure to bring up the many benefits of computerized maintenance management software (if your school system does not currently employ the use of a CMMS). Your students and teachers may not be aware of the favor you have done them, but sometimes, a good deed is its own reward!