PSIwebware Blog

PSIwebware helps you run your buildings better.

Archive for August, 2009

CMMS Software Implementation

Friday, August 28th, 2009

Many corporations are looking to their software provider or consultants to handle the implementation process of their facility maintenance software.  This is the fastest way to get their software up and running.

It is important to select CMMS Software that is customizable or one that offers enhancement modules for program expansion once you get the system running.  This will allow flexibility for users to adapt and learn the software before expanding to a more complex version.

Implementation requires a naming system to be set up for your equipment and preventive maintenance tasks.  When setting up your equipment naming system, remember to make it simple and meaningful so everyone in your facility will be able to recognize it.

The next step for implementation would include the entry of inventory data.  Facility Supervisors should take an active part while training users of their CMMS system and the maintenance department should understand the system well before switching entirely to the new system.

Everyone plays a vital role in making the system work.  To get the most from your new tool, it should be used on a daily basis and updated to increase efficiency and accountability.

What is CIMS and How Can It Help You?

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

CIMS stands for the Cleaning Industry Management Standard, which was developed by ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association and the AICS – the American Institute for Cleaning Sciences.  It was created as a consensus-based process taking requirements from the cleaning, facilities management, and purchasing areas.

If a company is CIMS compliant, that means they are structured to deliver consistent quality cleaning services to their customer.  A CIMS compliant company has met comprehensive standards with their systems, processes, and documentation. There is no better measurement or benchmark of excellence with which to evaluate an organization today.

Preparing for CIMS helps companies become more organized, and gives them the opportunity to look at all of their business processes at once, seeing all of the connections perhaps for the first time.  The real benefit is higher levels of consistency in everything that is done within the organization, which leads to better service and lower costs.

One of the challenges of CIMS certification is having active systems in place to ensure everything goes as planned and that there is adequate documentation to prove it.  Companies turn to Janitorial Software to help them stay organized, even as staff changes, and provide the level of control they need to achieve their objectives.

Save Time and Money with Web-Based CMMS Software

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Everyone these days is expected to be everywhere all the time!  Using the internet, we can stay connected, which is why web-based software is so popular.

Save Time

One of the largest time savings for management staff is notifications.  They don’t have to chase after answers anymore, because their CMMS Software tells them about important issues they need to know.  This is accomplished by actively tracking work performance live, which can prove work was completed while understanding employee performance much better.

Since most employees are familiar with using the internet, they usually don’t require as much training.  You staff can even be trained over the Internet, saving them considerable time and saving you money.

Save Money

No additional hardware or software needs to be purchased or installed.  The only requirement is a web browser and internet connection, which is standard for most computers.

The technology is more universal and upgrades are available, usually as part of the service – which means Free!  Maintenance and development are also easier and cheaper as problems are identified and fixed remotely, speeding up the process.

Make Your Job Easier

Web-based software can be used from anywhere, whether you’re working from home, at a client’s office, or on the road using mobile technology such as your cell phone.

You can manage your operations without being in there, which saves you time and money.

Barcoding Saves Time & Money

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

In today’s fast moving facilities, keeping track of Employees, Quality, and Inventory is a time consuming process.  Plus, there are significant challenges verifying the accuracy of that information.

Barcoding your facility can increase your organizational capabilities when combined with CMMS Software or Janitorial Business Software to help your team track performance and make smart decisions.

Employee

Using barcodes, you can easily verify work performed by your janitorial and maintenance staff.  You will know when a task begins and ends, plus who did the work.  You can also determine the travel time between tasks to better understand route schedules and employee efficiency.

Verifying work performance will help you provide better training procedures and cut down costs.  Many Facility Mangers are responsible for multiple buildings.  By knowing the time it takes for employees to get to different buildings, you can optimize route schedules by reducing travel time to cut labor and fuel costs.

Quality

Facility Managers are asked difficult quality questions.  Was the inspector actually there?  What exactly are you inspecting?  Was that the correct area to inspect?

If you use barcodes with CMMS Software or Janitorial Business Software, you can easily answer those questions.  Mobile devices will time stamp inspections and automatically display the exact location & inspection criteria for the Inspector. Whether it is an inspection based on cleanable items in a room or check points for a piece of equipment, mobile devices with barcode capabilities will save inspection time, provide more accurate inspections, and verify inspection performance.

Inventory

Many facilities are affected by limited space, supply shrinkage, and heavy consumption.  Inventory management systems that use barcodes will provide accurate and timely information to assist you in managing those issues.  You will be able to track consumption, understand usage patterns, and better control supply shrinkage problems.

You will have alerts when inventory falls below minimum set points, and be able to track equipment location accurately to stop guessing where it went.

All of this adds up to saving management and labor time, which gives your team time to focus on making money in your facility.

7 Steps to Providing Remarkable Customer Service

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Researchers say an unhappy customer will tell an average of ten people about their bad experience.  Usually twelve percent of them tell up to twenty people.

A satisfied customer will tell about five people about their positive experience.   This means bad news spreads a whole lot faster than good news.

Great service strengthens customer satisfaction and can turn ordinary clients into long-term clients.  Here are a few ways to increase your customer satisfaction:

  1. Be Accountable – effectively use good Maintenance Management Software or Cleaning Business Software to track work performance and client requests.
  2. Listen to your Customers – be knowledgeable and work to help them find solutions
  3. Be Dedicated – follow up consistently to meet their needs 
  4. Be Respectful – even when they may frustrate you
  5. Go Above and Beyond – don’t just focus on immediate profit, give them more than they expect
  6. Be Genuine and Personalized – take time to customize all correspondence, whether they are notes, emails, or letters 
  7. Show them you Care – Throw in something extra, whether its additional info on the use of a product or a genuine smile.  Make sure they feel appreciated.

The experience of a customer is affected every day you provide service.  A satisfied client will provide positive feedback, help you make more money, and even help you get new clients.

LEED Credit for Innovations in Design (ID 1-1.4)

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Building operators and team projects have the opportunity to be awarded points for exceptional performance through technological strategies.  The LEED for New Construction Green Building Rating System encourages strategies for measureable environment and health benefits through technological innovations.

There are two innovation strategies that qualify under the LEED standards:

A project that incorporates energy efficiency measures and demonstrates performance improvements for environmental benefits.  These credits are awarded for achieving percentage change in existing building maintenance.

An innovation credit can be attained with a Building Operations Plan.  This would include an operating plan which identifies all space uses, occupancy types in the building, and conditions required in the spaces.  There would be documentation of schedules for all occupants of the building, whether they are a full time occupant or part time.  The mode of operation provides indoor scheduling for the employees occupied and unoccupied or day versus night scheduling. 

The Building Operations Plan summary would give a report of the systems installed in the building, for example:  space heating, space cooling, ventilation and humidification.

The documents submitted to USGBC must include narrative submittal of credit requirements, projects approach to achievement, description of quantifiable environmental benefits, and copies of the reports.

Using either strategy, the results of the project or plan need to be tracked to demonstrate value was achieved.  Companies of all sizes use Facility Maintenance Software to keep them on track and to document their performance.

LEED Management

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Many companies are working to find solutions to control energy usage and at the same time become environmentally friendly.

The LEED Green Building Rating System for Building Operations and Maintenance sets standards for certifying existing commercial and institutional buildings.  The intent promotes high performance, affordable, and environmentally sound practices in existing buildings.

Facility Managers are using Facility Maintenance Software to implement sustainable operations and maintenance practices to reduce the environmental impact of their buildings.

Facility Maintenance Software can help you obtain LEED credits for:  sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in operations.

Other Sustainable Maintenance Benefits:

  1. Web based systems significantly eliminate paper consumption.
  2. Routine Preventive Maintenance improves indoor environmental quality by replacing filters regularly, checking ducts, and ensuring that the building is properly load balanced.
  3. Repairs are done faster and problems are solved more quickly and efficiently.
  4. Preventive Maintenance Improves Asset Life, reducing waste and improving energy efficiency.
  5. Good operation and maintenance practices can reduce total energy usage by up to 50%.

All buildings are eligible for LEED certification including:  offices, retail and service establishments, institutional buildings, libraries, schools, museums, churches, and hotels.