What drives the process for when to replace UPS batteries?
I want there to be a place where we can share our processes and learn from each other. This is the first of (hopefully) many discussions exploring a topic of interest. Please share your experiences and best practices with everyone in the comments section below! I have seen organizations change UPS batteries based upon several different factors. In my experience, some replace batteries on a set schedule, some upon a qualifying condition. Since batteries represent a significant investment, I think it’s reasonable to assume that we are all following some process for making this costly decision. What criteria or process do you use to determine when to replace all the batteries in a string/UPS, and why? (Editor’s Note: Comments will be moderated and posted as quickly as...
Read MoreThe most missed component in training — understanding
Most training programs teach the basic knowledge required to do the job. Students are basically put in a classroom where someone pontificates on the benefits of whatever piece of equipment is being reviewed, the design of the system and what it does, and the basics of how to start it up, shut it down, and make operational adjustments. A good training program provides time to learn the skills to do the job. Students are required to work in a lab-type environment or given on-the-job training. They get to work with and actually operate the system or use a simulator. They are taught procedure, encouraged to ask questions and, more importantly, given time to practice and perfect new skills. A great training program goes to an entirely different level, giving students an opportunity to understand why things operate the way they do. The instruction incorporates an understanding of the design, including the physics or chemistry of the process. Students are taught what makes the equipment or system effective and efficient, how it is affected by changes in the environment, and the concepts behind the operational parameters that affect safety....
Read MoreReliability in mission critical facilities – the big secret about what I do
I get asked about what companies should do to increase the reliability of their mission critical facilities all the time, and my answer is usually the same. With 60 to 80 percent of the incidents or outages being caused by human error or omission, I would put my money where I could get the biggest bang for the buck … the people. Simple change – tremendous impact We live in a world where engineering solutions can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, but some of the greatest impacts to reliability require just the price of changing our values about our jobs. By ensuring that everyone on the facilities operations team has the personal value of risk mitigation, we reevaluate our behaviors, our situations, and where we spend our resources. Instead of rushing to get things done or checking off boxes, we consider the consequences of our actions, the situations we face, and the data available to us to ensure that we are taking the path of least risk....
Read MoreUnderstanding organizational values and hiring of management
In my last blog (Hiring a Facilities Manager), I mentioned that it is important for a candidate’s values to align with an organization’s values if the candidate is to be successful in their new position. In fact, this attribute, more than any other, dictates whether they can be successful in an organization or not. What makes alignment of values more important in the hiring process than knowledge, skill, and experience? Values form the basis of everyday decisions Every day, managers and leaders make decisions. It is one of the critical aspects of the position of manager or leader. During the hiring process, we specifically look for the ability to analyze whatever is necessary to support good decisions, but what is the basis upon which those decisions will ultimately be made? The values of the individual making the decision will dictate the outcome of the decision. You see, we make decisions based upon our values and beliefs, and we do analysis to determine what decisions will align with those values. In a sense, the decisions we make must support our personal values and beliefs, or the conflict that arises will eventually create insurmountable tension. What can result is a situation where a good decision for the organization may conflict with the manager’s values and beliefs....
Read MoreHiring a facilities manager
Tradition may dictate that the best technician or the most senior person in your organization be promoted into supervisory or managerial positions, but this practice may not always be the best choice in reality. Yes, the best technician or most senior person most likely demonstrates some of the technical knowledge and skill that would be required of anyone filling the role of facilities manager. But the fact is that if you don’t look for these other important traits when you make the hire, your facilities manager will likely fail – or at least fail to be as successful as they need to be. In The Crucial Role Of The Facilities Manager In Mission Critical Environments, I discussed what to look for when hiring a facilities manager (or any member of the facilities management team, for that matter) but how do you know which candidates actually embrace these qualities? To answer this question, we must take an honest look at some of the most important traits for success in the position:...
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