Often facilities managers will address problems as they arise, what we in the industry call, “run-to-failure” operations. But what if you could set a plan for your buildings’ upkeep and maintenance well before it becomes a crisis? This is where SMART goals show their utility.

SMART goals are specially designed goals geared for success. The acronym represents, “Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Framed.”

SMART goals are applied often set for personal goals such as losing weight or getting out of debt, but the principles can easily be transferred to the facility management world. Here are three examples of SMART goals that Technical Assurance recommends you make for your facilities.

SMART Goal 1: Perform a Condition Assessment on the Facility Portfolio

When were your facilities’ building enclosure last assessed? Assessments provide quantitative and qualitative data that provide a condition health baseline for buildings and specific system assets. That data can then be analyzed to determine the best course of actions when dealing with issues.

Specific: This is the time to ask questions and verify what you want accomplished and determine what specific part(s) of your building envelop need a professional assessment. This process may reveal defects and issues that will help narrow down what maintenance, repairs, restorations and/or replacements needs to be done and why. Is there a reoccurring leak or defect that needs further investigation, or do you need to implement a quality preventative maintenance program?

Technical Assurance’s building envelope assessment team provides an un-biased, scientific approach. For more reasons to hire a building envelope consultant visit “7 Reasons to Hire a Building Envelope Consultant.”

Measured: Assessments by their very nature are a measurement of the building’s, and the individual building system(s), condition. Technical Assurance provides our clients with system data that serves as a baseline, and KPI metrics to improve upon throughout a management program.

Technical Assurance uses a scientific and repeatable method for collecting defect and condition data to provide a baseline, which allows for the performance of necessary repairs and maintenance to improve the system condition. Qualitative data includes the general condition of the roof, the location of the leak and more. Quantitative data includes the quantity of defects, the opinions of probable costs of necessary repairs, maintenance, restoration and/or replacement options. In the assessments, a condition of an asset is given a score from 0 (failed) to 100 (excellent), paving the way for an easy to understand, numbers-based approach.

Achievable: Making sure your goal is achievable is a great way to see it through to the end, but one requirement is having the right people for the task. Engaging a client-focused building envelope consultants for a condition assessment ensure that an unbiased, third-party approach is provided. Furthermore, it sets into motion a plan for achieving future goals outlined in a 1-, 5- or 10-year plan. Assessments can be done for short-term emergencies or long-term sustainability. Technical Assurance provides the condition assessment data, but we also focus on extending the life cycle of the asset. Achieving this goal allows the client to focus on prolonged performance from their building envelope assets. Technical Assurance can consult and develop a repair and maintenance plan alongside the client.

Realistic: Realistic and practical, assessments are a wise investment into the well-being of your facilities. As noted, a building envelope specialist provides a report that details any issue(s). They allow you to know the exact condition of the building. That kind of knowledge is practical for a short and long-term plan of action to extend the life of your assets. Evidence has shown that investing in a long-term plan will not only make your facilities last longer, but it also saves you money. For more information on how savings occur, check out our article, “4 Critical Facility Asset Metrics.”

Time-Framed: Condition assessments can be performed year-round (weather dependent). However, it is common for biannual assessments to be performed in the spring and fall in order to be prepared for the upcoming seasonal changes.

SMART Goal 2: Prioritizing with a Programmatic Approach

A second SMART goal would be to take the information gathered in the assessments and prioritize any ensuing projects. Pivot from the run-to-failure model and instead maximize your buildings’ useful service life with a specific plan of action that focuses on extending the life of the asset(s). Here’s why operating from a programmatic approach is a SMART goal.

Prioritizing specific issues provides a level of control that run-to-failure model inherently negates. Areas of concern can be addressed one at a time, simultaneously or in the future. But taking the initiative to choose when and which projects get completed is a strategic value.

The measurability of prioritizing depends on the individual projects. The assessments provide a base point of your facilities and the expected life remaining, and the programmatic approach to managing the assets moving forward allows you to measure the extended life cycle of the asset. Technical Assurance’s unique ON-PNT system is perfect for providing easy-to-access quantitative data on your facilities. Check out more information on the benefits ON-PNT provides.

Prioritizing is achievable with the appropriate shift in mindset. If continuing on the run-to-failure model, this idea may sound difficult, especially when the crisis at-hand is the priority. Shifting your approach creates a framework for setting achievable goals, such as life cycle extension, lower costs of ownership and reducing the deferred maintenance backlog. From the programmatic approach, it is easier to think long-term allowing you to proceed with data to make the best decisions, financially and pragmatically. For examples on how a run-to-failure model hurts your budget, FacilitiesNet breaks down the “5 Hidden Costs of Deferring Maintenance.”

Prioritizing is all about being realistic, setting the most important tasks to be accomplished first. With the programmatic approach, the goal is to lower the total cost of ownership and save the client money. For example, a 10-year sustainable life cycle management program will:

• Reduce your overall spend by 10–12%
• Reduce your total cost of ownership by 25%
• Reduce your deferred backlog by 30%

Triaging projects on a year-by-year timeframe prioritizes tasks based on their objective condition and mission dependency.  Technical Assurance works with clients to triage projects based on these indices and a yearly budget. Removing the subjectivity out of a project planning allows the client to remain focused on the goals of the asset management program.

Contact Us Today!

Technical Assurance can help in assessing, prioritizing or tackling your backlog. Contact us today for a consultation and assure that your investment lasts well into the future.