Table of contents for August - September 2017 - AWRE in Facility Management

Last week I attended one of the excellent CoreNet seminars where, among other issues on outsourcing, the idea of mandating ‘innovation’ in facility management contracts was discussed. There’s no doubt that being innovative is a great thing. Certainly, from the technology point of view, the pace of development and change in FM has possibly never been quicker. But is it really possible to demand innovation from a service provider and, if so, would clients be prepared to invest more to achieve this as part of any integrated offering? Showing a track record of innovation is a way for FM service providers to differentiate themselves in the market. But what does being innovative actually mean? Rather than necessarily being product-centred, is it more about the ability of facilities managers to adapt…

Electronic identity solutions company Vision- Box has announced it will deliver what it says is the world’s first automated ‘contactless’ traveller clearance process for Australia’s international airports. The Portugal headquartered company has won a three-year contract with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). This new project follows on from the work it started in 2015 with Australia’s ‘SmartGate’ biometric border control. Vision Box says this new contract will focus on ‘next gen’ automated border control to process passengers and assist the Australian Government in collecting and verifying biometric data from all passengers arriving at international airports here. The technology will also deliver a new capability to enable known travellers to self-process through the border without the need to use a passport – relying entirely on facial recognition. “This…

“There’s no doubt the professional building manager has evolved into becoming more of a contract manager,” he says. “Their role is to also source and manage a suite of contractors who provide the service to operate the building. The most successful operators will get their providers to share a vision of what the building should look like, feel like and operate to a tenant or a visitor. “The ANZ headquarters at Docklands is a good example. The building is designed to reflect a culture of openness and inclusion, and the building management team is responsible for delivering that, through engaging specialist providers. This could be anywhere between 50 and 60 packages, if you like, of deliverables. “We’re seeing long-term partnerships forming between facility managers and their core team of service…

Sustainability, by its very definition, is not the most proactive term. It implies a degree of maintenance or keeping things at the status quo. Forward-thinking companies, however, realise that to be true leaders in this space they need to be doing much more than simply avoiding being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources. More than just minimising our impact on our surroundings, there is now ample opportunity to actually improve the situation. After all, if you don’t give back more than you’re taking away, then you’re really not making a difference. And, even if you are making zero impact, others are still not behaving sustainably, so the net effect is still negative. To counteract this, and set an example of the positive results that can ensue when companies…

The nature of property, with long decision gestation periods, needing significant capital expenditure and inflexible leasing arrangements, means portfolio planning is seldom done proactively. It is the norm for portfolio decisions to be driven by events such as lease expiry dates, business mergers and sudden changes in business needs. But in this connected age, portfolio planning can now challenge traditional industry dogmas. As smart buildings emerge with ubiquitous sensors and monitoring via the Internet of Things (IoT), multifunctional building systems are being integrated, interrogated and analysed, all linked directly to business operating systems. ‘Big data’ diagnostics is enabling the analysis of building efficiency, use patterns and occupier comfort, including space utilisation, indoor air quality, daylight measures, acoustic, water consumption and building services performance. Maintenance and servicing are optimised and managed…

BILLI’S ADRIAN VAN RAAY Adrian is a service technician at Billi, with 19 years’ experience. ASSA ABLOY’S DAVID WARD David is a business development manager at ASSA ABLOY and has more than 15 years’ experience in security management and access control services. HUMANSCALE’S PETE STACEY Pete is the country manager Australia and New Zealand for Humanscale and has worked for the company for 14 years, four years in the UK and 10 in Australia.…

When he gets the chance to unwind, John Corbett says there’s nothing like the feeling of freedom when he hits the road on his prized KTM 950 Adventure motorbike. The head of Workplace Resources for Cisco in the Asia- Pacific and Japan, Corbett has a huge territory and an even bigger remit – optimising the value derived from Cisco’s facilities throughout the region, while continuing to capture employee hearts and minds. Simply, he wants the Cisco team to love where they work. With the role entailing sporadic travel, it’s no wonder that he still loves to ‘get away from it all’, relishing the opportunity to take to the open road. “My first ambition was to be a motorcycle mechanic,” he recalls, laughing. “Like any youngster looking for an adrenaline rush,…

Before any work is undertaken, certain agreements and processes need to be put in place. By following a set process, nothing gets overlooked, jobs are completed satisfactorily, on time and on budget. And if there are any outstanding issues, these can be addressed appropriately. The preferred process for a Billi technician servicing boiling/chilled and sparkling water systems is as follows: • An agreement is made with the appropriate facility manager that we will handle work on their site or sites. • The information required for the H&S (Health and Safety) requirements is collated. This will include inductions, SWMS (SafeWork Method Statements) and JSA (Job Safety Analysis) etc. • If online inductions are required, all relevant technicians will be provided with a link to complete their induction following company registration. •…

Lighting is an essential element in an urban setting, accounting for 15 percent of the world’s electricity demands. It is a vital component of a city’s urban development strategy, offering improved visibility and aesthetic appeal, and providing an increased sense of safety and security. New lighting technologies are shaping the future of the lighting industry – there has been a noted increase in demand for smart lighting solutions across the world. According to a report by Global Industry Analysts, the global smart lighting market is projected to exceed US$47 billion by 2020. The transition to LED lighting and energy efficient technologies has paved the way for the rapid adoption of smart lighting solutions. It is estimated that councils in Australia spend about $400 million each year on street lighting and…

Failure of power, heating and cooling systems to support the critical functions that hospital facilities deliver can have disastrous consequences. Unavailability of power could mean that the hospital cannot provide critical life support functions and failure of heating and cooling systems could increase the risk of the spread of infectious diseases. If power is unavailable to the facility, a range of services provided by clinical activities, emergency surgery, medical and building equipment are affected – compromising the healthcare of patients. Even if emergency power is available after mains supply power has failed, it may still not be enough to satisfy the present load requirements of the facility. The healthcare of patients is also compromised if cooling and heating systems fail. This could result from incapacity to meet demand, perhaps due…

With growing urban populations, building design is definitely looking to the future. Smart buildings, incorporating tomorrow’s technology, are soaring up with heights that maximise net lettable areas and increase numbers of occupants. In these buildings, as well as existing facilities, there is an enormous amount of pressure on facilities plant and teams. From the perspective of the facility manager, there is a significant number of cost saving opportunities; progressively, fixtures and fittings within facilities provide an opportunity for managers to fully maximise their budget in investments, while keeping a firm track on the bottom line. However, managers are required to ensure the correct plant and equipment is specified, to ensure it provides energy and water efficiency, offers savings and enhances performance of its operating life. Facilities are built to last…

Now living in Pennant Hills, in Sydney’s northern suburbs, the Corbett family, which includes his two children aged seven and 11, is also involved in local rugby. “My son plays rugby so union has become our sport of choice, although I do record the motocross and supercross bikes to watch when I can. “Given I’ve been here so long, I’m a fond supporter of Australian sport, but my allegiances do tend to swing a bit. I have to admit when I lived in South Africa I was into more sport than now. The time zone in Australia is challenging for me to watch the Grand Prix and other events I used to follow religiously.” Corbett says he prefers to spend as much time as he can on the weekends at…

In July 2017, the Australian media was awash with coverage of yet another foiled attempt to harm citizens in a planned terror attack. This time, the target was a flight out of Sydney, with the plotters reportedly very close to carrying out their plan to smuggle an explosive device onto an aeroplane in their hand luggage. This is not the first time such reports have circulated. A few short months ago, a Melbourne teenager was arrested and sentenced to 14 years (originally 10, with four more added on appeal) for planning to commit an attack on Anzac Day. Despite these repeated successful interventions by Australian law enforcement agencies, there are many who believe it is only a matter of time before Australia experiences an attack similar to the recent atrocities…

Hot desking was a great introduction to ABW, but although it was effective for fund managers and banks, it has been unsuccessful for businesses requiring a team environment, such as the design industry, which requires specific spaces for specific tasks. Right now, the recently introduced WELL Building Standard by the International WELL Building Institute is driving change in the commercial office. Holistic by nature, it addresses behaviour, operations and design, enabling green building practitioners to measure building attributes such as air, water, light, comfort and mind, to create healthier working environments for employees and increased productivity. This focus on evidence-based design has already been adopted by businesses such as Macquarie Bank, Mirvac and Lendlease. Biophilic design is also a tool to boost productivity, where a sensory experience is created by…

When talking to business leaders about building trust, one of the questions I get asked is: how do you build trust quickly when it takes time and energy? And it’s a valid point. After all, most managers struggle with day-to-day demands and find little time to work on their goals, let alone build trust with their team members. Yet, when you scratch under the surface, you will find that most leaders are constantly fixing people and customer issues. The irony is that underpinning both these challenges are trust problems. Trust is at the heart of every relationship, every interaction and every transaction. Build trust quickly and it improves business results (and reduces stress levels). All managers need to do is create an environment where trust thrives and all the frustrating…

Marcus chinked his glass against Harry’s. “Cheers!” It was a warm evening and the cold beers were quenching. “Mmm, not bad, Harry. Thanks.” “My pleasure.” “So, how’ve you been since we last spoke? How’s all that change going?” Harry leaned back and eyed Marcus. “Shortest five weeks I’ve ever known!” He grinned. “How about you – who takes five weeks off these days anyway?” “Those who’ve planned their time well and have successfully finished all their commitments – in that plan – before they go away for five weeks.” “You would say that, Marcus!” “Why wouldn’t I? If one of my clients asks me how he or she could take five weeks off, I’d have to prove it could be done.” Marcus finished his schooner. “No point giving advice if…

DEFINITIONS BUILDING AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Web-based maintenance management applications. COMPUTERISED MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (CMMS) Used to monitor equipment performance and enhance the efficiency of maintenance operations. DATA COLLECTION AND LIFE CYCLE PLANNING SOFTWARE Collection and life cycle planning software used to build comprehensive data for asset portfolios for building managers and owners. ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT (EAM) SYSTEM Enables holistic control and optimisation of enterprise assets. INTEGRATED WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (IWMS) Support for the tactical tools in computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) solutions and strategic planning. JOB MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Software products that help companies manage off-site workers and the resources they require to do their jobs efficiently. PROCUREMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS Automation of the processes of purchasing materials and goods inventory maintenance. BUILDING AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Advances in Building Automation www.konex.net.au…