Table of contents for April - May 2017 - TFX Issue in Facility Management

In another life, I was asked by a magazine editor to help them find someone to profile for their publication. They were extremely keen to find a woman to feature, having had their fill of pictures of men in suits. I’m ashamed to admit I couldn’t help them. It got me thinking about diversity in the workplace; statistics from the Federal Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency show women make up 46.2 percent of the total Australian workforce. There’s no clear reason that we should struggle to find women to promote. While there are no statistics for facility management available, there is a movement to foster greater diversity in the leadership ranks in our industry and, more widely, throughout the property sector. The Property Council of Australia’s Male Champions of Change…

A clean pair of hands Commercial tissue and paper products manufacturer Solaris Paper has expanded its hygiene range under the Livi brand with a soap and sanitiser system and an air freshener. Designed to be aesthetically neutral and encourage reduced water consumption, the soap and sanitiser system also aims to drive down costs, with a controlled and interchangeable delivery solution. The dispenser accepts a range of six Livi handcare pods and each 1000ml foam refill offers up to 2000 hand washes. The range offers products that are specific for different workplace requirements. The products also have Good Environmental Choice Australia certification. The Oxy-gen air freshener system uses oxygen to deliver continuous odour neutralisation. There are seven products in the range that have different intensities of fragrance to suit recommended locations,…

The Property Council of Australia established a Male Champions of Change (MCC) group for the sector in 2015 with its members committed to increasing gender equality with a focus on leadership, talent development, public advocacy and accountability. Assisted by major accounting firm EY, focus group research was conducted on the state of play in the property sector and it found a number of ‘critical enablers’ were needed, particularly more senior leaders who genuinely understand, embody and advocate for gender diversity, as well as organisations that measure gender balance across all levels of their business, and hold managers accountable for the numbers in their teams. The Property MCC released its commitment report in mid 2016. While this data is for the property sector in general, it has parallels for the FM industry.…

As an industry that is by its very nature conservative and risk averse, security has to be wary before rushing to adopt the latest technologies and innovations before they have been tried and tested in the field. Concurrently, as existing systems and outdated technology become increasingly unable to accommodate the greater demands made on them in a time of heightened global restrictions, some businesses find themselves forced to compromise on security – as the costs of expanding their systems prove prohibitive. But this no longer needs to be an issue. Innovation in wireless access control and the introduction of multi-platform readers mean that not only is the technology used to upgrade existing systems much more cost-effective for end users, but it’s also gaining ever-increasing consumer confidence due to its reliability…

My business partner Cat Harding and I met with the head of facilities for a large national business recently; let’s call her Fiona. We got to discussing how her role had evolved over the past few years to focus more heavily on sustainability and social responsibilities. The logistics and reach of Fiona’s company are complex to say the least – but its attitude and commitment to these goals is highly admirable. Once a slow moving cornerstone of the Australian business scene, it had now baked sustainability and social responsibility into every layer of its operation. It recognised this was a necessity to ensure the business continued to meet the changing expectations of its employees and customers. It got me thinking… the responsibilities of facilities managers have evolved with a great…

Is your workplace healthy? Is it a place where policies and procedures are in place to ensure that the risk of physical injury is minimised? Is it a place that offers free lunchtime sessions on healthy nutrition and discounted gym memberships? While these are all highly valuable, a healthy workplace is one that provides complete health, safety and well-being for everyone and that includes care of their physical, mental and brain health requirements. WHY BRAIN FITNESS? Brain fitness is a relatively new concept in the business world. Having a healthy brain makes everything work better. We already have a far better understanding of what the human brain is potentially capable of, how it best likes to operate and what really works to boost performance. This knowledge has arrived at the…

Martin Leitch Martin is a prominent facilities management (FM) professional focused on working with inhouse facilities management teams to maximise their performance and to strengthen their position within their organisation. Martin is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), sits on the RICS Oceania Property Board and is a fellow of the British Institute of Facilities Management. Graham Constable Graham offers proven competence in strategic and operational FM and asset management. He has broad business experience gained over many years in leadership and consulting roles in the UK, Europe and Australia. Graham is co-chair of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) FM Consulting Council’s Global Strategic and Tactical Action Group representing Australia. The group is responsible for developing a series of webinars for the FM and business…

Logical Building Automation, in collaboration with BlinkMobile, will be hosting 12 insightful talks per day focusing on the benefits of automation for facility managers. These 15-minute power sessions are held in the Smart Buildings Hub next to Logical Building Automation’s stand, A36. All the sessions shown on the program below will be presented on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 March at Total Facilities. The Smart Buildings Hub will feature the following speakers: James Henry Executive Chairman Logical Building Automation Jeremy Cooke Managing Director Logical Building Automation Andy MacGregor General Manager Logical Building Automation Alan Williams Director, Chief Executive Officer BlinkMobile Darren Besgrove Director, Chief Operations Officer BlinkMobile SMART BUILDINGS HUB TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY 29 & THURSDAY 30 MARCH…

BILLI’S ADRIAN CUGNETTO Adrian is the marketing manager at Billi, with 13 years’ experience in product, category and brand management in the consumer goods industry. He previously held marketing roles at CNP Brands, Debco, Gale Pacific as well as brand and product manager roles at Whirlpool and Think Appliances. ASSA ABLOY’S DAVID WARD David Ward, business development manager for wireless access control at ASSA ABLOY Australia. PITNEY BOWES’ STEPHEN DARRACOTT Stephen is the general manager of Pitney Bowes SMB Australia and New Zealand. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC’S IRINA LINDQUIST Irina Lindquist is the Healthcare Solution Architect at Schneider Electric.…

At FSI APAC, we believe there needs to be an industry-wide, ‘big picture’ reappraisal of where we go next with CAFM (computer-aided facility management) technology and how we get there. Technology helped FM establish a position to realistically argue its worth as a business-critical management function. It can allow an organisation to maximise the value and life of assets and, increasingly, by delivering pleasant, efficient operating environments, help to contribute to employee, supplier and customer loyalty. One of the US must-have new tech gifts last Christmas was the voice-controlled Amazon Echo. Hard on the heels of Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana (with their touch-screen back-up environments), this Amazon device marks another major step forward in user experience and interface enhancement available to all, in their homes. Such domestic experiences raise…

Like many senior FM practitioners, Michael McCabe came to the profession by accident. Since 1985, he’s worked at one of South Australia’s most iconic buildings, the Adelaide Festival Centre, moving through the ranks to his current role as director of Venue Operations. “Honestly, facility management was something I fell into, but I’m certainly not unhappy about that because I really enjoy it,” he laughs. “Is it a career? I think it is; while I don’t have any formal training in FM, I know a lot of people I work and associate with in the industry that do. “I progressed through the ranks here, starting as a sound technician and then production coordination, looking after shows, then into production management. As personnel changed, my roles changed; I was certainly interested in…

Security isn’t the only element to bear in mind, however. Increasingly, OH&S issues require that facilities managers have a constant record of who is on the premises, exactly where they are in those premises, who they are visiting and what they are doing while they’re there. This applies to various facilities and organisations, but particularly schools, colleges and other educational facilities, government agencies, correctional facilities, corporations, hospitals and clinics, real estate management and event management. While there still are buildings and venues in these categories that rely on a good old-fashioned pen and sign-in book, most facilities now employ somewhat more sophisticated systems for tracking visitors and employee traffic. But even many contemporary systems can cause delays and confusion as visitors, unfamiliar with the system, struggle to navigate its user…

A forward-thinking preventative maintenance and replacement strategy is an important aspect to a building, not only to mitigate the risk of business continuity, but also to take advantage of opportunities – be they environmental, cost or reputation related. The age-old problem of facility managers doing far more, with much less, is as relevant as ever. Facility managers have to be far more creative to stretch their already limited budgets, reduce tenant complaints and get the most from existing systems within any building portfolio. They are often left alone to walk the extremely thin line associated with managing these costs, as well as now being required to think ‘green’ when amenities are in need of an upgrade. However, availability or lack of capital funding can be instrumental in preventing plumbing improvements,…

Mechanical services and building façades will need to protect occupants from potentially longer and more searing heat waves. With the new US Administration signalling a retreat from decisive action on climate change, what does a rapidly warming world imply for risks to facilities? Last year was recently confirmed as having the highest average global temperatures since reliable records began in the late 19th century, surpassing the previous record set in 2015 and the one before that in 2014. While propelled by an unusually strong El Niño event, the long-term trend is clear: we face a warming future. Climate change has been described as a threat multiplier. At one level, it takes existing risks, such as storm or flood damage, and increases either the expected frequency or intensity (or both) of…

Be aware of system issues – such as incentives and budgets – that create conflict, and champion getting them fixed within the organisation. One of the interesting paradoxes with businesses is that, as they grow, they lose their ability to work seamlessly and quickly with people from different internal departments. In your role as a facilities manager, being able to work together with teams and other business units is critically important for you to deliver an effective service. While you may enjoy working with employees from other business functions, it is highly likely that you will come up against other employees or unit leaders who view you as a pesky outsider. BEING OUT OF THE IN-GROUP Groups that have been working together for some time develop an in-group bias that…

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…

Speaker Series Sponsored by Logical Building Automation, this year’s free-to-attend Speaker Series will host 10 lively panel debates from world-renowned academics and thought leaders, offering provocative discussion and bold perspectives guaranteed to have you rethinking your approach to FM. Full Speaker Series program available on pages 18 and 19. Central Networking Lounge The Central Networking Lounge, sponsored by Enviroplus, will be the main hub of Total Facilities 2017, offering an informal networking space for visitors and exhibitors to meet and connect whether it’s to do business, catch up with peers or simply refuel while enjoying a cold drink. Future of Work Leadership Breakfast Open to select FM and workplace leaders, this intimate forum will feature award-winning academic and author Libby Sander, sharing her research to give insights into the shifts…

Energy Management Masterclass in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Energy management has emerged as a core competency for facility managers and at Total Facilities 2017 we are pleased to host, in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, a masterclass for FMs looking to implement sensible energy management practices. OEH has teamed up with the Facility Management Association of Australia (FMA) and the commercial building industry to develop a national set of energy management competencies that will equip facility managers for the future of the industry. Get a preview of the extensive training program that delivers these competencies by attending a specifically designed masterclass for Total Facilities attendees. Wednesday 29 March 1:30pm – 3:30pm Room 5.3 (Level 5) at the International Convention Centre Sydney,…

1300 RUBBISH B2 GPO BOX 2823 SYDNEY NSW 2001 1300 782 247 www.1300rubbish.com.au alec@1300rubbish.com.au 1300RUBBISH is an Australian-owned and operated Rubbish Removal Company. 1300 has been servicing Australians since 1994 in hands-on rubbish removal, e-waste pick-ups and recycling, office cardboard and general waste bin pick-ups, end of lease clean-ups and many more. There is no rubbish problem we can’t solve. ACCESS HARDWARE C32 3/5-9 RICKETTY STREET MASCOT NSW 2020 1800 555 600 www.accesshardware.com.au syd@accesshardware.com.au Access Hardware supplies architectural hardware and security solutions to the Australian construction industry. With a commitment to making hardware easy for our customers, our experienced staff can tailor a product solution to your commercial, residential or industrial needs at competitive rates. ACTIVDESK E38 FACTORY 9/7-11 RODEO DRIVE DANDENONG SOUTH VIC 3175 03 9706 9022 www.activdesk.com.au sales@activdesk.com.au…

Plastic water bottles are one of the great scourges of our time, when it comes to sustainability. Somewhere along the line, retailers managed to convince huge swathes of the population that water from the tap was not good enough and that they need to spend money on bottled water. This has clearly been a misguided development – both for individuals’ hip pockets and for the environment, which has to deal with the hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic bottles flooding the market. On top of this, white-and blue-collar workers across the planet are buying takeaway coffees and teas in paper cups, drinking their beverage and disposing of the drinking vessel. Often without a second thought. Again, it’s people’s bank balances and the environment that suffer the consequences. One sensible solution…

The healthcare sector in Australia has been long challenged by the need to improve efficiency, productivity and effectiveness in response to an increased demand from an ageing population and access to multidisciplinary quality service across the continuum of care – from acute to primary care and community care. In the context of significant budget pressures and funding constraints, the evolution of services under the National Healthcare Reform has seen implementation of patient-centric models of care, underpinned by remodelled processes and increased technology adoption. Similar to all other support services, the facility management (FM) service needs to be agile, flexible and aligned to the dynamic changes in the healthcare sector. Providing healthcare is the heart of all activity in the facility and its complexity and dynamic evolution drives changes in the…

FM: Why is there so much churn in organisations at the start of a year? Paul Findlay: Many Australian workers end the year short-fused, with their resilience falling and pessimism rising. In corporate and government organisations alike, it can be caused by change fatigue. For emergency and health workers, it can be the cumulative impact of regularly facing distressing situations. For others on the frontline of service delivery or customer engagement, constant knocks or unpleasant experiences can sap the will to bounce back into work. Relentless change challenges the resilience of these workers. They can get worn down and cynical or counterproductive in the face of restructuring and organisational redesign. With low resilience comes poor attitude, infectious negativity and absenteeism. It’s common for disengaged workers to return to work in…

All portfolios, whether owned or leased, need to be maintained to remain functional and fit-forpurpose supporting organisational productivity. The maintenance planning, implementation and management of the asset life cycle for the building fabric, finishes and building services includes: • responsive maintenance – being the corrective works initiated when issues arise such as service breakdowns, physical damage or urgent works required for reasons of health, safety or security • planned maintenance – including regular technical and statutory works aimed at retaining asset condition and required functionality or to meet statutory requirements, and • preventive maintenance works – based on the knowledge that a building element may be performing below standard or having imminent breakdowns to restore the asset to its optimal operating condition. In all forms of contracting, one aspect of…

Marcus looked at his watch. Then he saw Harry approaching. “So sorry to hold you up, Marcus.” “You’re OK.” He studied Harry. “How about everyone else?” Harry shook his head. “Is it that obvious?” “A little. I look for these things – as you know.” Harry invited Marcus. “Let’s talk in a minute – I have a small room booked.” The room was functional, enough for a small round table and two chairs. No natural light, no phone. They sat. “I was collared by one of my team. He told me he and some others wanted to talk about something important.” Harry raised his eyebrows. “He wasn’t pleased when I told him it would have to wait.” Marcus nodded – he knew there was discontent in Harry’s team. Harry changed…

The venue isn’t the only new feature visitors will experience at this year’s event, we’ve been working closely in collaboration with industry leaders to deliver exciting show highlights for our visitors, including 40-plus speakers in our education program, leadership breakfast, masterclasses, and venue tours, plus leading brands, suppliers and service providers exhibiting on the show floor. All elements are designed to provide tried and tested solutions to optimise the performance of your facility or workplace. I strongly recommend that you get in early for this year’s free Speaker Series which is the strongest yet and features foremost academics and thoughtleaders discussing some of the key themes shaping the FM and workplace industry. The calibre of speaker this year is truly outstanding and we would like to thank our partners and…

The Seminar Theatre, sponsored by Logical Building Automation, plays host to this year’s free-to-attend Speaker Series. New for 2017, the series comprises 10 lively panel discussions featuring industry-leading organisations such as Colliers International, University of Sydney, Jones Lang Lasalle, Norman Disney & Young, Schneider Electric and more. In the best speaker line-up yet, Total Facilities is proud to welcome world-renowned academics and thought leaders to the stage offering provocative discussion and bold perspectives, which will guarantee to have you rethinking your approach to FM. SEMINAR TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH STRATEGIC CONTENT PARTNERS: SEMINAR TIMETABLE THURSDAY 30 MARCH…

Kirsty Angerer Associate Ergonomist HUMANSCALE Kirsty is a specialist in workplace furniture and ergonomic program development, including ergonomic evaluations and training for managers and employees. Kirsty works with organisations to develop robust ergonomic programs that reduce employee discomfort and risk of injury, while lowering employer costs. Kirsty achieved her BSc Human Factors and Ergonomics (Honours) at Loughborough University, UK. Having worked for the past six years with a global client base from the UK, Europe and Middle East, Kirsty is now based in Sydney and brings her wealth of knowledge and experience to Australia and New Zealand. Roy Arindam VP Sales, Australia & New Zealand BUILDINGIQ Roy is BuildingIQ’s National Director of Business Development – Australia. He has more than 10 years of expertise in the intelligent buildings space. His…