What surveys reveal.............

We are currently engaged in the provision of several hundred asset surveys for a contractor with a new public sector FM contract. Although the purpose of the survey is to populate the contractors CAFM system, the surveys reveal more..........................

It's striking to note the significant difference in the quality of the assets within the portfolio. In a typical example, three properties with similar function, age, and size, have boilers and associated plant that are approximately ten, twenty and thirty years old respectively.

Furthermore, the property with the oldest plant has newly installed light wells as well as modern reception and catering facilities; neither of the other two properties has received this level of investment.

This haphazard approach suggests three things;

1- Capital spend is partially a product of stakeholder demand

2- There is no asset management approach

3- There is no life cycle maintenance plan

The result is a portfolio with disparate maintenance requirements and differing accommodation standards for its users.

The takeaway? A robust maintenance strategy with an asset management approach is critical to ensuring portfolio consistency, maintainability and value.