During my last twenty-some years in the facility maintenance industry, I can look back at a handful of special moments where I received a gift. Now I’m not referring to a nicely-wrapped package with a bow, but the type of gift that is often overlooked— knowledge. The uniqueness of this gift is that it’s everywhere, but it can only be received when we allow ourselves to be open. Chances are, most of your professional achievements and advancement can be related to the acquisition and practical application of your knowledge. How many times have you come across an individual whose knowledge and passion for self-improvement can transform your perspective or alter the way you process information? Throughout our lives, most of us can usually think of a few individuals who had a significant impact on our growth, personally and professionally. I can remember my first meeting with Al Tierney well. He greeted me in their corporate lobby and brought me into a large, glass-walled conference room. As owner of a medium-sized national facility services company, I was excited about the prospects of working for this company and what a positive impact this could have on my business. During our meeting, Al was providing an overview on department expectations and the principles on which their programs were founded. Through his measured and engaging delivery, Al explained how every component of their locations was managed as well as the management structure in place to support their efforts. This was the most detailed and logical program I had been exposed to date, and there was a moment when I thought, This makes perfect sense; why doesn’t everyone build programs this complete and well thought out? After the meeting, Al took me to his desk and gave me two articles on facility management programs he had written almost five years earlier for an industry publication. These articles tied in to the vision discussed during our meeting. As I looked at the publishing date on his articles, I was convinced this man was a visionary, a man operating ahead of his peers. I left the meeting more excited about the depth of knowledge I had just discovered and the open invitation to learn more than I was about the revenue for my business. During the months and years that followed, there were many more lessons of the critical components of successful facility management programs. Al had a way of always tying the components into the master strategy of the program in play, a symphony of information that I had not yet been exposed to—and I was all ears. There were several recurring themes along the way, but the main theme continually placed emphasis on the importance of predictive and preventive maintenance programs and the associated benefits. With a qualified director or manager, these programs can provide considerable savings, predictable expenses (for many years ahead), and operational efficiencies. Not to be overlooked is the importance of building top—and middle-level management support as the pieces of these programs are developed and strategically pieced together. Having internal management as an ally is key to the life of the program, and not many understand or have more experience in how to navigate this than Al Tierney. Al has successfully built two such programs at large national companies over the last thirty years. Many of the principles detailed in this book will be of great benefit to the reader. Whether applied in current or future positions, the lessons contained are a key piece of knowledge that will benefit facility professionals throughout their career. Many who will read this may be just getting started or have successful careers. However, you all share a common goal—knowledge. In closing, I hope readers enjoy the detail provided and are open to receiving a gift from a passionate professional who can always be depended upon, Al Tierney. Peter Mohrhauser CEO, Ascential Corporation
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:56:04 +0000
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