Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/255499
knowledge builders knowledge builders knowledge builders knowledge builders I vividly remember the day in my undergraduate experience when I was first introduced to the concepts of W. Edwards Deming. In the black- and-white film we watched, he sat on a stage in a chair, chain smoking and carrying on about his "Plan, Do, Check, Act," theory. I was completely fascinated by him and his management concepts. I spent months searching for every bit of information I could find on him. Did you know he was not only an engineer, but he also played the flute and drums, and composed music throughout his life? THE LIGHT BULB COMES ON There are strands of Deming theory woven throughout APPA educational offerings. In the Supervisor's Toolkit participants work through the Red Bead Game, learning the importance of exam- ining the processes utilized in day-to-day operations. They are given a process, then go through many hypothetical work days on which they change their moti- vational methods but never the process. The outcome never changes. I absolutely love facilitating this exercise because you can see the light bulb come on, as participants compare the game to their day-to-day management efforts, re- alizing that success is multi-faceted. The aspect of human nature and motivation is important, but it has to be coupled with measurement and continuous review and improvement of the process. FPIA BENCHMARKING TOOL APPA is not immune to this process. To that end, I have been tasked with leading the group responsible for look- ing at the Facilities Performance Indica- tors (FPI) survey. The FPI survey allows institutions to assess, measure, and then lead their insti- tutions to successful operation through benchmarking key performance indica- tors with hundreds of other institutions. FPI empowers the educational facilities professional with the vital data, statistical references, and reporting tools needed to measure operations and performance, identify capital asset realities, and lead a successful facilities strategy that supports the institution's mission and vision. A group of FPI users has been as- sembled to address the continuous im- provement of the FPI Survey. Members include: Jack Hug, retired; Art Jones, Black Hills State University; Jeri King, University of Iowa; Maggie Kinna- man, retired; Dan Leslie, retired; Rolly Maelwas, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology; Tim McDonald, University of Alberta; Steve Peary, University of Vermont; Rob Quirk, retired; and Al Stoverink, Arkansas State University. The initial focus of the group has been on three main areas: Total Cost of Own- ership (TCO); the "Other" category in Module 4A; and the Energy and Sustain- ability Assessment Tool (ESAT). FOCUS GROUPS TCO is an extremely detailed concept. Doug Christensen has been working on a TCO beta research project that will even- tually lead to the implementation of a de- tailed section in the FPI. This will allow users to look at individual buildings and individual systems within those buildings to identify construction, maintenance, operation, remodel, and demolition costs. The end product is an average TCO by building type that can be used for budget- ing purposes over the life of the building. To prepare FPI users for this new tool, the survey currently uses existing data input to compile an overall TCO. The group is looking at the existing formula to increase the accuracy of that data point without requiring additional input from the survey participant. The "Other" category in Module 4A of the Survey allows participants to include any costs that are not related to the typical facility related functions. This category is utilized for things like public safety, fleet management, sustainability, "In God we trust, all others must bring data." —W. Edwards Deming By Lindsay Wagner, MA, LEED AP, CEM, CEFP 52 | january/february 2014 | Facilities Manager