Failing Fast: How a Disastrous Project Forged a Facilities Leader - Eric Beissner

Facility Rockstars

How do you effectively manage the complexities of facility operations for 1400 locations while fostering strong relationships and navigating unforeseen challenges?

Join host Jay Culbert as he speaks with Eric Beissner, Senior Facility Support Project Manager at EEG America, who shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience. Eric emphasizes that his biggest lesson learned is the necessity of being agile and understanding that not every situation is black and white, a realization cemented by an early project replacing safes. The discussion covers the critical strategies for communicating across a vast network of stores, highlighting a multi-layered approach, and delves into the importance of building robust partnerships with vendors through open communication and mutual respect.

Eric contrasts planned maintenance with reactive break-fix work, noting how planned efforts allow for more proactivity, even though emergencies remain a constant. He discusses utilizing systems like Service Channel and the innovative use of virtual coordinators based in the Philippines to manage workflow and ensure task completion across all locations. Eric also explains their training process for these remote team members, which includes leveraging tools like Loom AI for creating effective, personable training videos.

Takeaways:

• Be Prepared for Adaptation: In the world of facilities management, not everything is black and white. It's crucial to be agile and ready to adapt to constantly changing circumstances, such as new types of equipment, vendor services, and software advancements.
• Cultivate and Utilize Relationships: Building strong relationships with vendors, in-house staff, and other stakeholders is key. These relationships can help you get the support you need when projects hit unexpected snags and require urgent attention.
• Develop and Follow a Plan: Having a detailed project plan that accounts for different scenarios and store types can significantly help in managing large-scale rollouts and changes. Make sure every involved party understands the plan and their role in it.
• Leverage Technology: Use systems like Service Channel for automating work orders, scheduling, and tracking project progress. Additionally, creating and sharing training materials via tools like Loom AI can streamline processes and ensure consistency across the board.
• Effective Communication is Crucial: Communicate frequently and through multiple channels to ensure everyone involved is on the same page. This can include regional managers, district managers, and store managers. Frequent follow-ups and clearly outlined instructions can help avoid misunderstandings.
• Learn from Mistakes: Use past projects as learning experiences. Analyze what went wrong and what went well, and incorporate those lessons into future planning. For example, setbacks in a safe replacement project led to better planning and coordination in subsequent projects.
• Maintain Work-Life Balance: Facilities management can be demanding, but it's important to take time for yourself and pursue activities you enjoy outside of work. This can help reduce stress and improve overall job performance.

Quote of the Show:

• “If you put your nose to the grindstone and you take the time to learn and cultivate relationships, it doesn't matter how old you are or how long you've been in the industry, you can do some good here."

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-beissner-327a4b111/
• Website: https://www.eg-america.com/

Shoutouts:

• Rob Cox: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robjcox/

Ways to Tune In:

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• YouTube: https://youtu.be/mmCjVGfA6Vg
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Facility Rockstars is sponsored by Kaloutas, operating the way you operate in order to make your life easier. Learn more at: https://www.kaloutas.com