In the business world, rarely will you find yourself in a position where it’s not necessary to make adjustments or focus on ways to grow. Life changes a little (or a lot) each day and staying on top of it all is not only necessary, it’s critical for the success of your business. And if you’re personally running or managing a facility, you have the added pressure to ensure everything within the space is functioning and performing at its best. When it comes to making improvements or changes, it’s really important to look at the big picture. Thoughtfully directing your focus towards building efficiency, safety and aesthetics, staffing models and all existing business practices will yield valuable results. If you’re feeling as though your business facility could use a little extra attention, keep reading. Here are five things to keep in mind when you’re ready to spruce things up across the board.
1. Ensure All Main Systems Are in Good Working Order
Have you gotten your facility on a routine maintenance schedule to ensure all systems are operating in top condition? If you haven’t, it’s time for that to become a priority on your punch list. Not only will routine maintenance ideally help you avoid any problems down the road, staying one step ahead of everything will also save you time, money and plenty of headaches. Aside from scheduled appointments, make it part of your normal routine to do regular and thorough walk-throughs of the facility. This is a good way to take note of even the smallest items that need attention, such as flickering or dim lighting, drafty or unsecured doors and windows, or minor plumbing issues. If you have someone on staff who is handy, bring them along as an extra set of eyes.
In the event you have a system that’s not operating to its full potential or are running older equipment that could use to be upgraded, contacting a water heater company in Fillmore would be a good move to determine the appropriate next steps. This is especially important when you consider how important water quality and system efficiency is. The health and safety of your staff and customers is something to be taken seriously, and the cost savings of an efficiently run system makes any upgrades or repairs more than worth it.
2. Create and Maintain Curb Appeal
When you hear about curb appeal, chances are your mind wanders to residential homes for sale. These homes are impeccably manicured and tastefully decorated, ultimately appealing to potential buyers in the market. Does your business facility have a curb appeal of its own? If not, now is a great time to change that — and it’s easier than you might think. Since all business facilities are different, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to creating an aesthetically pleasing appearance. However, there are plenty of things that can be done to achieve it in one way or another.
If you’re working with a commercial facility, focusing on landscaping can go a long way. If you have a lobby or a waiting area, consider using an air purifier to keep stale air or unpleasant odors at bay, and make sure any seating is clean and comfortable. If you’re working with a retail or dining space, chances are you’ll have more opportunities for creativity and conveying your brand. Have fun with window displays to entice customers to come inside, or set up displays outside to grab people’s attention. Including general housekeeping in this is a must and conveys the message that you have pride in your facility. This means that windows and flooring are clean, spaces are decluttered and organized, and painted surfaces are in good repair.
Remember that this doesn’t mean you have to max out your budget (and you shouldn’t, especially in the beginning). Making use of what you have has the potential to go a long way. Once you feel you’ve found your niche, give yourself permission to build on it.
3. Get a Handle on Asset and Inventory Management
One of the biggest ways businesses lose money is simply due to disorganization and flaws in asset and inventory management. Even when small mistakes happen here and there (and might not seem like a big deal at the time) they can and will snowball, creating much larger problems down the road. Unfortunately, sometimes the problem isn’t so easy to fix. The good thing is, there are things you can do to prevent this from happening. Inventory management software is a great place to start, followed by an objective evaluation of practices in place.
With inventory-related mistakes having the tendency to burn a hole in the pocket, think of this approach as a way to save money. The money saved can be put back into your facility in a number of ways, whether it’s for additional improvements or general growth.
4. Create Space for and Encourage Social Connections
While it might seem counterproductive to provide designated spaces for your employees to socialize or decompress, it’s actually a smart move. Why? This is an excellent way to encourage creating stronger connections throughout the workplace, while also creating a more pleasant environment for everyone. When employees are happier and stress levels are low, good things can happen. People will work harder, they will work better and your business will benefit greatly.
However, not every facility has the extra space to devote to this concept. Don’t worry, you can still come up with ways to make this work. Start by getting creative with the space you do have. This could look like removing vacant desks and creating an open and airy location for collaboration or team meetings, or simply having a day or two when you go through as much as you can and declutter. Keep only what you need, purge what you don’t. Try to give different areas their own specific purpose.
Thanks to today’s technology, communication is easier than ever. And because of this, flexible scheduling and working from home are on the rise. Consider introducing these options as another way to create additional space in your facility.
5. Implement Benchmarking
If you’re seriously ready to take a good look at the big picture, benchmarking holds a lot of promise for giving it to you straight. A way of comparing how your facility is operating to other best practices in the industry, benchmarking makes it possible to highlight your areas in need of improvement or show you the areas where your facility is doing well. Implementing this will ultimately lead to valuable information regarding staffing models, budgeting, or how your facility is performing in regards to energy usage.
When it comes to improving your business facility and its day-to-day operations, there are many approaches you can take that have the potential to yield useful and often times some surprising results. By being objective, open to constructive criticism and proactive in making changes, you’ll be well on your way to ensuring your facility is operating to the best of its ability. Just remember that your work is never truly done; staying on top of things is the key to success.
