It’s no secret that maintaining the University’s buildings and grounds requires a complex mixture of skills.  We have assembled those skills in both our District Teams and central pools.   

My expectation for Team Managers and Supervisors is to ‘field the team’ that gives FM the best chance to meet the University’s needs.  Just like a manager in baseball, they must analyze the conditions and select their lineup. Unlike baseball, we have 1,200 employees of many different skills, experience and training.  Our managers and supervisors make these assignments based on their judgment, available staff and resources, requirements provided by the State for licensure, and an agreement among the University, Teamsters and the Building Trades (commonly referred to as the BMS agreement because they helped to mediate the agreement).  Though there are definitely certain jobs and tasks that may only be completed by specific people and crafts, there are many where the University may make assignments based on its judgment.

My expectation for you as an individual is to perform the work assigned to you to the best of your ability.  Our new team structure is built to take advantage of multiple skills working together to solve problems.  If you have questions about a work assignment, then I would expect you to talk your supervisor rather then another worker.  Your supervisor is most able to respond to your questions. 

With over 23 million square feet of space, there is no shortage of work.  Staying focused on our responsibilities will help get it done. It is all important and each one of you make a valuable contribution.

Great Performance – Eric Hagen (Mech. 2), Mike Anderson (Pipefitter Foremen), Mark Hanson (Pipefitter) and Keith Arntsen (Electrical Foremen)

This week’s great performance features a crew made up of mixed skills working together to solve a customer’s problem. Recently, a Vet Med cooling tower went down - putting research mice at risk.  Initially we thought fixing the problem would take several days and communicated this to our customers.  Last weekend’s heat could have meant serious trouble for the mice.  This meant our customers were scrambling trying to figure out how to make a mice move happen.  In stepped Eric, Mike, Mark and Keith. 

By putting their heads together (and not worrying about who did what) they discovered the problem (a key has slipped on the gear box’s drive shaft) and got it fixed.  The building was returned to the right temperature and most importantly for our customers not one mouse was moved.  The team did a great job of working together, communicating conditions to their supervisor and exceeding our customer’s expectations.  Thank you Mr. Hagen, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Hanson and Mr. Arntsen.

 Keep up the good work!

 Mike