Darrell Rounds, FMA, C.E.M., is the Director of Facilities Management for North America Manufacturing Operations at Stellantis where he is passionate about leveraging global cross functional collaboration, lean implementation, project management, problem solving, and data analysis. In this episode, host Mike Petrusky gets Rounds to share his current perspectives on the state of the facilities management industry as they catch up on their recent discussions, offering inspiration for FM leaders in all organizations. Rounds emphasizes the importance of taking care of people in any enterprise to ensure business success and recognizes the challenge of workforce availability in today’s marketplace. He has been prioritizing the standardization and optimization of processes in FM to drive efficiency and eliminate waste and believes that innovation comes when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Agenda
- The current state of facilities management
- The challenges faced by organizations in the industry
- The role of technology, particularly AI and machine learning
- Advice for professionals in the field.
What you need to know: Facility and maintenance takeaways
Takeaway 1: Stepping out of one’s comfort zone is essential for innovation and personal growth.
Darryl Rounds emphasizes the importance of challenging oneself to avoid the stagnation that comfort can bring. “A lot of people get comfortable with where they are, and because of comfort, it stifles innovation and some of the greatest things have happened outside of the comfort zone,” he states. He encourages listeners to be brave and to challenge themselves to understand what could be.
Rounds further elaborates on the impact of comfort on personal and professional development. “If you take care of your people, then you take care of your business,” he says, highlighting the importance of personal growth not just for individual success but for the success of the organization as a whole.
In conclusion, Rounds advises, “Be true to yourself and know when it’s time to move and or act. And don’t be afraid to do so.” He believes that comfort can be a barrier to innovation and greatness, and that stepping out of it is crucial for achieving new heights in one’s career and life.
Takeaway 2: Data-driven decision-making is crucial for effective facilities management.
Rounds stresses the importance of data in facilities management, particularly in making informed business decisions. “Good data drives good business decisions, but great data drives great business decisions,” he states. Rounds highlights the role of data in optimizing processes and ensuring that facilities management remains a priority within organizations.
He provides an example of how machine learning, a subset of AI, can be used to predict asset failures. “Machine learning, when it comes to predictive maintenance, is key because if you can predict the failure of an asset by leveraging data, then you can make investment decisions in a more timely and effective manner,” he explains. This approach not only enhances efficiency but also helps in maintaining a competitive edge.
Rounds concludes by emphasizing the potential of AI and machine learning in facilities management. “With how AI is evolving, there’s a great opportunity for us to become more sophisticated and how we plan in our investments within asset and facilities management,” he says, underscoring the transformative impact of technology on the industry.
Takeaway 3: Addressing the workforce shortage is a critical challenge for facilities management.
Rounds discusses the significant challenge of workforce availability in the facilities management industry. “One of the biggest things that has been a challenge within the industry is the availability of workers for the workforce,” he notes. Rounds points out that facilities management is not a prominent degree program, and many professionals enter the field through non-traditional routes, such as engineering.
He also highlights the need to prioritize facilities management within organizations. “Sometimes it can be treated with less priority. So some of the things that are tied to the main aspect or core business take greater priority. So the investment when it comes to facilities management is not there,” he said. Rounds advocates for ensuring that facilities management maintains a seat at the table to secure the necessary investments and prevent the built environment from suffering.
In addressing these challenges, Rounds emphasizes the importance of standardization and process optimization. “When it comes to business and operations, when we’re trying to drive efficiency, we want to add value and we want to eliminate waste,” he states. By focusing on these areas, facilities management can better support the overall goals of the organization and attract more professionals to the field.
Maintenance management insights
- Stepping out of your comfort zone to foster innovation and achieve greatness.
- Standardizing processes and ensuring that facilities management remains a priority for investment within organizations.
- The challenge of workforce availability in the facilities management industry, with a need to encourage individuals to enter the trades.
- The potential of AI and machine learning in predictive maintenance, enabling more timely and effective investment decisions.
- The significance of having good data to drive better business decisions and gain a competitive advantage.
Find Darrell’s articles in Facility Maintenance Decisions Magazine and do a deep dive into more asset management insights by exploring all Asset Champion Podcast episodes.
