Host Mike Petrusky speaks with Vaughn Halliday, MSc, CFM, SFP, FMP, PMP, ProFM, Manager of Support Services and Facilities for the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago. Vaughn is a seasoned management executive with a specialized focus on facilities and project management, underpinned by a fervent commitment to sustainability. Mike asks Vaughn why he believes that FM professionals need to lead with purpose, adapt with precision, and invest in people as much as they do in technology. They discuss the constant tension between short-term operational demands and long-term asset stewardship which often leads to deferred maintenance and reactive decision-making and Vaughn shares how the effective use of data from CMMS and BMS platforms is essential for driving strategic outcomes. He says that facility managers should move beyond a maintenance mindset and embrace FM as a strategic enabler of business outcomes by investing in training and credential programs at events like IFMA’s World Workplace. The future of FM is already here, with AI, IoT, and smart systems reshaping how assets are managed.
Agenda
- Insights into the operations and maintenance course Vaughn will be teaching
- Current challenges and trends in the field of facility management
- Advice on leading with purpose, adapting with precision, and investing in people and technology
What you need to know: Facility and maintenance takeaways
Takeaway 1: Facility management leaders must balance short-term operational demands with long-term strategic goals to avoid underinvestment and deferred maintenance
The integration of advanced technologies in facility management has introduced new challenges, particularly in balancing short-term operational needs with long-term asset stewardship.
“Organizations face the challenge of balancing short-term operational demands against that long-term asset stewardship,” Vaughn explained. “There’s always this constant pressure, especially in these modern days, to reduce costs, but there’s still the expectation for high-performance, sustainable environments, and that expectation keeps rising.” He notes that this pressure often results in deferred maintenance and a reactive approach to facility management, which can perpetuate a cycle of underinvestment and inefficiency.
Vaughn emphasizes the importance of strategic planning to ensure that facility management remains proactive and aligned with broader business goals. “So that’s there’s that tension between the two that often leads to a substantial amount of deferred maintenance, very often it leads people to be in a more reactive firefighting mode where they’re making reactive decision making,” he said. By aligning facility management strategies with organizational goals, leaders can better demonstrate the value of their function and secure the necessary resources for sustainable operations.
Takeaway 2: AI and smart systems are transforming facility management, enabling predictive maintenance and data-driven decision making
Vaughn discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) and smart systems are revolutionizing the field of facility management, moving it beyond a reactive maintenance mindset to a more strategic and proactive approach.
“So imagine you have a facility where your systems can self-diagnose themselves, where your energy is optimized in real time,” Vaughn said. “Where you can extend your asset life cycles through machine learning based on your asset and maintenance history. AI is already enabling all that, and it can help us shift from that reactive firefighting to more data-driven decision making.” He stresses that AI is not just a buzzword but a game changer that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of facility management.
Vaughn also addresses concerns about AI replacing facility managers, stating, “AI is actually elevating them and making them a lot more efficient.” He encourages facility managers to see AI as a tool for augmentation, freeing up time to focus on strategy and innovation. “These tools can help us free up our time from daily mundane tasks to focus on strategy, innovation, and the things that impact more to the bottom line of our organization and the well-being of the occupants of the facility,” he adds.
Takeaway 3: Effective facility management requires a deep understanding of the human experience and the ability to communicate value through storytelling
Vaughan emphasizes that facility management is not just about maintaining buildings but also about shaping the human experience within those buildings. He stresses the importance of storytelling and communication in achieving this goal.
“Our facilities can speak for themselves,” Vaughan said. “For me, being an FM and an asset manager leader today means being a translator between your organizational strategy and operations. It’s all about understanding the language of finance, sustainability, technology, and of course, the human experience, which is one of the things that’s most important.” He explaines that facility managers must align their technical skills with the needs and expectations of the people who use the facilities.
Vaughan also highlightes the role of storytelling in facility management: “We need to move more beyond a maintenance mindset and then embrace FMS’s strategic enabler of our business outcomes. We also need to make sure we don’t underestimate the power of storytelling as I was saying earlier, our facilities don’t speak for themselves.” By effectively communicating the value of their work, facility managers can gain the support and trust of organizational leaders and stakeholders, ensuring that their efforts are recognized and appreciated.
Maintenance management insights
- Facilities management is evolving, and professionals must adapt to new technologies like AI and the IoT to stay relevant.
- There is a tension between short-term operational demands and long-term asset stewardship, which can lead to deferred maintenance and reactive decision-making.
- Data is crucial for driving strategic outcomes, but many organizations struggle to leverage it effectively.
- AI can elevate facility managers by automating routine tasks and enabling more strategic and innovative work.
- Facility managers should focus on storytelling to better communicate the value of their work to organizational leaders and stakeholders.
Do a deep dive into more asset management insights by exploring all Asset Champion Podcast episodes
