Integrated maintenance management of hospital buildings: a case study

Over the course of the past three decades, facilities management has become the subject of an increasing number of research and development efforts. The main objective of the present research was to examine the efficiency of maintenance under alternative maintenance policies and different sources of human resources. The research focused on the maintenance of public hospital buildings in Israel, with the objective of providing a model for multi‐system facilities operating in a dynamic environment. This paper describes the last three stages of the research: the establishment of key performance indicators, the implementation of these indicators in a case study in order to appraise them, and the validation of the indicators. Four key performance indicators were developed, as follows: the Building Performance Indicator (BPI), the Manpower Sources Diagram (MSD), the Maintenance Efficiency Indicator (MEI) and the Managerial Span of Control (MSC). This paper illustrates a case study in which the four developed indicators were implemented in practice. Characteristics of the case study hospital are presented and analysed. Finally, the conclusions and recommendations drawn from the analysis of the hospital case study are discussed, validated and deliberated upon. The approach presented in this paper integrates performance, financial, human resources and organizational aspects to facilitate an improved evaluation method of the parameters affecting the execution of maintenance activities.     

谈古建筑修缮工程的造价管理工作

结合古建筑修缮工程中变更多,造价管理复杂的特点,提出应在前期决策阶段详尽考察古建筑史料,合理确定建设规模,在设计阶段细致勘察古建筑现场,细致编制设计文件,在实施阶段严格控制工程变更,从而达到有效控制工程造价的目的。     

An analytical method to evaluate facility management services for residential buildings

Besides constructed quality and environmental quality, the quality of facilities in residential buildings is influential to the living quality of numerous residents there. The functional quality of the facilities, in turn, is dependent on the quality of their operation and management. A review of the relevant literature and a focus group discussion with Facility Management (FM) practitioners, which were parts of the study reported here, unveiled that prior performance evaluation studies focussed on assessing the outcome of FM services whereas an analytical method suitable for holistic evaluation of the services is lacking. An interview survey with 297 users of a typical residential estate in Hong Kong was carried out to solicit their perceived levels of importance and performance of FM services. The responses were tested using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to isolate those with inconsistent judgments, followed by computing the weightings for various aspects of FM services based on the consistent responses. The calculation of a weighted performance score for benchmarking purposes and a critical evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of FM services, which are crucial for achieving a quality and sustainable built environment, are illustrated.     

Probability distributions of facilities management costs for whole life cycle costing in acute care NHS hospital buildings

Whole life cycle costing (WLCC) can provide a valuable insight into the economic efficiency of National Health Service (NHS) acute care hospital buildings. The costs of the facilities management function form an integral part of that process. However, the nature of facilities management cost data collated by NHS Estates informs the analyst little about the relationship between the physical characteristics of hospital buildings and the facilities management costs. The data can only be used to benchmark trusts total facilities management spending, but what the NHS now requires is a way of being able to model the facilities management costs for particular buildings. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate, using a case study, a methodology for modelling stochastically the facilities management costs in NHS acute care hospital buildings. The data used in this research were obtained from NHS Estates on the facilities management costs of over 450 acute care NHS Trusts in England and Wales. The data were analysed to obtain the parameters of the theoretical distributions that best describe the facilities management costs for a ward block building in a large university acute care teaching hospital. The accuracy of these distributions was then validated using various hypotheses and goodness-of-fit tests. The result of this work provides analysts with a framework whereby the facilities management costs in acute care hospital buildings can be modelled as stochastic assumptions in the modelling of WLCC. The paper also reveals that for acute care hospital buildings with a similar gross floor area to that of the building used in the case study (that is approximately 20% of the entire acute care hospital estate), the underlying distribution of costs is likely to belong to the loglogistic distribution     

物业管理大楼冷水主机设备的维护质量及成本分析

基于维护时收集的数据,以生存分析方法构建了冷水主机的生存曲线,识别了故障事件间隔时间的概率模型,并估计了模型参数的极大似然估计量。利用统计假设检验法比较了2台冷水主机生存率的差异显著性,藉以推断这2台冷水主机维护质量的差异。利用随机过程更新理论确立了设备故障事件发生的计数过程及累积维修成本随机过程的统计特性,并建立了期望累积维修成本与使用时间的关系。结果显示,故障事件间隔时间的概率模型近似指数分布,故障事件发生次数随时间增加的计数过程可以泊松过程模拟。     

MEMRRES: model for evaluating maintenance,repair and rehabilitation strategies in concrete bridge decks

It is very important for State Departments of Transportation (DOT) to establish strategies with regard to maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MR&R) of bridges. With the availability of Bridge Management Systems (BMS) such as PONTIS and BRIDGIT, owners are beginning to emphasize cost-effective proactive strategies from the start, when the bridge is new. Therefore, a model is required for the development of optimal MR&R action scenarios suitable to each DOT for effective management of the bridges. This article introduces a Model for Evaluating Maintenance, Repair and REhabilitation Strategies (MEMRRES) in concrete bridge decks. The MEMRRES assists the decision makers in determining the optimal MR&R strategy among the feasible MR&R strategies. The MEMRRES methodology is explained through a hypothetical example and is applied for determining the optimal MR&R strategy of concrete bridge decks for 24 State DOT (DOTs). It can be used as a tool by bridge engineers within their respective DOT to select cost-effective MR&R actions for concrete bridge decks.     

Key performance indicators (KPIs) and priority setting in using the multi-attribute approach for assessing sustainable intelligent buildings

The main objectives of this paper are to: firstly, identify key issues related to sustainable intelligent buildings (environmental, social, economic and technological factors); develop a conceptual model for the selection of the appropriate KPIs; secondly, test critically stakeholder's perceptions and values of selected KPIs intelligent buildings; and thirdly develop a new model for measuring the level of sustainability for sustainable intelligent buildings. This paper uses a consensus-based model (Sustainable Built Environment Tool- SuBETool), which is analysed using the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) for multi-criteria decision-making. The use of the multi-attribute model for priority setting in the sustainability assessment of intelligent buildings is introduced. The paper commences by reviewing the literature on sustainable intelligent buildings research and presents a pilot-study investigating the problems of complexity and subjectivity. This study is based upon a survey perceptions held by selected stakeholders and the value they attribute to selected KPIs. It is argued that the benefit of the new proposed model (SuBETool) is a ‘tool’ for ‘comparative’ rather than an absolute measurement. It has the potential to provide useful lessons from current sustainability assessment methods for strategic future of sustainable intelligent buildings in order to improve a building's performance and to deliver objective outcomes. Findings of this survey enrich the field of intelligent buildings in two ways. Firstly, it gives a detailed insight into the selection of sustainable building indicators, as well as their degree of importance. Secondly, it tesst critically stakeholder's perceptions and values of selected KPIs intelligent buildings. It is concluded that the priority levels for selected criteria is largely dependent on the integrated design team, which includes the client, architects, engineers and facilities managers.     

A systematic methodology for optimising the energy performance of buildings in Bahrain

Today, a great deal of effort is ongoing all over the world to find methods for optimising the energy performance of buildings. Such efforts can be seen in the European Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD). This directive aims to ensure energy saving and CO₂ emission reduction without compromising the local conditions and people's comfort. In the Gulf States, however, there is a need for such methods due to their economic and environmental benefits. This study introduces a simple but reliable methodology for optimising building energy performance in Bahrain. The methodology is based on building management systems (monitoring, analysing and targeting future performance), simulation tools and other technologies. This methodology was implemented using Visual DOE and was directly related to collectively gathered data gained form experimental works and practical applications. By means of the introduced methodology, energy consumption was obtained together with energy cost and CO₂ emissions. The applicability of this methodology was demonstrated through optimising a case office building in Bahrain.     

Risk-based life-cycle maintenance strategies for corroded reinforced concrete buildings located in the region with high seismic hazard

In this study, several developed models have been adopted to investigate deterioration induced by chloride ingress by considering uncertainty in order to estimate the initiation and rate of corrosion. Besides, the structural capacity and serviceability of RC buildings, i.e. the shear capacity, bending strength and width of cracking or spalling of columns and beams with corroded reinforcing bars, were also calculated using simple formulas developed from previous experiments. Based on the information of annual spalling/cracking and failure probabilities, the deterioration risk of an RC building attacked by chloride can be evaluated using the concept of reliability of a series system. In order to find the optimal maintenance plan, probabilistic effect assessment models for repair/retrofit strategies (five repair/retrofit strategies were selected) that consider the recurrence of deterioration in repaired areas and the deterioration proceeding in unrepaired areas were developed in this research. These models reflect the effects of the maintenance strategies on the failure and spalling probability directly and can be used to estimate the life-cycle performance and cost of RC buildings. Finally, on the basis of the minimal life-cycle cost, the optimal life-cycle maintenance strategy can also be identified by using the genetic algorithm; case studies were used to discuss the applicability of this system.     

A methodology for microclimatic quality evaluation in museums: Application to a temporary exhibit

Every single artefact, either exhibited in a museum or as an integral part of a historical building, needs a controlled microclimate in order to be preserved. Since a monitoring program can support decisions and actions aimed at preventing the deterioration of vulnerable objects, the need to observe the environmental parameter status and variations over time is of primary importance in museums.     

A performance evaluation framework of development projects: An empirical study of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) construction projects in Kenya

The present work attempts to develop a multidimensional performance evaluation framework of development projects by considering all relevant measures of performance. In order to demonstrate the applicability of this performance evaluation framework, it has considered the case of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects constructed between 2003 and 2011 in Kenya and collected the viewpoints of 175 respondents comprising clients, consultants and contractors involved in the implementation of CDF projects with regard to their perception on 35 performance related variables. A five-point Likert scale was used as a response format for different variables with the assigned values ranging from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to the collected data which gave rise to an instrument consisting of 27 items representing six factors. The findings further reveal that the items constituting these six factors essentially represent six key performance indicators (KPIs) namely time, cost, quality, safety, site disputes and environmental impact. The relative influence of each KPI towards overall performance of construction projects shows that time is the most important measure followed by cost while safety comes last in order of importance in the performance evaluation of CDF construction projects. The findings of this study have significant bearing on other similar kind of development projects undertaken in developing countries.     

Mediation Model for Improving Cost Factors That Affect Performance of Small-Scale Building Construction Contract Business in Nigeria: A PLS-SEM Approach

Performance of small-scale building construction contract business poses a challenge to the sustainable development of the construction industry, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. Small-scale construction contract business plays an important role in the economic development of any nation. In Nigeria, small-scale construction contract business has a tremendous role in the development of rural areas. This study assesses the mediation effects of client support with advance payment on cost factors that affect performance of small-scale contract businesses in Nigeria. The study identified three factors that affect cost performance of construction projects in developing countries: cash flow problems, effects of fraudulent practices, and effects of the nature of construction environments. In total, 550 survey questionnaires were administered to stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry. Stratified proportionate random sampling method was used for the selection of respondents and 387 questionnaires were returned, with 357 used in the analysis.     

Performance evaluation of operational energy use in refurbishment,reuse, and conservation of heritage buildings for optimum sustainability

The operational phase of a building project has increasingly gained importance with their energy performance becoming valuable and determining their operational excellence. In most heritage building projects (HBPs), the operational energy use aspects areless considered, and a systematic way of analyzing their energy performance following project delivery is often lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate the operational performance of refurbishment and reuse of UK listed church projects. The objective is to assess the operational energyuse with a view to optimizing their sustainable performance. The methodology includes eight selected case study buildings refurbished and converted for multipurpose use. The case study approach provided qualitative insights into how the study contributes to a more structured requirements for energy management in HBPs with specific attention to energy-efficient building operations. The findings show the need to focus on fundamental areas of operational management (i.e.by developing and implementing more focused policy on operational energy performance of heritage buildings) to minimize the energy required to operate them. The challenges of implementing changes in operational energy performance improvement of heritage buildings are addressed in the form of recommendations that could lead to real results. The study concludes that leveraging these areas requires commitment from all heritage building stakeholders because they all have substantial roles in harmonizing the requirement for the project's sustainability and not just the building operators. Meanwhile, baseline project planning, periodic updating, monitoring, and managing the energy use pattern are suggested as measures that could greatly facilitate better energy performance to optimizing their sustainable reuse compared with the traditional approach of trying to improve their thermal performance.     

合同能源管理在建筑节能行业应用的风险分析

合同能源管理是一种双赢的能源管理公司和业主的能源管理,建筑节能产业在中国有着广阔的应用前景,但由于理论和经验指导的相对缺乏,节能服务公司在我国建筑节能行业的发展有待进一步提高。通过介绍合同能源管理公司的运行流程及其运行过程与市场、法规和技术的关系,并从市场政策、资金和技术3个方面分析了影响合同能源管理机制在建筑节能行业推行存在的风险,并提出了针对性的建议。研究表明,共同推动建筑节能的广泛应用,需要政府部门和相关企业共同努力、通力合作。     

Multi-criteria performance analysis for decision making in project management

This study is focused on decision support in the context of product and service development projects. Decision support requires the capacity to characterize the current state of the project (performance evaluation) and the decision-maker's point of view. However, the different projects’ stakeholders do not have the same needs in terms of performance evaluation to support their decision-making processes. Furthermore, in some cases controlling project performance using the elementary components of the Iron Triangle (Cost, Time and Quality) alone seems inefficient. This paper proposes a new multi-dimensional Project Performance Measurement System that would enable managers to deal with the volume of data. The proposition integrates the only character of each project (tasks, objectives, decision-makers personality and competences), several good practices in terms of universal project management dimensions on the one hand, and in terms of performance analysis on the other hand. Then, we show how an aggregation tool called MACBETH is used to analyze the performance measures according to project managers’ own performance interests. A case study illustrates the proposed system.     

Empirical Markovian-based models for rehabilitated pavement performance used in a life cycle analysis approach

Two empirical Markovian-based models are presented in this paper to predict the transition probabilities associated with rehabilitated pavement. The first model predicts the staged-homogenous transition probabilities as required by the staged-homogenous Markov model. The second model predicts the non-homogenous transition probabilities as applicable to the non-homogenous Markov model. In both the models, the deterioration transition probabilities are predicted as a function of the corresponding values associated with original pavement and two adjustment factors reflecting the impacts of increased traffic load applications and decreased pavement strength. The predicted transition probabilities are used to estimate the future distress ratings required for developing the corresponding life cycle performance curve. The life cycle performance/cost ratio is used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of potential long-term M&R plans. The life cycle performance is defined as the area falling under the life cycle curve. The life cycle cost is estimated to include initial construction cost, routine maintenance cost, major rehabilitation cost, and added user cost due to work zone. Two proposed cost models are used in the case study for estimating routine maintenance and added user costs. The case study indicates that the proposed empirical Markovian-based models have provided reasonable estimates of the transition probabilities as reflected by the corresponding life cycle performance curves.