Our asset management experts, Heather and Ross, continue to discuss questions on risk management. A participant asks are maintenance schedules required for critical assets. Heather: I think if you are talking about required, it is required by whom? If we are talking about a state agency that would vary from state to state, whether or not there is a specific requirement by a government or … [Read more...]
Why Asset Management is About the Thinking Process and not the Software
Further on the question of using a spreadsheet or database is the use of applications or software for asset management. Many participants had asked what software Heather and Ross would recommend. In response, Ross and Heather elaborated that asset management is about the thinking process. They gave some examples too. Ross: Yes, we’ve got many pre-questions around software, and we thought … [Read more...]
Integrating Changing Per Capita Demand Patterns in the Asset Management Plan
A webinar attendee asks for any recommendations regarding integrating changing, mostly declining, per capita demand patterns. Heather: And that is actually dynamic, the declining demand patterns on a per capita basis is something we see almost nationwide. I won’t say absolutely every community because nothing is ever absolute. But we certainly see a decline in per capita usage across the … [Read more...]
Asset Management – The Importance of Getting the Big Picture Look
In the previous post, Ross mentioned about getting that bigger picture planning going that would help in forming the shorter-term plans. Heather explains further: And that ties right back into our managing assets into asset management conversation because we’re just so focused on managing that treatment plant, we may make a huge investment in replacing something or dealing with those … [Read more...]
Creating an Asset Management Strategy to Cope with Federal Regulations and Standards
In the previous post "Coping with Regulations and Standards through Asset Management Planning," Heather and Ross discussed the possible options asset managers can consider so they can work on their asset management practice while complying with federal regulations and standards. In this post, Heather and Ross discuss further. Heather says: And another aspect of the strategic direction or … [Read more...]
Coping with Regulations and Standards through Asset Management Planning
An attendee asked, is it possible that there are too many federal regulations, and they steal time and financial resources and reduce asset management, for example, requiring a small village’s nutrient reduction even though they don’t contribute? Heather: It is one of those things that I think becomes part of the overall strategic asset management approach that while we have these … [Read more...]
Operating and Maintaining Infrastructure Assets – The Challenge of Over Familiarization
A participant asked if the Havelock's contamination of the water system was preceded by an unusual rain event. Ross: A few things preceded it, but yes there was a significant rain event a couple of weeks or so beforehand. Twenty years ago, they’d had a similar sort of rain circumstances, and there was a pathway between a pond that was in the paddock to the well. And that was what that’s all … [Read more...]
Further Lessons on Asset Management and Managing Assets
Ross and Heather shared further lessons as they continue discussing on Asset Management versus Managing Assets. Ross: And I think a classic example of that, a few years ago, one of the larger urban municipalities in New Zealand got me to look at. They were rewriting a service delivery contract with a contractor, and I had a look at all the schedules, and they had this pump station … [Read more...]
Understanding the Value of Asset Management and Managing Assets
In the previous post, Heather started talking about the distinction between "Asset Management" and "Managing Assets." She then asked Ross for his thoughts from the perspective of New Zealand. Ross: Yes, and again, just for our attendees as well, if you put “Havelock North water incident New Zealand” into Google, you will find thousands and thousands of pages of reading. If you’re … [Read more...]
Asset Management versus Managing Assets – Knowing the Distinctions
At this stage, Heather moved on to a different topic, which is on asset management versus managing assets. Heather says: So what I wanted to talk a little bit about is the theme that’s coming up in a couple of different areas. I’m starting to hear it about companies, private companies in asset management. Then I was recently at a conference in Australia that was talking about asset … [Read more...]
Asset Management – How to Start and Practice Effectively (Webinar)
We are happy to share the "Ask the Expert" webinar that Ross Waugh and Heather Himmelberger held on 30 August 2018 at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Know more about the asset management experts in this webinar by watching the video above. Planning to start an asset management program? Then watch the video and know what Heather and Ross discussed the following: Where do we start? How do we … [Read more...]