ENERGY AND OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENTS

CUNY – Aramark Helps CUNY Transform Campus Operations & Maintenance Culture

In 2015, CUNY partnered with Aramark for system-wide improvements that would streamline processes, lower energy costs, reduce carbon emissions and reduce deferred maintenance. Working together, an innovative strategy was implemented based on achieving four key goals: eliminate operational gaps that impeded facilities performance, optimize equipment life and prevent premature failure, enhance the staff’s understanding of key facilities data and processes, and realize savings through improved operational efficiency.

Aramark and CUNY developed a project-based change management initiative to elevate the standard for operations, educate campus staff and leadership about facilities management and deliver financial improvements. Two key programs a campus-wide “Fresh Eyes” O&M Gap Analysis and a “Boots & Suits” education program for senior leadership, were instrumental to the success of this initiative.

Aramark executed a Gap Analysis to evaluate the overall health of the O&M programs across six campuses. The analysis assessed operator engagement, identified critical gaps in facilities operations, and identified actionable O&M opportunities for short and long term success. The analysis explored three key O&M elements: energy operating best practices, preventive maintenance, and utilization of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). Fundamentally, the analysis focused on operations and operator practice, rather than capital investment or retrofits.

Creating a positive culture within the campus environment was fundamental to success of CUNY’s system-wide change management program. This included active participation from various levels of key stakeholders across the university, from senior leadership to operating engineers to facilities staff on the front line each day. With operational support of Aramark, CUNY implemented The ‘Boots & Suits’ educational program to raise awareness of facilities’ role within the overall institutional mission, while ensuring each key player understood his or her strategic contribution to the new O&M goals.

The O&M Gap Analysis identified significant opportunities for operational improvements, including incorporating low-cost, high-return enhancements to the cooling, heating, ventilation and control systems via the Building Management System. The Boots & Suits program generated momentum for establishing operational best practices that had not previously existed among staff, including a proactive philosophy. Since 2015, CUNY has realized a complete cultural shift in facilities management, which resulted in a savings of $500,000 from energy consumption reductions and maintenance costs, as well as carbon reductions across all six community college campuses.

Embraced by staff at CUNY’s community colleges, the program continues to deliver quantifiable outcomes. Due to this success, CUNY plans to expand the program to its 4-year university campuses as well. The CUNY O&M transformation provides a template for other facilities to quantifiably improve their operations while reducing maintenance expenditures.