Our special guest today is Shane Verity, he’s a Plant Engineer at Albany International Corp. With over a decade of experience in facilities management, including pharmaceutical and aerospace manufacturing environments, Shane shares his journey, insights, and lessons learned in adapting to the unpredictable nature of facilities management. He emphasizes the importance of agility, adaptability, and the ability to pivot in response to changes, a mindset fostered from a young age through various influences, including his grandfather and a driver’s ed instructor. The discussion covers best practices for facility management, including the critical role of organization, robust file structuring, regular preventive maintenance, and the necessity of understanding and complying with regulatory requirements. Additionally, Shane highlights the value of continuous learning, leveraging technology, and the significance of communication strategies tailored to different audiences to ensure the smooth operation and management of facilities. Through anecdotes and examples, such as handling facility emergencies and the integration of new systems, this episode offers valuable lessons on problem-solving, efficiency, and data management for facility professionals seeking to excel in their roles.
Takeaways:
- Expect the unexpected in facility management and develop agility and adaptability to manage changes effectively.
- Utilize divide and conquer strategies. When faced with multiple challenges, segment them into manageable tasks to tackle them efficiently.
- Prioritize organization and data management. Implement robust file structuring and naming conventions to easily access historical data and manage facilities more effectively.
- Understand your audience and tailor your communication accordingly to ensure clear and effective interaction across different departments.
- Commit to continuous learning. Stay open to adopting new technologies and methodologies to improve processes and facility management practices.
- Ensure compliance through routine preventive maintenance (PM): Regular PMs are crucial for maintaining organization, cleanliness, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Develop a personal system for time management. Allocate specific times for uninterrupted work to maintain productivity and manage tasks efficiently.
Quote of the Show
- “You have to be able to just take changes as they come and pivot where you stand.” - Shane Verity
- “We manage it. We take it in, divide it, and minimize it. What's the quickest, easiest thing that you can get done. What's the next quickest, easiest thing you can get done, get that out of the way and move forward.” - Shane Verity
- “You have to really know your audience and how to communicate with them.” - Shane Verity
- “There's not a one size fits all. There's always another way. There's always a way to get it done. Don't tell me I can't do something, tell me how I can do it.” - Shane Verity
Links
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-verity-b2a1b020b
- Website: https://www.albint.com
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