Building Operations Weekly

Top Stories


Time is Ticking! We have selected a software vendor for the TimeCard Improvement project

The Building Operations TimeCard Improvement (TCI) project was undertaken in an effort to better serve our operations by eliminating/reducing the pains of our current manual, paper-based time system.

The TCI vendor evaluation committee judged Kronos to be the best suitable vendor.

This decision comes after hosting three software vendor demonstrations last year and ensuring that the vendor could meet at least these needs:

  • System functionality – for example, it must accommodate various shifts schedules
  • Security – for example, it must protect user data
  • Easy to use – for example, it must easily display balances and details to users

Currently, we are having detailed negotiations with Kronos (exchanging technical and system information); with the intention of possibly drafting a contract through which Building Operations can implement a Kronos, electronic, paperless Time Solution.

Results of these dialogues and next steps will be communicated in future Newsletters.

If you have any questions / concerns regarding this project, please feel free to contact Jeff Bondy.


SR Blitz coming to Zone Trades this week

Facilities Managers will be meeting with Zone Trades this week to support and assist in the completion of stagnant and outstanding Service Requests.

Customers often tell us that it takes significant time to complete work—in fact the work may be done but the Service Request is not completed. Take a moment to put yourself in our customers’ shoes and communicate the status of work. By completing Service Requests or by assigning them to the right service provider to complete the job, you can help reduce these complaints.


Practical tips to reduce our idling time

Letting our fleet vehicles idle—needlessly running the engine while the vehicle is stopped—is a bad habit. Less time idling is better for the environment as it reduces air and noise pollution and conserves fuel. It also reduces wear and tear on engines.

To be compliant with our anti-idling policy found in Fleet Policy I-C-07: don’t idle for longer than 3 consecutive minutes in a 60-minute period, and don’t idle while vehicle is unattended and unlocked.

Since 2012, we’ve cut down $50,000/year in fuel costs and cut our GHG emissions by 34 tons/year by following anti-idling policies. This is a tremendous accomplishment. Thank you for your efforts.

To continue anti-idling practices, here are some scenarios to keep in mind in order to reduce idling:

  • While you wait in line at the pump to fuel up your vehicle
  • While you stop for a quick chat with someone who is on foot (as quick chats can go on for minutes)
  • When you remove yourself from traffic to check your phone/radio
  • When parking at the loading bay to run into stores and quickly grab something

For more on our anti-idling policy, read Fleet Policy I-C-07.


MOA Glass Update–thanks to the Carpenters, too

So many of our projects require a team approach. The challenge is recounting all of the efforts when celebrating the successful outcome. Last week we ran a story on how many crews pulled together to help replace the structural glass at MOA but the story inadvertently dropped reference to the carpenters key contributions during the initial event somewhere between draft 1 and draft 2.  Our apologies for this oversight and thanks for your contribution!

Want to combat poor editing and ensure that stories that are important to you get published? Submit them yourself at https://buildingoperations.ubc.ca/staff/communications/digital-signs/submit-your-story/.


Quick Updates


Domestic Cold and Hot Water Shutdown on March 4, Saturday, from 6AM – 3PM


Competition for Soft Landscape Manager position EOI has been filled until March 20, 2017 by Lindsay Forsyth


Anti-Bullying Day (Pink Shirt Day) on February 22, 2017


NPS score decreased to 83%, with 8 new promoters


T4/T4a statements are now available online