FACILITIES MAINTENANCE:

AC Shop Launches New Program

Stay Cool at the School 2002
Window A/C Initiative

As Plant Operations continues to refine its focus on improving customer service, scheduling work more efficiently and mounting a proactive preventive maintenance program, the AC shop has taken this message to heart. Using data from last summer, Dave Beurer, Work Control Coordinator, tracked the service requests for window a/c units and learned of the high demand for window a/c service work during high temperature and humidity days. The repair summaries revealed that over 80% of the inoperative window a/c units needed just a good cleaning in order to operate correctly.

In response to these findings, the development team consisting of Gary Ernst, Dave Beurer, Lee Miller and Frank Hilberer, developed the new 2002 program "Stay Cool At the School". They designed the project to help prevent discomfort and inconvenience during the summer cooling season. The team also believes it will save utility and labor dollars and put less strain on budgets. The program also addresses external stakeholder issues related to the cost of services, work request response times, communication, and customer expectations.

Since the work will be done by Employees Working Out of Classification (EWOCs), the rate has been reduced to $88 per hour per a/c unit. This cost includes two people, parts, removal, and re-installation. Past experience had shown it takes about 90 minutes (on average) to complete the cleaning of each unit. Units that require lifts to gain access to will take longer to complete and will end up costing moderately more.

Enrollment for this program will begin March 1, with work beginning in early April. Participation in this program is voluntary. Brochures and work request forms will be available from the Plant Operations Call Center and on the Plant Operations website at www.plantops.umich.edu.

If you or your customers have any questions concerning the program, contact David Beurer, Work Control Coordinator for the Plant Air Conditioning shops @ 936-3955 or e-mail: David Beurer (get address) (38.103.63.61).