• Manage Time. Have staff do both reactive and preventive maintenance. Do not focus energies only on what's visible, or reactive maintenance.
• Train staff in preventive maintenance. Staff need to be trained in planning, setting up the record keeping for preventive maintenance schedules, and implementing.
• Have knowledgeable camp administrators. Management needs to understand the value of preventive maintenance to: write requirements into job descriptions, include in tactical plans, budget both reactive and proactive monies, and acknowledge/reward staff for their preventive maintenance work during the performance review process

Why Preventive Maintenance?

• Provides comfort, health, and safety of participants, guests, volunteers, and employees.
• Saves money. DuPont states, "Maintenance is the largest single controllable expenditure."
• Have knowledgeable camp administrators. Management needs to understand the value of preventive maintenance to: write requirements into job descriptions, include in tactical plans, budget both reactive and proactive monies, and acknowledge/reward staff for their preventive maintenance work during the performance review process.
  • Saves energy costs. "Cleaning dirty refrigeration coils can save 25% in operating cost and help to prevent early compressor failure." (Pacific Energy Center Factsheet)
  • Validates warranties. Some warranties state: "Failures due to lack of maintenance may void your warranty."
  • Reduces corrective maintenance calls.  
  • Extends life expectancy.  
  • Stops small problems from growing into larger ones. Noticing a drainage problem outside a building is easier to correct than a cracked foundation later.
• Prevents failure. Catching mistakes earlier and replacing old components minimizes failure.
• Helps you choose your downtime. Who wants to service an air conditioner unit when it's 100 degrees outside?
• Improves risk management. Writing a policy, enacting a regular schedule, and documenting the work can help manage your risks.

Wynne Whyman, M.A., M.S.S., is president of Callippe Solutions, LLC, offering site/facility management software. She has worked in the camp industry for twenty years in a variety of positions including staff, board member, and American Camping Association (ACA) visitor. Whyman is currently authoring a book about camp facility management to be published by ACA. She can be reached at [email protected].

Originally published in the 2004 May/June issue of Camping Magazine.