The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) will host its annual World Workplace Conference and Expo virtually this Dec. 9-10. The immersive online experience will feature five hours of programming each day, with learning, professional networking and celebratory events attendees have come to expect from the association’s flagship conference.
For US $199, the World Workplace virtual platform will provide an affordable, full conference experience in a format that’s not only familiar, but for many, preferable during the pandemic. For those who have never attended World Workplace, this is the perfect opportunity to participate in the world-renowned experience live from anywhere around the globe. Register today at World Workplace.
Following the keynotes, more than 25 educational sessions will be offered, with the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Certified Facility Manager® (CFM®) maintenance points. Sessions will focus on top-of-mind priorities such as managing through crisis, mitigating risks, developing plans for resilience, occupant health and well-being, achieving net-zero and digital transformation.
Crisis expert Dr. Steven Goldman will present “Facility Management, Business Continuity and COVID-19: What Have We Learned?” FM technology experts Paul Head, Doug Stewart and IFMA Fellow Eric Teicholz will present “PropTech: Disruption Technology or Hype?” Together with Jonathan Bissell, Carlos Santamaria and Diane Levine, MCR, Lynn Baez, CFM, SFP, FMP will present “Your Key to Success in FM Training and Development: A Google Case Study.” The full educational program will be available soon at World Workplace.
Here are some courses for Healthcare FMs and real estate executives: (Click here to see the full education schedule.)
Wednesday, Dec. 9
1:30 to 2 p.m. EST. Session Code: RT 1.02 Lessons Learned: Competing Safety vs Privacy Issues. How does an FM manage safety issues versus privacy invasion? Bring your experiences and share what worked and what didn’t.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Session code: 1.02 Let The Robot Take The Elevator, So You Don’t Have To. Nick Cope. Hospitals, hotels, and other commercial businesses are starting to use Service Robots to offer safer solutions, boost productivity and enhance their customer experiences. Autonomous mobility is one of the latest opportunities to help properties differentiate themselves by adapting to the changing needs and priorities of the people that live, work, and stay in them.
In this session, we explore some of the sociotechnical forces behind the increasing demand for Service Robots within the built environment, present an overview of Otis’s new product – Otis Integrated Dispatch™ – and talk about of the progress we’ve made working with various robotics companies to improve and optimize how robots integrate with elevator systems. This presentation be will be followed by a Q&A session with the product team.
We hope that attendees participating in this session will walk away armed with an understanding of some of the latest solutions available to help buildings in their never-ending quest to enhance their tenant experience.
2 to 3 p.m. EST. Session Code: 2.02 Organizational Strategy for FM Departments in an IoT World. Geoff Williams, Erik Jaspers, Ted Ritter, Ted Mort. The increasingly digital world of FM will have an inevitable impact on the way that we organize and structure our staffing models, role requirements and service delivery strategies. For instance, inside hard FM services, the ability to use advanced analytics across a variety of data sets (IoT, BAS, Work Order systems, etc.) to trigger fault detection and accurately predict a future failure impacts the balance between preventive and reactive maintenance. The ability to have seamless, remote collaboration augments some training and staffing requirements. This model supports training-on-demand for technicians and specialized support for departments. Take a look at the technologies, their impact on organizational strategy, staffing levels and the new role requirements inside an FM department to leverage success in a digital world.
2 to 3 p.m. EST. Session Code: 2.03. The Digital Transformation of Clean Air Management. Ellie Amirnasr. It is no secret that our world has become rapidly digitized, and facility management is no exception. With the introduction of smart buildings and IoT devices, more and more digital solutions are being developed to help facility managers save time, money and energy. But while we attach sensors and monitors to just about every piece of equipment in our buildings, we often overlook the world’s most valuable asset: clean air. This is especially significant amid the global pandemic of COVID-19, with industry leaders like ASHRAE contending that changes to filtration and ventilation are effective in reducing the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Utilizing clean air management effectively involves: 1) selecting the right sensors for your facility’s goals, 2) compiling and analyzing the data to develop actionable insights, and 3) ultimately using these data to make critical, informed decisions on what to do next. Explore how your facility can realize significant energy, material, labor and operating cost savings.
2 to 3 p.m. Session code: 2.05 The ASHRAE Digital Lighthouse and Industry 4.0. Charles Gulledge III. Digital transformation is not simply associated with adopting new technical solutions. Knowledge needs to be captured and linked in such a way that all relevant stakeholders benefit. Doing so requires understanding of how to collect, store and analyze data so that it is insightful and actionable. The ASHRAE Digital Lighthouse and Industry 4.0 focuses on reimagining the building industry by not only integrating industry segments, but also technology. This digital transformation includes building-specific technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), communication channels and connected data platforms.
Thursday, Dec. 10
1 to 2 p.m. EST. Session Code: 4.04. Introduction to Facility Security Design From Conception to Completion. Rene Rieder, Jeffrey Lane. The development of physical security systems requires professionals to have a solid understanding of the design process. Gain a base understanding of the process. Learn how to conduct risk assessments, develop functional requirements and identify mitigation measures for the basis of design. Learn how to translate and document the requirements into construction documents. Apply the tools and techniques discussed in a practical application via a virtual facility. Attendees will be guided through an interactive learning and knowledge-sharing session to reinforce the process and skills discussed.
12 to 1 p.m. Session Code: 3.04. Facility Renovation: Identifying, Planning and Executing Projects With Environmental, Health and Safety Risks. Doug Chenoweth. Gustan Taylor. Renovation projects are common challenges for many facility managers. Whether renovating to maintain the charm of a classic structure, adapting an office to modern work environments, or adjusting manufacturing space to accommodate new equipment and processes, the renovation project can present some unique risks. During many renovation projects, the focus is on improvements and upgrades. The excitement over designing new spaces can often overshadow the environmental, health and safety risks inherent with removing old materials, such as asbestos, lead-based paint, dust, historically contaminated materials and other regulated substances that present risk to human health or the environment if not properly identified and managed. This session will assist renovation project stakeholders in recognizing and planning for these environmental, health and safety risks.
1 to 2 p.m. Session Code: 4.05. Cleaning Confidential: Exposing the Janitorial Industry’s Dirty Little Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know. Bill Ayers. Richard Peterson. Wayne Whitzell. Did you ever wonder what really goes on behind the scenes in a janitorial company? The number-one complaint from FMs is about the performance of their janitorial services provider. There is an obvious disconnect between FM expectations and results, but what”s the cause? Learn why the janitorial model is broken and what FMs can do to fix it. Prepare to examine the underbelly of the janitorial industry and learn what you can do as an FM to run better janitorial RFPs and get better results from existing providers.
Cleaning Confidential: Exposing the Janitorial Industry’s Dirty Little Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. EST. Session Code: 5.04. COVID 19 – Where do we go from here? Patty Olinger. In this session, we will discuss lessons learned from our current pandemic and discuss preparedness for the next pandemic.