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“White noise,” outsourcing, workspace allocations, and facility manager certification courses were a few of the topics touched upon at the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter’s latest Roundtable April 13 at the Grandview Café.
White noise, also called white sound, is a sound frequency or a signal that people hear as a gentle hiss, something similar to the sound of wind rustling through trees, a waterfall, radio static, or the ocean surf. It is used to filter and mask distracting noises in cubicle office environments such as co-workers talking loudly on the phone, annoying office machines, and other bothersome sounds that hinder concentration or invade one’s privacy.
While no one had the cure-all for combating distracting background noise, John Cleland said that while installation of a white noise system isn’t too expensive, it is difficult to get total “speech privacy” in offices.
Earl Johnston said his company is still trying to determine what to do, but has learned “white noise is only good with traditional office space and not with open space. It works best with drop dealings.” Barry Widder said the 20-foot-high ceilings at his company absorb some of the noise, but some of the ceilings reflect the sound.
Other alternatives to white noise for reducing workplace noise include good carpet, ceiling tiles, acoustical panels, baffles, use of new headphone sets for call center employees, cultural behavior change, and instilling good business etiquette for noise control among employees.
Widder advanced the outsourcing topic, asking if anyone knew of special training for managing third party contractors. “We all spend a lot of money on outsourcing, and we need to be sure we are getting our money’s worth in doing so,” he said.
Donna Byrom, facilitator for the evening, responded that she was not aware of any specific training. She said her company provides contractors with the same training that regular employees receive. And while several of the outsourcing problems seemed to center on housekeeping, Byrom said her company has a four-person in-house staff that can’t be beat in caring for the building. “Our service is better, our pride is better, and our quality control is better. The key is that they are good workers,” she said.
However, others were not as enamored with in-house custodial care, saying they preferred the shift from personnel management to contract management. One participant quipped that Byrom’s company must have “the four good housekeepers in Columbus.”
Jim Schmeizer, General Services Administration senior property manager, said with the federal government everything with third party contractors is “performance based. If it’s not done properly, the responsibility is put back on the contractors. If the contract says this is what you said you will do, you do it.”
He said the strongest method for effective service is to develop tight contracts, monitor them, and hold contractors to them.
Melissa Margiotta, who leads the facilities management team for the Ohio Department of Education, brought up the issue of workspace to learn that a six-foot-by-eight-foot cubicle appears to be the most effective size if you are trying to gain space in an existing structure.
Other space-gaining suggestions in addition to reconfiguring included, renting additional space, using swing space, restacking, hoteling, compromising auxiliary space, putting office cubicles in conference rooms, and teaming on collaborative space.
Widder also presented information about the Facility Manager Professional program offered through the International organization that is designed to accelerate the transition of a facility manager with less than five years experience into the profession. This program is designed to broaden a beginner’s knowledge and professional networks, and hasten the progression from novice to specialist. It is an ideal catalyst to early candidacy for the Certified Facility Manager program.
While Widder spoke of the cost of the program, Byrom said classroom requirements that support the FMP designation could be obtained less expensively through Columbus State Community College if 10 or more people agreed to enroll in the courses. Efforts will be made to see if there is enough interest to proceed.
Next month, the chapter activity will be a tour of Worthington Industries. The event will be at 4 p.m. May 11.