UK
Ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide, Curtin University is immersed in technology-rich environments and inspired by innovation, creativity and high-impact research. The university plans to expand its Perth campus at Bentley, Australia, into a ‘City of Innovation’: a vibrant urban hub of economic vitality, world-class knowledge, sustainable living, creative spirit and cultural diversity – a destination in its own right.
The Curtin properties, facilities and development team identified the need for an integrated maintenance and workflow management system to support the rapid expansion.
Digital Support for a Global Community
“Running a campus the size of Bentley is like running a small city,” advises Jason Yeoh, Properties Technology Portfolio Manager.
Curtin has invested significantly in its modern campuses, and the properties team is responsible for innovative projects such as a driverless campus bus, automated speed bumps to control traffic flow, and self-monitoring and compacting bins – to name a few.
Dealing with an estate such as this relies on communication, data and accuracy, and the previous computer aided facilities management (CAFM) software no longer met the challenge.
The new software solution needed to be flexible, easy-to-use and feature-rich to provide the required functionality now and in the future, with the ability to scale in line with the university’s ambitious growth plans. The previous system had needed extensive customisation, so the team favoured an off-the-shelf CAFM that required little to no customisation to meet their needs, and QFM from Service Works Global ticked all the boxes.
Yeoh adds: “SWG understands the operational capacity of the university as well as our strategic vision to help us become more responsive and efficient.”
Sustainability Focus
In addition to flexible workflows within QFM to drive standardisation and service automation, the software will help Curtin maintain their green credentials through superior end-to-end asset management. In 2015, the university was awarded Australia’s first 5-star ‘Green Star – Communities’ rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), and it was re-certified in early 2020 and awarded a 6-star rating. Through QFM, assets are managed across their whole lifecycle, reducing asset downtime, improving performance, extending asset life and lowering maintenance costs. Planned preventative maintenance (PPM) works will be scheduled by QFM and sent directly to Curtin contractors, removing time-consuming administration, and improving rectification time. Well-maintained assets draw less energy; and replacing paper job sheets and creating 60 digital maintenance forms on the mobile app has enabled the team to go paper free, helping to create a more sustainable organisation.
Read the full Curtin University case study here, or contact us to discuss how SWG can help your FM team meet its goals.
