JLD’s approach to Maintenance in Ghana
I learnt about the maintenance from an Aircraft maintenance organization where I worked for 18 months. Maintenance was performed to avoid downtime of the planes at any cost. We had different check performed at scheduled and unscheduled time intervals.
Even with these checks in place, we still received maintenance issues and usually prioritize those received and fix them as soon as possible to avoid downtime. The goal of these maintenance activities is always to keep the planes and passengers safe and in normal conditions while using the aircraft (facilities).
With this idea, I was excited about maintenance in the real estate sector in Ghana. What I observed was appalling, aside from the routine checks, most maintenance operations are carried out only after they have been reported to be causing inconveniences to the residents and are usually placed in order of importance based on the person reporting or the emotions with which such complaints are lodged. Undoubtedly, this process is highly inefficient but has been regarded by most facilities management companies as a “ necessary evil”, is one of the most physical ways to prove to their employers that they are working and important to the organization. This type of maintenance is called Reactive maintenance.
Can we imagine a world where facilities managers maintain buildings to minimize downtime?
How wonderful would it be if facility managers can predict and prevent breakdown?
This is not wishful thinking as it’s not even an entirely new concept. It is being adopted all around the world and yes it can work in Ghana also with the rise of luxurious apartments such as Clifton Homes, Devtraco Plus, Appolonia City, Greenpark Properties and housing estates like GHS Housing, Regimanuel Gray, Afariwaa estates, Prabon Greenfields etc. This revolution could transform offices, schools, hostels, churches and our homes, having on focus only on tasks we are concerned with while the building is in an optimal condition.
The goal of JLD Technologies has always been to digitize facilities management, but to do that, we needed to take a huge step backwards and tackle the underlying problem which is how to approach maintenance in the first place. As Mr Samson Opare, (President IFMA Greater Accra Chapter ) would always say, the problem with Ghanaians is not lack of technology or equipment or knowledge but a lack of maintenance culture. Our vision at JLD Technologies is to improve the maintenance culture first of Ghanians then West Africa, Africa and the rest of the world by changing our processes from reactive maintenance to predictive and preventive maintenance approach then optimize these processes through the use of a software platform accessible by any device with or without an internet connection.
We have faced difficulties in realizing this vision but we can assure you of consistent delivery in excellence and would continue to push them forward until we are the first Facilities management company purely focused on core FM principles (preventive maintenance ) hence ensuring proper functioning of the building and little to no downtime.
We need you to trust us with your buildings because we truly care. Please contact us to discuss terms either as a building owner, referral or partner. Together let us uncover how maintenance is meant to be done.
