Intelligent design for facility asset management

This paper begins by describing Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and its mandate, then outlines the scale and extent of its airport development programme in order to provide the context for the subsequent discussion. The paper argues that intelligent design for facility asset management involves early application of long-term thinking regarding operation and maintenance. Such an approach will pay huge dividends throughout the life cycle of the facility by maximising its lifetime serviceability. The focus must be on life cycle cost, not just on capital cost. The concept of value engineering is discussed: it is suggested that this process is often not properly used, and that a better approach is to develop a culture of continuous value engineering through all stages of a facility's life cycle. Various tips related to construction, operation and maintenance are presented. Finally, the question of the people and processes in facility asset management is briefly discussed. The paper demonstrates that intelligent project life cycle delivery is about far more than merely the physical aspects of the building or facility.