Grounds managers face a host of pressing challenges daily. But no matter what challenges might surface, managers know that their top priority each day is to find ways to keep turf and landscapes looking their best.
Managers and their staffs also know that reliable mowers, utility vehicles and trucks are essential to make this priority a reality. For this reason, managers need to pay close attention to preventive and predictive maintenance for these pieces of equipment.
"It's a high priority because when we are under to pressure to get something done, we need to have equipment running," says Ellen Newell, associate director of facilities management with Arizona State University, who oversees the university's grounds operations. "Because we have so many events, if it's the day to mow it, it needs to get mowed. We can't be saying, 'Well, the mower's down.' We are serving our customers, and if they have something going on, we have to have it prepped for them. Keeping our equipment operable is incredibly important."
The effort that Newell and her department put into maintaining their equipment demonstrates the central role proper maintenance plays in overall grounds care success.
University Uses Planning To Ensure Grounds Equipment Performance
