SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/113699
Facility&Operations | By Jeff White 10 TIPS ON HOW TO JUSTIFY NEW EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. Show that the new equipment will somehow pay for the investment within 1 year. This is a key item. 1. 2. LOBBY FOR NEW EQUIPMENT on the basis that it will eliminate the need to hire additional help. Be careful though, a shrewd boss may use this against you later when you are trying to fill a vacancy. 3. USE CONCRETE FACTS AS EVIDENCE in support of any expensive expenditure request. Show how the equipment will (1) cut costs, (2) raise revenues, (3) increase efficiency, (4) improve customer service, or (5) meet some other basic goal. How to get the equipment you need HE BUDGET CHAL LENGES facing grounds and turf managers today require skills and knowledge beyond those found in most of our job descriptions. In order to meet fiscal challenges and justify funding needed for new equipment and resources, we must use personal attributes, professional knowledge and business relationships. For many of us, gone are the days when a manager could simply go to his or her boss, banker, or CFO and state the need for equipment and expect the request to be fully funded. Today we are T It's important to remember that you are competing for a slice of your organization's budget pie and the others are hungry for it, too. 20 SportsTurf | March 2013 4. MAKE YOUR APPEAL on the basis that the purchase will help employees to do their jobs better by eliminating errors, thus creating a savings. held accountable for every dollar and even the most necessary or justifiable expenditures are often denied. We are presented with a professional and personal challenge: How do we continue to meet our customer expectations and our own desire to succeed and perform at a high level when faced with likely rejection of capital purchase requests? Purchasing equipment requires a well-thought-out plan and process. It's important to remember that you are competing for a slice of your organization's budget pie and the others are hungry for it, too. Developing a plan, solid talking points based on demonstrable needs, and an effective sales pitch are critical to success. Here are the steps to help achieve your goals. 5. DEFINE THE PROBLEM Make a list of your equipment needs and what these tools are needed for. For example, if you have sand-based fields and no topdresser, a host of problems will result that can affect turf health, quality, playability and player safety. If you have old equipment, or difficult-to- 9. SHOW HOW THE PURCHASE WILL IMPROVE PRODUCT QUALITY. In this instance, as well as others, it will help if you get other department heads to support your request. In this case, the head of quality would be a key figure. 6. PROVE THAT THE NEW EQUIPMENT WILL REDUCE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE COSTS. Include all costs associated with down time. 7. SHOW THAT THE NEW EQUIPMENT WILL BE EASIER TO OPERATE, can be used by less skilled workers and/or will result in fewer mistakes. 8. SHOW HOW THE NEW EQUIPMENT WILL MAKE THE COMPANY MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET PLACE—price, cycle time, quality, etc. Identify a competitor who is using new equipment to be more competitive. DEMONSTRATE HOW THE EQUIPMENT WILL OVERCOME A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. 10. NO MATTER HOW THE JUSTIFICATION IS MADE, the merits of your request will be greatly enhanced when your boss supports the request. Get your boss to adopt the idea as his/her own idea and request. www.sportsturfonline.com