Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.
Warren Buffett
Specialty trades don’t cause noise every day. But when they do, they stop the business. In our last CoreBuild™ Collective meetup, FM leaders tackled one of the most complex parts of our world:
- Specialty assets
- Limited vendor pools for specialty work
- Proprietary equipment
- Long lead times
- Capital vs. repair decisions
From pet wash systems to drive-thru equipment, conveyor lifts, compactors, balers, elevators, specialty healthcare equipment, and more.
Key realities
If Facilities isn’t at the table during design, we inherit the risk. Specialty equipment without a maintenance strategy becomes an operational liability.
Manufacturer relationships matter, but so does diversification. Sole-source providers can create pricing and availability risk over the long term.
Full cost of ownership must be part of every pilot. Labor savings alone don’t tell the story. Utilities, serviceability, parts access, and lifecycle planning all matter.
The skilled trade shortage is real. When only a handful of technicians can service an asset, response time and cost reflect it.
Education reduces frustration. Helping Operations understand why specialty assets may not move at the speed of standard trades is critical to getting repairs reported on time.
Plan replacements with Finance. A strategic replacement program for specialty assets should be a specific annual carve-out.
Facilities isn’t just “fix it.” It’s revenue protection, risk management, and operational continuity. That’s the level of conversation we’re building inside the CoreBuild™ Collective.
If you’re a multi-site FM leader who wants in, reach out at [email protected]. We’re expanding thoughtfully across retail, restaurants, healthcare, grocery, and service-based brands.