Case Studies

GMAC

OBJECTIVE: Move 7 GMACM facilities into one central location by the end of 2007 (500,000 sq. ft.)

Office Environments (OE) successfully worked with GMAC Mortgage to relocate 7 existing Horsham Campuses and 2500+ employees into 1 central location at the former Ft. Washington Expo Center.

By creating an intelligent inventory database of existing furniture assets, OE was able to create accurate budgeting tools, attain maximum reuse of existing furniture while integrating with new furniture, and ultimately execute the project under budget and with zero downtime or loss of productivity. In addition, Office Environments negotiated a blended labor agreement which saved a substantial amount in labor costs, while avoiding potential conflicts. Overall, innovative services from the OE team saved GMAC Mortgage over 40% in comparison to an all new solution.

GMAC MORTGAGE CHALLENGES

• Changing organizational culture
• Enhance the working environment
• Sensitivity to environmental issues
• Reutilization of existing products
• Zero downtime for business units
• Timeline constraints with lease expirations
• Budget constraints
• Changing organizational culture

OFFICE ENVIRONMENT’S CHALLENGES

• Participate with consultants in the feasibility analysis.
• Logistics planning with all trades involved.
• Assist consultants with workflow analysis and impact planning for project.
• Investigate and develop technical process to govern and manage specification, reutilization, work orders and change orders, as well as financial reporting.
• Participate in development of overall project strategy
• Organize and execute product analysis and application, new vs. reuse, etc., phasing, critical timelines, budgets, accountability standards.

ACTION STEPS

PERFORM FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR REUTILIZING EXISTING FURNITURE.

• Analyze logistics of relocating furniture in phases to eliminate downtime.
• Build a team including project management, site management, administration and technical support.
• Create preliminary schedules to analyze timeline feasibility.

COORDINATE A MOVE STRATEGY WITH MULTIPLE PHASES.

• Voice and Data, construction, human resources, labor, new vs. existing furniture, shipping schedules, and punch lists/ customer satisfaction.

CREATE AN EXTENSIVE DATABASE OF EXISTING PRODUCT USING LIKE ITEM TAGGING.

• Evaluate and select a robust inventory management system.
• Inventory existing furniture.
• Each item inventoried includes finishes, descriptions, condition, dimensions, and specific locations.
• Utilize Like Item Tagging to give each part a consistent name on drawings, specifications and documents that can be easily identified by designers, installers and end users alike.
• This alternative to SKU numbers allows everyone involved to understand project documents and easily communicate.
• Create processes and procedures for comparing existing and new furniture needs within the inventory management system.

CREATE BUDGETS FOR FURNITURE PURCHASES, LABOR AND SERVICES USING THE INVENTORY DATABASE.

• The budget information provided by OE, gave GMAC the intelligence they needed to make major project decisions.

DEVELOP A UNIQUE LABOR SOLUTION.

• OE initiated discussions on blending labor resources.
• By utilizing a unique solution for the teardown, transportation and installation at the new site, GMAC saved approximately 60% in labor expenses over conventional practices.

MAXIMIZE THE REUSE OF EXISTING FURNITURE.

• Develop typical workstations with consultants.
• Specify a preliminary floor plan.
• Forecast product reusability and surplus.
• Discuss recycling and disposal options for items that did not fit into the scope of the project.
• Create new orders to supplement reuse shortages.
• Meet GMACM budget objectives. (Saved 40% reuse vs. new)
• Provide documents with specific descriptions and locations for labor resources to identify and move reusable product to the new facility.

CONCLUSION: OE provided a single source solution for strategy, planning, specification, project management, order management, site management and financial reporting that simplified logistics and provided accountability for all furniture related issues. Our process management and commitment to disciplines involved, keyed our success.

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