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It’s not unusual to have subcontractors on site in a data center – whether electricians, mechanical companies, plumbers or security experts. “When you have a written plan, it’s a lot easier to be successful,” he says. Aversion to risk: CFMs are big on documentation, to ensure everything is done properly the first time, with “no surprises,” as CFM Jim Moriarty puts it. “I honestly take a lot of pride in my work and that’s what I try to instill in my team.”Ģ. “In the 5 years my team and I have been maintaining this data center, we have had zero downtime,” Santiago says. That kind of attention to detail pays off.
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“You are responsible for the operations of a facility, of someone’s business – the core of their business.” He and his team perform walkthroughs on every shift, visiting every room of the data center three times per day to ensure all is well. Dedication: Running a facility that operates 24x7x365 is “not just a 9 to 5 job where you punch in, punch out,” says Carlos Santiago, a Schneider Electric CFM. Four Traits of Highly Effective Data Center Managersġ. In hiring Critical Facility Managers, here are four traits to look for to ensure the manager will excel at the job.
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Meeting those kind of demands puts a lot of pressure on the people who operate data centers. Many customers have zero tolerance for downtime, so plans must be in place to deal with everything from routine upgrades to widespread power outages without missing a beat.
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In talking with some of the Critical Facility Managers (CFMs) who are responsible for data center operations in these facilities, it’s clear they share at least four attributes.īefore diving in, though, it’s important to draw a distinction between “critical” facility management and “facility management.” A traditional office building, school, or retail store will have a facility manager who takes care of the building, making sure HVAC systems are functioning well, the roof doesn’t leak, the lights stay on and so forth – all certainly important for the comfort and well-being of the building occupants.īut the stakes are far higher in a critical facility such as a data center. Through our Critical Facility Operations service, Schneider Electric manages data centers of all sizes around the world.
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