The role of information logistics and data warehousing in educational facilities asset management

Abstract

In Portugal, education is one of the most resource absorbing sectors and thus it is important to improve its efficiency. Despite the complexity of the educational sector, it is important for managers to improve maintenance performance of educational facilities, focusing on areas such as maintenance, building systems, safety improvements and technology, if possible anticipating in time problems and opportunities. Data warehousing present a major role in understanding, planning, scoping and delivering knowledge back to organizations in a timely and effective fashion. It is important to consider information systems as a mean to support work orders entry, inventory control, payroll and accounting, for example. On the other hand, information systems offer the possibility of resource or strategy planning and even analysis, important to the decision making process. This article presents some results of a study concerning the University of Coimbra Facilities Asset Management, namely its stadium, sporting centre and athletic grounds. As a result of a previous audit, it identifies some areas needing improvements, as well as the suggestions made to improve maintenance management, management decision making and strategies employed in maintenance management, documents for maintenance or data warehousing, among others.