Challenge

The client, one of the world's largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial aircraft, defence platforms, and business jets, identified energy management as a business-critical concern within the company's operations.

Ongoing energy crises in the wider economy continue to exacerbate multiple problems, such as energy supply. Long-term ESG targets and sustainable energy management became more important than ever before.

The client had identified an opportunity to increase both production and energy efficiency simultaneously, due to the increased synergy between operational service lines. Now that ABM provides both hard and soft services – as part of a full-service integration package – this was viewed as a key strategic goal.

“The client's business operation is now supported by a refined and increasingly sustainable energy management strategy and technical operation."

ABM was tasked to help develop and then implement a sustainable energy solution that would support long-term growth for the client, prevent unnecessary energy expenditure, and achieve ESG targets with tangible results.

Solution

Through regular collaboration with the client, ABM was able to establish an effective mobilisation plan for the client's energy management requirements.

ABM ensured minimal disruption to the client's operations by focusing on skill and knowledge retention, especially within energy management. This was regarded as critical from the outset. ABM worked in close collaboration with client stakeholders, across all levels of the business, to ensure as much operational knowledge was retained in frontline staff.

Having replaced the client’s previous supplier of energy management capabilities – and hard services in general – ABM was conscious of knowledge gaps and filled them as quickly as possible. As part of the wider mobilisation plan for the client, discussing TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) options with active operational staff was a top priority. This provided both the client and ABM with a broad strategic overview of skills and capabilities.

Senior energy engineers who chose not to renew their contracts, for example, required an outside consultant to work with them, so that operational knowledge could still be retained and applied for strategic and training purposes.

To help steer the client's energy management, and subsequent future projects, ABM worked closely with its client to develop the client’s energy strategy.

This was further supported with monthly discussion forums conducted by stakeholders. As a result, ongoing implementation processes were guided with real-time site reports and a dynamic energy strategy.

As part of the client's prioritisation of energy efficiency, an energy register was installed to track usage across the company’s sites. This allowed stakeholders to track which three sites at any given time were the most energy-intensive at times of reporting. These reports would then be discussed in focus groups with client stakeholders and site managers, so that the client and ABM could identify opportunities for improved energy management.

To remain compliant with local and national ESG mandates, ABM trained frontline staff in ESG practises, as well as introducing an ESG team as part of the contracted services package, to provide a robust knowledge base for the client's operations. This helped staff across the company demonstrate a working knowledge of ESG principles, in addition to best practises.

To support the overarching energy strategy, ABM worked with the client to establish a wider five-year capital plan. This included a register of opportunity to help identify future projects by calculating cost of delivery, ROI, and potential energy savings.

Moreover, a Register of Opportunities was established to support long-term asset resilience and avoid unnecessary loss of resources. With the capital plan as a structure, the client can now determine which projects will deliver the greatest return on investment, as well as prioritise future projects.

Benefits

• ‍Full Integration of Hard Services: The client's hard services were successfully integrated by ABM with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations.
• ‍Enhanced Energy Management Capabilities: The client’s long-term energy management has been refined through a variety of services and operational efficiencies, including a dedicated team of ABM engineers, technically management, and an enhanced energy management strategy.
• ‍Operational KPIs Achieved Consistently: The client’s operational efficiency was maintained and exceeded within two months of delivery, which was consistently reached thereafter; the first month reached a score of 88%, and the next month hit the contracted target of 95%.
• ‍Five-Year Capital Plan: The client and ABM collaborated to refine the former’s existing five-year capital plan, leveraging ABM’s expertise to help support the client's operational goals. This continues to identify opportunities, assess ROI, and implement new projects within its operations.
• ‍Energy Register Implementation: The client can now track its energy expenditure with greater ease and ensure it’s able to measure against strategic targets.‍
• Increased Synergy Between Hard and Soft Services: The client's operational capabilities complement one another where they previously didn’t interact at all. As production increased, so did overall efficiency; soft services are now capable of increased support for hard services. Now that ABM is providing full-service facilities management for the client, operational and energy efficiency is increasing.
• ‍Operational Knowledge Preservation: The client's expertise within energy management was retained via TUPE and third-party consultancy to ensure that critical staff members could impart essential site knowledge. ABM and the client has been able to build upon this knowledge and further develop the client’s energy strategy.