Construction is only the first step in owning productive and effective assets. Although design-and-build is vital, the operation, maintenance and disposal of assets are likely to represent the most costly phase of ownership.

SMEC South Africa, which has traditionally focused on the engineering required to construct a wide range of assets, from roads and infrastructure to factories, hospitals and residential estates, has just established a new Asset Management division, with Tom Bürge as General Manager.

Bürge’s has extensive experience in this regard, having worked in South Africa, Botswana, Malaysia, Sudan, Lesotho, Switzerland and Brazil. This broad exposure will help SMEC international interpret their extensive product offering in Asset Management and apply it into the developing markets of Africa.

“Exposure to both public and private enterprises means we will be able to understand Asset Management in both profit and service delivery focused environments,” Bürge comments.

“While the tools we use to develop effective operational practices in both public and private enterprise are similar in nature, the way we apply these tools may differ drastically in such environments,” he adds.

Strategy execution the main challenge

“Strategy development is the first step to ensuring a sustainable asset management programme. However, strategy execution remains the number one challenge of any organisations to achieve results from their asset management projects,” Bürge highlights.

“The asset management industry has to mature and begin to realise that effective asset management programmes must result in a behaviour change on the part of the people who design, operate and maintain assets.

“We must ensure that the developed strategies are simple and well executed. In addition, we must identify projects that promise real bottom-line returns and ensure that we implement these well,” Bürge comments.

Commenting on his new role at SMEC South Africa, Bürge says he now has “access to many of the world’s best and most innovative engineers. I fully intend to capitalise on this impressive talent and resource pool.”