Page 14 - CFESA Magazine November / December 2018
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END-USER REPORT
WILLIAM EASTON
MAINTENANCE MANAGER
MONTEITH CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX
Getting the job done with “Our staff are not kitchen equipment
experts and sometimes their lack of
the resources you have.
knowledge prohibits them from diagnosing
the problem right away. They may try
An inside look at correctional facilities and the everything within their capabilities to
foodservice repair challenges in North America.
make a piece of equipment functional, but
sometimes the problem is too complex.
Correctional facilities across North America *This can also create a safety issue if
face many different challenges to repair and a technician inadvertently bypasses or
maintain their foodservice equipment. With disables a built-in safety device.”
such strict clearance processes required
to bring in outside service agents, and “Attempting to replace equipment also
the limited knowledge of internal staff or presents problems. Our building is an old
inmates who oversee maintenance, it is structure. Access to the facilities was not
sometimes difficult for the Facility Manager designed for large kitchen equipment. For
to keep the equipment in optimal condition. example, we just received a new oven which
I arranged a conversation with William was much too big to go through the doors.
Easton, Maintenance Manager at Monteith Our only option was to take apart the doors
Correctional Complex, to better understand to bring the equipment into the kitchen.”
the challenges he faces and to find
opportunities to contribute to the industry The lack of training and equipment
at a different level. understanding, inadequate funding, in-
house technicians and dated equipment, are
What is the toughest part of maintaining only a few of the issues the Facility Manager
your foodservice equipment? faces today. Understanding all of these
challenges allows service companies and
“Our equipment is getting older. The older manufacturers alike, to create solutions and
it gets the more downtime we experience. open conversations to facilitate relationships
Emergency repairs and routine maintenance within the segment. With approximately 102
become more frequent. It becomes Federal prisons, 942 juvenile correctional
expensive. The toughest part is trying to facilities and 3,283 local jails in the US
locate parts for this dated equipment, at and 216 facilities in Canada (Federal and
a good price, and with a quick delivery Provincial), the market potential is an
turnaround. It sometimes takes forever to expansion of the current institution segment
access and receive the proper parts.” and perhaps an unexplored option for
Servicers in North America.
What are some of the other challenges
you face with keeping your facility’s Interview & article by
foodservice equipment operational? Brenda Tovar / Heritage Foodservice
14 CFESA Magazine | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 | www.cfesa.com
