Deferred maintenance happens when an organization chooses to delay routine repairs or scheduled upkeep. When those postponed tasks pile up, they form a deferred maintenance backlog that can affect efficiency, safety, and long‑term operational costs.
In the U.S. there is an estimated $1 trillion in deferred maintenance for publicly owned infrastructure.
The Cycle of Deferred Maintenance
Unfortunately deferred maintenance happens to many organizations. Funding falls short, resources tighten and leaders must make difficult decisions about where to invest. Often, those investments do not flow to aging facilities. When this cycle repeats over time, a backlog accumulates.
Frankly, these projects are easy to put off. On a case-by-case basis they seem small, both in importance and cost. Yet, many small repair costs can compound into a substantial part of the budget. In fact, organizations that defer maintenance may end up paying 15 times more than the total repair cost in the future. When you are unable to meet the cost, the backlog increases, and the cycle of deferred maintenance barrels on.
Consequences of Deferred Maintenance
Backlogged maintenance and repair issues don’t appear overnight. They build slowly through everyday use and prolonged delay. It can be easy to move small repairs or everyday maintenance to the backburner as more critical projects take priority. But when you keep neglecting your deferred maintenance backlog, you run the risk of a significant infrastructure failure that can have serious consequences for your community. Deferring maintenance makes risk mitigation and long-term facilities planning and sustainment difficult to achieve.
Growing Backlog of Maintenance and Repair
Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) encountered budget constraints that resulted in a growing backlog of maintenance issues. As is often the case, the facilities team was forced to respond reactively rather than strategically and proactively. This approach to maintenance and repair isn’t sustainable, and it can put crucial operations at risk.
By partnering with Gordian to conduct a thorough Facility Condition Assessment (FCA), OHSU was able to gather facilities data and leverage those insights to strategically allocate limited resources. They now have the information they need to optimize decision-making and keep their facilities humming.
Want to know how much your organization is contributing to the $1T in backlog? Get an FCA and find out more about your facilities maintenance and repair backlog.
Getting Back on Track With Strategic Assessment Insights
About that $1T deferred maintenance backlog. U.S. infrastructure like schools, bridges and utilities all need regular condition assessments to establish the baseline of asset health and performance. The data captured can provide owners the information they need to develop budgets and manage assets strategically. This savvy, data-driven approach to decision-making and financial investment is the best defense against growing deferred maintenance needs.
Ready to Tackle Backlogged Infrastructure Projects
Gordian’s Job Order Contracting (JOC) solutions can empower you to do many projects under one contract. This unique construction procurement process saves you time and administrative costs so you can quickly address facilities needs. Built on using preset construction costs to price all work, even emergency repairs, JOC offers transparency and cost control. It is an ideal delivery method for deferred maintenance projects.
