ROAD AND STREET MAINTENANCE: A SYSTEM FOR CONTROL, BUDGETING, FINANCING

SAN DIEGO COUNTY MUST MAINTAIN ABOUT 2,100 MILES OF ALL TYPES OF ROADS IN WIDELY VARYING CLIMATES AND TOPOGRAPHY. EARLY EFFORTS IN ROAD MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT INCLUDED: (1) SCHEDULING OF DIVISION-WIDE SPECIALTY CREWS, (2) DEVELOPING AND USING COMPREHENSIVE COST ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES, (3) TIGHTER CONTROLLING OF CERTAIN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS WHICH RESULTED IN ROAD BETTERMENT, AND (4) PILOT SCHEDULING OF ROAD MAINTENANCE CREWS. A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT WAS RETAINED TO FORMALIZE AND IMPROVE THE EXISTING SCHEDULING, PLANNING, AND COST ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. THE BACKBONE OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS THE USE OF THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK ORDER, EITHER OPEN (SCHEDULED) OR CLOSED (COMPLETION OF AN UNSCHEDULED OR PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED ORDER). PROGRESS OF THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IS ILLUSTRATED FOR MANAGEMENT USING SIMPLE GRAPHS. FORMALIZED MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION ABOUT NINE MONTHS. MANY BENEFITS HAVE ALREADY BEEN NOTED, HOWEVER, PARTICULARLY IN PLANNING AND SCHEDULING PRACTICES, IN IMPROVING METHODS AND PROCEDURES ON MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, AND IN THE GENERAL OUTLOOK FOR THE MAINTENANCE FOREMAN.