Aimée L Felton 2012

42 information is collected - if it becomes an arbitrary task the information tends to become unstructured and often irrelevant for the effective use - preventing clear judgements to be made upon analysis of the data. The diverse nature of the information collected, ranging from quantitative to qualitative (such as photographs and maps) with a limited reliance upon assumption requires the need for all the data to be stored on an integrated database, allowing easy access, regular updating and preventing the document from becoming a fixed object. This database is the next strategic process of utilising the information collated, assimilated and analysed through the conservation plan and maintenance management plans. There are financial, budgetary and time savings to be made from an effective use of management software. Rather than allowing a piecemeal approach of repair and replacement, a database is able to provide provisions of cyclical or planned work whilst maintaining a catalogue of work carried out - controlling budget and allowing organisations to more accurately forecast future annual budgets. A provision for analysis, feedback and monitoring of the programme should enable accurate, unbiased decisions to be made. Whilst an information database is projected as a panacea for the administration problems caused by regular maintenance, the reality is that maintaining such a system still requires high allocations of time and within an organisational structure is probably only updated on a quarterly basis. Throughout the lifecycle of the management plan, a conservation plan and policies, a process needs to be set in place by the organisation to monitor and assess the performance and success of the strategy. The appropriate time scales set to various activities should drive the assessment programme, although it is FOUR Chapter Four - Maintenance Management Aimee Felton