The “profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality, comfort, safety, and efficiency of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology” is facility management, according to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
However, it is defined as the “organizational function which integrates people, place, and process within the built environment to improve people’s quality of life and the productivity of the core business” by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
Based on these two definitions, it can be deduced that the goal of facility management is to optimize a facility’s organization through the coordination of all its functions. To give an example, your facility consists of your building and everything inside of it.
The goal of facility management is to ensure that every individual and thing in your building functions in harmony with one another. The manager of facilities ensures that this is indeed the case.
The effective running of constructed facilities, such as office buildings, housing complexes, schools, and hospitals, is referred to as facility management. Lots of “multi-disciplinary worksite activities to ensure the functionality of the built environment with common tasks like cleaning services, pest control, landscaping, and lift maintenance” are included in it.
Table of Contents
Definition of Facility Management
The coordination of all the activities necessary to maintain the physical structures, assets, and systems of a firm is known as facility management. In addition to overseeing daily operations, facility managers carry out a long-term, strategic strategy for facility management. Reactive maintenance duties including painting, mending malfunctioning equipment, and tightening loose bolts are frequently included in these everyday chores. They might also consist of preventative and predictive maintenance chores, including regular audits or recurrent work orders involving HVAC checks.
All other staff members can concentrate on the overarching goal of the company or organization when facilities are managed well. The field of facility management “encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process, and technology,” according to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
Let’s Define Facility and Facility Manager
The word “facility” refers to a broad category of organizations for a variety of purposes, such as offering products and services. Although the phrase was originally intended to describe factories and industrial offices, it is now frequently used to refer to schools, jails, hotels, hospitals, and retail establishments.
These many facilities are intricately and intricately organized groups of people, departments, teams, tools, technology, and other items. To ensure seamless procedures and operations on a larger scale, facility management might be a daunting endeavor. Today’s facility management software makes a highly complicated process easier to understand.
To put it simply, facility managers are in charge of making sure that all of a facility’s systems and parts operate harmoniously and correctly. Through their responsibility for maintaining what is frequently an organization’s largest and most valuable assets, such as property, buildings, equipment, and other environments that house personnel, productivity, inventory, and other important elements of operation, they “contribute to the organization’s bottom line,” according to IFMA.
Skills and Roles of Facility Managers
Facilities managers need to be proficient in a variety of areas, such as project management, budgeting, human resource management, building systems and equipment, and health and safety laws. Along with having the flexibility to adjust to shifting priorities and conditions, they also need to be able to communicate clearly with contractors, building occupants, and other stakeholders.
Depending on the size and complexity of the facility, facilities managers may have different duties and responsibilities, but generally speaking, they consist of:
- Organizing and managing building upkeep and repair projects.
- Controlling the equipment and systems in a building, including the lighting, HVAC, and security.
- Ensuring adherence to safety guidelines, building requirements, and environmental criteria.
- Organizing the building’s use and space allocation.
- Creating and overseeing maintenance and operations budgets for facilities.
- Overseeing the acquisition of supplies and equipment required for building upkeep and operation.
- Coordinating interactions with suppliers, clients, building tenants, and other stakeholders.
- Ensuring the visitor’s and building occupants’ security, safety, and well-being.
- Creating and putting into effect green building techniques and sustainability strategies.
Although it can be difficult and demanding, the subject of facility management is also quite rewarding. Facilities managers play a vital role in supporting the success of businesses and the well-being of their employees and visitors by making sure that their facilities are secure, functional, and comfortable.
Facility Management vs. Facility Maintenance
There is a scope distinction between facility maintenance and facility management. The practical aspect of facility management is facility upkeep. The former handles a facility’s daily operations and is more reactive. However, the latter is in charge of a long-term, strategic vision that is centered on maintenance that is predictive and preventative.
The duties of facility management entail standing back and examining the broad picture. Robust facilities managers possess the ability to concentrate on long-term objectives. These managers will put in place the personnel, procedures, and technology necessary to assist a company in adopting a more proactive, anticipatory mentality. As a result, there will be savings, increased effectiveness, higher production, and a safer workplace.
The Importance of Facility Management Consultancy Services
Facility management consultant services are crucial to the smooth operation of many different types of facilities, such as office buildings, retail stores, apartment buildings, healthcare facilities, educational facilities, and more. The importance of facility management services cannot be overstated since they provide a plethora of benefits that raise facilities’ efficacy and efficiency.
1. Operational Efficiency
The goal of facility management services is to maximize operational efficiency through optimizing processes, maximizing the utilization of resources, and decreasing downtime. By implementing efficient maintenance schedules, managing energy use, and ensuring that space is utilized efficiently, facility managers can reduce expenses while increasing productivity.
2. Savings
You can save a lot of money with the aid of quality facility management services. Building managers can avert major malfunctions that would require expensive repairs or replacements by creating preventive maintenance schedules, carrying out essential electrical maintenance, identifying and resolving potential issues in advance, and conducting routine inspections. Additionally, they can strike favorable agreements with vendors and service providers, guaranteeing reasonably priced maintenance and repair solutions.
3. Asset Management
Buildings are important assets that need to be properly managed for the duration of their existence. Facility management services are centered around asset management, which includes asset tracking, maintenance scheduling, and lifecycle management. By using proactive maintenance techniques, facility managers may extend the life of their assets, enhance performance, and make informed decisions about upgrades, replacements, and repairs.
4. Compliance with Health and Safety Laws
Maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all residents is crucial, as is the law. To make sure that establishments follow health and safety laws, residential maintenance firms keep an eye on emergency preparedness plans, enforce safety procedures, carry out regular inspections, and manage any hazards. This improves inhabitants’ overall well-being and satisfaction while also reducing possible legal and financial repercussions.
5. Improved User Experience
Facility management services aim to provide the greatest experience for residents and guests. This means keeping the surroundings tidy and well-maintained, regulating lighting and temperature for comfort, and reacting fast to any issues or requests. Productivity and the facility’s reputation increase with a positive user experience.
6. Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
By putting waste management strategies, energy-saving techniques, and green practices into place, facility managers can reduce the environmental effects of their buildings. In addition to furthering environmental and corporate social responsibility objectives, this enhances the facility’s reputation.
7. Strategic Planning and Future Readiness
Services related to facility management include long-term planning and strategic thinking. An additional feature of this service is future readiness. Facilities managers plan for expansion or other enhancements, assess the facility’s current and future needs, and align facility operations with business objectives. Facility managers stay abreast of industry trends, technological advancements, and regulatory needs to guarantee that the building is adaptable, efficient, and future-proof.
8. Concentrate on Primary Business
Outsourcing facility management services allows companies to focus on their core competencies. By giving specialists the responsibility for facility-related tasks, businesses can focus their attention and resources on areas that directly support their mission and bottom line. By taking care of the complex facility operations, facility management services free up organizations to concentrate on their core competencies.
Facility Planning and Design
The goal of facility planning and design is to create a building that is affordable, sustainable, and complies with standards and regulations while simultaneously meeting the demands of its users and inhabitants. The main steps in the planning and design process for a facility are as follows:
Site Selection: A facility’s success depends on selecting the ideal location. The location, ease of access, zoning and land use laws, environmental effects, and the accessibility of utilities and infrastructure are all important considerations. These variables should be carefully analyzed, together with the requirements and objectives of the firm, before choosing a location.
Space Planning: The next stage after choosing a location is to ascertain how much space the facility will need. Analyzing the organization’s and its inhabitants’ needs and distributing space appropriately are part of space planning. This entails figuring out the dimensions and configuration of the rooms and areas as well as the movement of people and products inside the building.
Building Design: Building design involves creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing facility that meets the needs of its occupants and users. This includes picking out the finishes and materials, planning the plumbing, HVAC, and lighting systems, and adding features like safety, sustainability, and accessibility.
Construction Management: Construction management includes overseeing the construction process, from acquiring approvals and permits to managing contractors and subcontractors to ensuring compliance with regulations and norms. This entails managing timetables, finances, and resources in addition to keeping an eye on output and quality all through the building process.
Construction Equipment and Systems
Let’s examine the several building systems and apparatuses that are necessary for an establishment to operate well, including the HVAC, lighting, plumbing, fire safety, and security systems.
HVAC Systems are responsible for managing temperature, humidity, and air quality in a facility. Air handlers, ducting, controllers, and heating and cooling units are frequently found in these systems. HVAC system upkeep is essential to guaranteeing building occupant comfort and safety as well as energy efficiency and financial savings for the company.
Lighting Systems are responsible for providing illumination in a facility. Both artificial and natural lighting sources are included in this. In addition to being necessary for energy efficiency and productivity, proper lighting also promotes safety and comfort. Lighting systems should be made to minimize glare and energy consumption, while still providing enough illumination for various applications and spaces.
Plumbing Systems are responsible for providing clean water and removing waste from a facility. These systems consist of sewage treatment, drainage, and water supply pipes, fixtures, and controls. Plumbing systems must be properly maintained to avoid leaks, water damage, and health risks.
Fire Protection Systems are designed to prevent and respond to fires in a facility. Sprinklers, extinguishers, suppression systems, and fire alarms are some of these systems. To safeguard building inhabitants and reduce property damage in the case of a fire, fire protection systems must be properly maintained.
Security Systems are made to keep people and property safe from theft, unauthorized entry, and other security risks. Alarm systems, intrusion detection, security cameras, and access control are some of these systems. To guarantee the safety and security of building residents and assets, proper maintenance of security systems is essential.
Maintenance and Repair
Let’s analyze how crucial it is to give these systems and pieces of equipment routine maintenance and repairs to guarantee their longevity and best performance.
Professionals in facility management employ a variety of maintenance techniques to maintain the equipment and building systems in optimal operating order. The goal of preventive maintenance is to extend the life of equipment and avoid malfunctions by doing routine inspections, testing, cleaning, and lubrication. Conversely, reactive maintenance is a reactive strategy that entails repairing machinery after it has malfunctioned or broken down. Corrective maintenance entails replacing or fixing outmoded or non-repairable equipment.
There are several advantages to maintaining and repairing building systems and equipment properly. It protects building occupants’ safety and well-being first and foremost. Equipment malfunctions can result in mishaps, injuries, and health risks. Frequent maintenance can stop these kinds of things from happening. It also guarantees that the equipment operates at its best. For instance, a well-maintained HVAC system can cut running costs and energy consumption. Thirdly, it increases the equipment’s lifespan. Frequent maintenance can avert expensive replacements and early equipment breakdown.
Experts in facility management need to create a thorough maintenance schedule that specifies how often and what kind of maintenance each piece of equipment needs. A budget for upkeep and repairs, as well as a timeline for replacing equipment as needed, should also be included in this strategy. Maintaining regular communication with building tenants and other relevant parties is vital to prevent maintenance activities from interfering with regular operations.
Suggested article to read: Building Maintenance; Comprehensive Guide 2024
Energy Management
Let’s talk about how important energy management is to facility management. To minimize the impact on the environment and operating expenses, energy management entails maximizing energy consumption, enhancing energy efficiency, and putting renewable energy solutions into practice.
There are various ways that facilities managers can implement to minimize energy usage. To find locations with high energy use and possible areas for improvement, the first step is to conduct an energy audit. The audit can assist in locating energy-wasting behaviors, outdated equipment, and chances for building system upgrades or retrofits. Additionally, facilities managers can lower energy usage by installing energy-efficient lighting, modernizing HVAC systems, and controlling energy use with smart building technologies.
Increasing energy efficiency is a key component of energy management. To minimize energy waste, this entails optimizing the operation of building systems and equipment. Facilities managers can, for instance, install energy-efficient windows and insulation, use building automation systems to regulate lighting and HVAC and optimize HVAC systems to lower heating and cooling loads.
Facilities managers can use renewable energy solutions to lessen their dependency on fossil fuels and lessen their environmental effects, in addition to lowering energy usage and increasing efficiency. Electricity, hot water, and space heating and cooling can all be produced using renewable energy sources including solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Additionally, facilities managers can take advantage of renewable energy initiatives provided by utilities, like net metering and green power purchases.
Suggested article to read: Building Energy Optimization; Comprehensive Guide 2024
Sustainability
Sustainability is a developing topic in facility management as we become more conscious of our impact on the environment. Sustainable buildings are made with the residents’ well-being, the environment, and resource conservation in mind. This section will go over the significance of sustainability in facility management as well as some of the most important techniques for creating environmentally friendly buildings.
The cornerstone of sustainable facility management is sustainable building design. Building designers and architects can collaborate with facilities managers to integrate sustainable principles into the building design process. This entails utilizing sustainable materials, optimizing natural light and ventilation, and designing with energy efficiency in mind. In addition to being flexible and adaptive, sustainable buildings are made to accommodate changes in technology, occupancy, and building use throughout time.
Another important component of sustainable facility management is the use of green building techniques. These methods, which emphasize sustainability, resource conservation, and waste reduction, are intended to lessen the negative effects of buildings on the environment. To construct healthier, more sustainable facilities, facilities managers can apply green building strategies including cutting back on water usage, utilizing low-emitting materials, and enhancing indoor air quality.
Suggested article to read: Sustainable Construction Technology; Ultimate Guide in 2024
Safety and Security
One of the main responsibilities of a facilities manager is making sure the building and its occupants are safe and secure. This entails putting security procedures into place, recognizing and reducing risks, and being ready for emergencies. The several safety and security precautions that facilities managers must take to safeguard building residents will be covered in this section.
Emergency Preparedness: Being ready for emergencies is a crucial part of facility management. An emergency preparedness plan that specifies what to do in the event of a fire, earthquake, or other natural disaster must be made by the facilities manager. The plan should outline safe havens, evacuation routes, emergency communication procedures, and personnel emergency preparedness training.
Hazard Identification and Mitigation: Facilities managers need to identify and mitigate hazards to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants. Physical, chemical, and biological risks are all possible. Regular inspections are necessary for the facilities manager to spot possible risks and take the necessary precautions to lessen them. This could entail installing a lockout/tagout scheme, offering PPE, and repairing leaks or malfunctioning equipment.
Security Protocols: Another crucial component of facility management is the implementation of security protocols. To detect possible security hazards and take appropriate measures to minimize them, the facilities manager must perform a security assessment. This could entail setting up access control systems, adding security cameras, or hiring guards. The facilities manager is also responsible for making sure that staff members receive security protocol training and adhere to it consistently.
Suggested article to read: Construction Site Safety: Comprehensive Guide 2024
Space Management
A key component of facility management is effective space management, which entails optimizing the use of available space inside a structure to increase productivity, comfort, and efficiency for building inhabitants. This section will cover the significance of space management in facility management, including technology’s role in maximizing space usage and the planning, allocation, and utilization of space.
The Significance of Space Management: Space management is crucial in ensuring that a facility’s physical space is being used optimally to meet the needs of the organization and its employees. Facilities managers can save overhead expenses related to unused or extra space, increase staff productivity, and foster cooperation by managing space well.
Space Planning: Efficient space planning involves identifying the space requirements of an organization and designing the layout of the facility accordingly. This entails figuring out how big and how many workstations, conference rooms, and common areas are required to fulfill the aims and objectives of the company. During the planning phase, other elements including building codes and regulations, workflow, and accessibility should be taken into account.
Space Allocation: Following the completion of space planning, space allocation entails allocating particular facility areas to departments or persons according to their demands. Facilities managers are responsible for making sure that space is distributed fairly and equally, taking into consideration the demands of both particular departments and the corporation as a whole.
Technology in Facility Management
Over time, facility management has seen tremendous change, and technology has been a major factor in this change. Facility management has undergone a revolution thanks to technology, which has produced new tools and systems that make the job of facilities managers easier and more productive. This section will cover the growing applications of technology in facilities management, such as predictive maintenance and data analytics, building automation systems, and computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) software.
Building Automation Systems
Computer-based systems known as building automation systems (BAS) regulate and keep an eye on a building’s electrical and mechanical systems, such as the lighting, security, HVAC, and fire protection systems. Facilities managers may minimize energy use and maximize building efficiency with the aid of BAS. Better management and real-time visibility into the building’s operations are made possible by BAS, which enables facilities managers to monitor and control the building’s systems from a single interface.
Suggested article to read: Automation in Construction: A Guide to 2024
Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) Software
Facilities managers can manage their buildings more effectively with the use of CAFM software, which offers a consolidated database containing data on building operations, maintenance, and space management. Facilities managers may track maintenance and repair activities, automate repetitive procedures, and streamline workflows with the use of CAFM software. To maximize facility performance, facilities managers can make data-driven decisions with the help of real-time data and analytics from CAFM software.
Data Analytics and Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance and data analytics are becoming more and more crucial to facility management. To find patterns and trends, gain insight into building operations, and pinpoint areas for improvement, data analytics entails gathering and analyzing data. Facilities managers can take proactive measures to fix issues before they become serious ones by using data and analytics to predict when maintenance is needed. Facilities managers can now make data-driven decisions that enhance facility performance, lower expenses, and boost tenant happiness thanks to these technologies.
Outsourcing and Contracting
The practice of outsourcing facility management services has grown in popularity recently as more businesses look to cut expenses and concentrate on their core competencies. Contracting with outside suppliers for services including maintenance, cleaning, security, and landscaping is known as facility management outsourcing. While there are numerous advantages to outsourcing, like cost savings and access to specialist knowledge, there are also several drawbacks to take into account.
This strategy should include barriers or dedicated pathways as a means to keep cars and people apart. It should also have a system in place to handle deliveries and parking, as well as visible signage to direct vehicles and pedestrians.
Even with these advantages, there are drawbacks to outsourcing facilities management services. One of the key issues is ensuring quality control. It can be challenging to keep an eye on service quality and make sure suppliers are adhering to service-level agreements when services are outsourced. This is particularly true if the vendor is situated off-site, in a different nation or region.
Effective communication is another difficulty. Clear lines of communication must be established between the business and the vendor when services are outsourced. This includes setting up procedures for issue resolution, escalation, and reporting. To make sure the vendor is living up to expectations and providing services that support the objectives of the company, effective communication is essential.
In general, there are a lot of advantages to outsourcing facility management services, but before choosing, it’s critical to thoroughly consider the advantages and disadvantages. When choosing whether to outsource or retain services in-house, organizations should take into account variables including communication, cost savings, and service quality. Organizations can make sure they are getting the most out of their facility management services by carefully weighing these aspects and setting clear expectations with providers.
Compliance and Regulations
Facilities managers must be current on the laws and standards of compliance that apply to their field. There are numerous laws and regulations to abide by to guarantee the safe and effective operation of your building, including building codes, safety standards, environmental restrictions, and legal requirements. Ensuring the safety of both building residents and visitors is a more important goal of compliance than merely avoiding penalties.
One of the most crucial rules that facilities managers must follow is the building code. These codes are made to make sure that buildings are built securely and that they adhere to the minimal requirements for fire safety, structural integrity, and other important aspects. It is your duty as a facilities manager to guarantee that your building conforms with all relevant building rules and that all required permits and inspections are secured.
Another crucial area of compliance for facilities managers is safety laws. These rules address several different topics, such as security procedures, hazard detection and mitigation, and emergency preparedness. Facilities managers may guarantee the safety of their building’s tenants and visitors by putting safety measures including evacuation plans, fire safety plans, and security protocols into place.
The significance of environmental rules in facility management is also growing. Facilities managers may help create a more sustainable future in a variety of ways, such as by adopting environmentally friendly materials and products, cutting back on waste, and reducing energy consumption. Facilities managers may lessen the environmental effects of their building and give residents and guests a healthier, more sustainable environment by adhering to environmental rules.
Human Resources Management
One crucial but frequently disregarded component of facility management is human resources management. It includes hiring, educating, growing, and retaining employees who are in charge of the upkeep and management of the institution. Any facility management program’s effectiveness depends on having a motivated and well-trained team as well as a favorable workplace culture.
The initial stage of human resource management is hiring qualified personnel. Facilities managers must determine the qualifications needed for each position and select candidates who meet those requirements. A variety of methods, such as job advertisements, employee recommendations, and recruitment firms, can be used for recruitment.
Training and development are essential for the success of newly hired staff. Facilities managers are responsible for making sure that employees have access to the training and development opportunities they need to do their jobs well. This can involve classroom instruction, certificates, and on-the-job training.
Employee motivation and retention are also impacted by a favorable work environment. Facilities managers have a responsibility to establish a work atmosphere where employees feel appreciated and valued, and their efforts are acknowledged. Programs for employee engagement, team-building exercises, and staff recognition are a few examples of this.
Stakeholder Management
Building and sustaining good relationships with a variety of stakeholders, such as building tenants, clients, suppliers, and other parties involved in the upkeep and operation of a facility, is an essential part of stakeholder management in facility management. A facility’s seamless operation can be ensured by practicing effective stakeholder management, which can also encourage cooperation and openness among all parties.
Since building tenants are the facility’s main users and their contentment is essential to its success, managing them is especially vital. It is the responsibility of facilities managers to guarantee that building occupants feel safe and comfortable and that their wants and complaints are promptly and effectively attended to.
This could entail offering conveniences like cozy seating, sufficient lighting, and temperature control in addition to promptly attending to maintenance requests and security issues.
For effective stakeholder management, fostering long-lasting partnerships with suppliers and customers is also essential. To create strategies that support their aims and objectives, facilities managers must collaborate closely with customers to fully grasp their needs and expectations. Furthermore, they must cultivate robust associations with suppliers to guarantee the provision of essential resources and commodities to the facility for optimal operation.
Lastly, encouraging candid communication and teamwork amongst all stakeholders engaged in facility management and operations is a crucial component of good stakeholder management. To make sure that everyone agrees, this may entail many meetings and conversations in addition to continuous initiatives to advance accountability and openness.
The 5 Best Facility Management Software
Here is a list of top facility management software you can use:
1. SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor)
Site managers can use the SafetyCulture platform for a range of tasks, including monitoring assets, scheduling site security assessments and inspections, keeping track of work orders, and carrying out preventive maintenance.
Features:
- Create and assign corrective actions within inspections and set the priority levels
- Report issues using a QR code and organize them into custom issue categories
- Generate comprehensive yet sleek reports with photos, locations, and e-signatures
2. ArcGIS
Facility managers may access and display critical data with ArcGIS, a highly powerful location-based analytics tool. It can be used by facility managers to map out the whereabouts of their employees, assets, and facilities and to keep an eye on their movements in real-time.
Features:
- Track and manage assets using location intelligence
- Predict service needs to efficiently maintain facilities
- Coordinate quick and appropriate responses to issues as they emerge
3. Maintenance Connection
With its preventative maintenance module, Maintenance Connection is an automated facility management system that helps facility managers cut down on emergency repair orders while extending the life of their equipment. Use this software to reduce maintenance and inventory costs.
Features:
- Monitor all aspects of facility management with ease
- Organize and understand the workforce for higher efficiency
- Schedule and track maintenance on different kinds of assets
4. NETfacilities
A facility management program called NETfacilities gives users the option to see how much each work order will cost. Facility managers can also submit work order requests and manage their assignments using this CAFM software. It can also be used by managers to evaluate how well their work order system is working.
Features:
- Measure time and materials spent on work orders
- Evaluate vendor compliance to minimize overall risk
- Build customized workflows for asset maintenance
5. Fiix
Facilities managers can maximize the performance of their assets with Fiix’s simple-to-read analytics and reporting. With Fiix Foresight, an artificial intelligence (AI) engine for maintenance, you can acquire deeper insights and make data-driven decisions.
Features:
- Track metrics across all facilities with multiple dashboards
- Integrate data from production and business systems
- Tag assets and parts using QR codes and barcodes
The Top 5 Facility Management Challenges
There are many obstacles facing business owners and managers in the facility management sector. So that you may understand the majority of them and know how to overcome them, we have chosen to introduce you to the most significant ones:
1. Adjust Budget and Costs
Utility owners request cost minimization from managers. Cutting expenses means finding the best and most affordable answers for every need, which means carefully reviewing the budget and getting rid of anything that costs a lot of money or replacing it with something less expensive. The facilities manager must therefore be skilled in negotiations to get the best quotes from vendors.
2. Maintenance of old Equipment
Good facility management is characterized by the manager’s and the facility’s or institution’s organizational and administrative staff’s attention to problems that can be resolved.
This attentiveness is especially noticeable for certain equipment and assets whose issues are straightforward and don’t call for extensive maintenance or the need to replace them with pricey ones.
As a result, regardless of how minor the details may seem, the manager in this situation needs to accurately and continuously monitor them. Because of this, he needs to put a lot of effort into solving facilities management difficulties and roadblocks to maximize their productivity and extend their lifespan.
3. Enjoying the Ability to Coordinate and Manage Multitasking
In the field of facility management, the entrusted manager works in tandem with his team to solve any issue that arises at work.
As a result, you need to be able to assign and organize tasks among your team members. To attain optimal coordination in the allocation of responsibilities, the manager is dependent on computer systems and Internet-based applications to schedule tasks and oversee facilities as needed.
One of the biggest challenges in managing any organization or public utility is the manager’s interactions with his staff and making sure they are productive. As a result, this phase serves as a transitional link to the fourth facility management difficulty, time management.
4. Efficient Time Management
Time is valuable because it drives output. Any business or organization that wants to succeed financially and with excellence must prioritize having a manager and staff who are dedicated to their jobs.
For the tasks assigned to him and his team, the facility management officer needs to be proficient in time management and planning. The person in charge of facilities management must also make use of all tools available to him for time management, including software that specifies functions by predetermined times. Naturally, saving money also means saving time.
5. Ability to Decide on the Replacement of Technical Equipment
As everyone knows, the budget allotted for the upkeep of the facilities as a whole may become unbalanced when some equipment within the organization needs to be replaced.
Thus, meticulous planning results in fewer needless expenditures and optimal use of public or private utility resources. In this case, emergency and urgent repairs should always be covered by a portion of the budget.
4 Facility Management Future Trends
The management component of facility management is becoming significantly more vital as time goes on due to the smarter and more sophisticated buildings and workplaces.
What does the future hold for teams that manage corporate facilities? These five trends will guide facility management teams through ambiguity, assist them make wise choices, and help them get the most out of their workplace ROI.
1. Workplace Experience Will Become an FM Responsibility
Until recently, HR and sometimes CRE teams were the only ones responsible for creating a better work environment, depending on the organization. However, we now understand that workplace facilities, layout, and general atmosphere can make or break an employee’s experience and ultimately determine whether or not the office is worth the journey.
Remodels and redesigns of workplaces increase job satisfaction among employees by 17%. And while these kinds of activities are never entirely the job of FM teams, they do come under the purview of FM. However, a lot of office conveniences, including meals, do.
The days of employees coming into the office for a free lunch are long gone, but new data indicates that 68% of workers think that food is the best office benefit, and half of them are dissatisfied with the options available for lunch.
2. Decarbonizing Workplace Processes Will Become a Priority
These days, sustainable facility management is more of a need than a trend. Buildings account for 37% of worldwide emissions, and since the pandemic, a sizable portion of office space has remained unoccupied even with the lights on.
FMs can decarbonize workplace processes in a variety of ways, such as by shutting off consistently underused floors in a building and turning off the heating, air conditioning, and lighting, or by refraining from overspending on office furniture that might wind up in a landfill when no one is using it. One such method is to continuously monitor workplace data.
Alternatively, facility management teams can reduce food waste by ordering the appropriate quantity of food based on data that forecasts changes in demand for food services within a week.
3. Facility Management Teams Will Use New Metrics to Optimize Office Portfolios
Since 2020, 62% of firms have reduced the amount of space they have dedicated to offices, and 43% want to continue cutting over the following three years.
However, this does not imply that the plan is indiscriminately destroying space at any cost. For most firms, optimizing the corporate real estate portfolio has taken precedence over downsizing. This could entail rearranging the current area or even downsizing or upsizing, depending on the circumstances.
We’ve already seen a movement in the indicators that workplace leaders use to make these optimization decisions from planning to performance, and this trend is expected to continue.
4. Organizations Will Use Better Data to Deliver Better Experiences with Less Space
Future developments in facility management will be primarily driven by two factors: declining portfolio sizes and growing space sharing.
As fewer spaces are shared by more personnel, facility management requirements will become more specific and dynamic. FMs will therefore require data from the whole portfolio.
The majority of businesses use credential swipe data, which doesn’t show what happens to employees once they go into the workplace. Furthermore, this data may be blatantly false if coffee badging and other back-to-office workarounds take hold.
Occupancy sensor data may also be utilized by organizations in high-traffic locations such as conference rooms. As a result, judgments are made based more on gut feelings than on facts, leading to data blind spots across bigger portions of the portfolio without sensors placed.
Conclusion
A methodical approach to guaranteeing the efficiency, comfort, safety, and functioning of corporate activities is known as facility management or FM. Coordination of personnel, organizational structure, and operational facilities is necessary to uphold corporate goals and accomplish shared objectives.
Helping people is at the center of the facility management (FM) sector. It provides assurances of the built environment’s effectiveness, durability, comfort, and smooth operation. The built environment comprises the buildings in which we live and work as well as the surrounding infrastructure.
A facility management firm is a qualified service supplier in charge of a building’s general upkeep, security, and functionality. Usually, they oversee a huge complex or institution. The corporation maintains a hospital, warehouse, office, retail, or residential complex. The main goal of facility management is to streamline processes and increase output by helping with all of the labor-intensive everyday duties required for a business or individual to run smoothly.
When a facilities manager does their duties effectively, they add to the overall success of the organization. Among these are the upkeep of an organization’s most important and valuable assets, which are frequently its buildings, real estate, machinery, and other systems that support staff, inventory, productivity, and other operational necessities.
The goal of facility management is to keep business assets like real estate, structures, machinery, and other operational components in use for their intended purposes. It supports the company in making sure that legal and regulatory standards are met.
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