Why Facility management?

Organizations worldwide are realizing the importance of efficient infrastructure, facilities and an effective system to optimize productivity and profits.

Over the last five years facilities are improved in India significantly. Facilities Management is about managing people and places to achieve best value for money by balancing between user needs and business needs to achieve optimum organizational effectiveness.

What is facility management?

In general facility management is the management of buildings and services, which includes "hard services" and "soft services." Hard services includes engineering services, electro mechanical services, plumbing & water management, energy & safety services. Soft services includes house keeping, garden & lawn , pest control, waste management, vendor management, mail room services, staffing solutions, hospitality services, security services, etc. The term "property management" is referred to larger commercial properties where the management and operation is more complex.

Why outsource?

It is the role of facility management partner of the organization to ensure that everything is available and operating properly for building occupants to do their business.The facility manager generally has the most influence upon the quality of life within a facility . The innovations in the area are significant. The third largest expense of an organization is directly reported related to real estate and facility management. Effective facilities management in an organization saves millions of dollars to the company. The most valuable investment an organization needs to make for an efficient FMS is to choose a right partner to outsource its facility management. This will surely maximize the company's returns on investment. A single service provider is relatively new idea but  many of organizations are getting used it.

Understanding the needs

The scope of a company's facilities management will vary based on the size of a company. A small business run from home will have few facilities management concerns, while government projects, public sectors, universities, and major corporates often have huge complexes requiring a separate facilities management department.

Contrary to popular belief, good facilities management does not just maintain the status quo, it helps your workplace on a daily basis. Facilities that are functional, well maintained, and eye pleasing add property value. In addition, when your customer walks through or drives into the parking lot, your facilities advertise your business. Additionally the morale and productivity of your employees will rise in accordance with the respect you show them and comfort you give them in the form of quality facilities.

Facilities Management's Effectiveness is Measured Through ... helping Clients to retain good employees by providing an excellent working environment.

When most people think of facilities, the first thing they consider is buildings. Buildings are the most noticeable section of facilities management, but even that topic is a huge section in itself and comprises of many topics within the buildings such as electricity, air conditioning, computers, other technology, stairs/elevators, plumbing etc. to name a few areas. In addition to buildings, facilities management also includes sub-sections such as roads/parking.

In addition to ensuring optimal use of company facilities, facilities management staff is also in charge of ensuring that the workplaces are completely safe.

By using the right service provider companies can save considerably in energy, security & safety, parking, transportation etc.

How does new technology relate to facilities management?

Along with other areas in the corporate world, the field of facilities management has been greatly affected by technology. Facilities management departments, however, not only use technology themselves, they are in charge of the allocation and maintenance of technology for the entire organization.

Facilities management staff, along with the rest of the company, uses computers to communicate, research, and plan everything from budgets to meetings. Certain forms of automated facilities management even decrease the need for human involvement by doing massive amounts of record-keeping or even repairs on their own.

Facilities management also must consider the needs of the rest of the company. It can also work to understand what kind of technology is needed and in which places?

Computers are the most obvious form of technology that concerns facility management in some of the areas discussed. The support of administrative facility management through information technology is identified as Computer Aided Facility Management which is widely getting approved.  

Beena R Nathan is the CEO of Acme Facility Management Services Pvt. Ltd. Acme provides Integrated Facility & Property Management Services to many corporate clients. A business partner whom you can depend upon. Ph No.:41150741/2/3 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Issue BG83 Feb 08

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