Introduction
The main functions of integrated facilities management go beyond the actual management of the physical space. Because of this, the role can be difficult to clearly define meaning that it is also difficult to maximize its advantages.
That being said, proper facility management is extremely important and when done right can reap many advantages.
In this article, we will go over the details of what a facility manager does and what they are responsible for, taking a closer look at the four main cornerstones of integrated facilities management. These pillars can be broken down into people, processes, physical space, and technology.
People
A facility manager’s primary goal is to ensure that the office is a welcoming work environment for employees. This helps achieve a variety of broader objectives, such as attracting and retaining top personnel, increasing efficiency and production, and cultivating a healthy workplace culture.
Employee assistance is provided by facility managers in a variety of methods such as organizing desk arrangements, keeping track of employee directories, facilitating space utilization, and handling emergency planning.
Facility managers are the foundational link between the workplace and the people that work there. The facility manager is responsible for resolving any difficulties related to accommodations, safety, or comfort.
This is also true in the upward direction. Facility managers are in charge of supplying critical planning data to the C-suite and deciding on a long-term strategy for workplace optimization. Their daily interactions with coworkers reveal hidden costs and competitive advantages at the employee level.
Processes
A facility manager’s primary goal is to ensure that the office is a welcoming work environment for employees. This helps achieve a variety of broader objectives, such as attracting and retaining top personnel, increasing efficiency and production, and cultivating a healthy workplace culture.
Employee assistance is provided by facility managers in a variety of methods such as organizing desk arrangements, keeping track of employee directories, facilitating space utilization, and handling emergency planning.
Facility managers are the foundational link between the workplace and the people that work there. The facility manager is responsible for resolving any difficulties related to accommodations, safety, or comfort.
This is also true in the upward direction. Facility managers are in charge of supplying critical planning data to the C-suite and deciding on a long-term strategy for workplace optimization. Their daily interactions with coworkers reveal hidden costs and competitive advantages at the employee level.
Processes
The functions of integrated facilities management are governed by processes. Processes help bring order to the workplace. The order establishes a set of expectations and in turn, this promotes organization, which has a significant impact on how people use the workplace. A variety of processes are used in the workplace including submitting work requests, reserving spaces, check-ins, and emergency action planning.
Facility managers are responsible for both recognizing governance gaps and designing systems to address them. When a new issue emerges, the facility manager is responsible for bringing order to the chaos and developing a repeatable framework for dealing with the situation in the future.
The scope of facility management also broadens with the development of procedures. Different departments, personnel, assets, fixtures, and places may all be involved in new processes, all of which connect the many components of the organization.
Physical Space
While facility management is primarily concerned with the repair and improvement of physical structures, the role entails more than just maintaining the structure; it also entails fostering alliances, long-term planning, and asset management. The following are some instances of the wide range of responsibilities:
- Finding and maintaining vendor contracts
- Repair, maintenance, and building improvement
- Workplace cleaning and décor
- On-site/off-site property management
Anything related to the actual structure of the building falls under the purview of the integrated facilities manager. Their job is to turn the workplace into a competitive advantage, rather than a cost centre because integrated facilities are the second-highest expense after labour. It’s all about making sure that the facilities fulfil the demands of the individuals who use them.
Technology
It is extremely important for facilities managers to understand and apply adequate technology. Workplace management systems collect data and use it to make important decisions on how to run a company and design the workplace. Facility managers are responsible for identifying and deploying the appropriate technologies.
The IT department is usually in charge of integrating physical technologies. Integrated facilities managers, on the other hand, have the final say in how they’re chosen, used, and leveraged.
In a modern setting, these can look like researching IoT devices based on data collection needs, integrating IoT devices into everyday facilities processes, or even using aggregated data to better understand the workplace.
Facility managers should collect and analyze data to gain insights about the workplace using an Integrated Workplace Management System. This leads to better decision-making about how to improve the working environment for those who use it.
It’s vital to understand that data collecting isn’t used by all workplace tech. Safety is aided by access control systems, and procedures are streamlined by automation technology. While each networked device or software has a data component, the main utility of most technology is in its operation. It’s up to facility managers to understand and use this function to get the best return on investment.
Conclusion
Workers are supported both directly and indirectly by facility managers. They develop order and organizing processes. They are responsible for maintaining and improving the facilities. They build sophisticated linkages to make data work for them.
Combining these four functions present a picture of what facilities managers do. In general, their goal is to improve the workplace so that it can assist every area of the organization. But, at a deeper level, it’s about laying a solid basis for the company’s future success.
