The Role of a Facility Manager & Why You Need One.

From a distance, "Facilities Management" appears to be self-explanatory. It may appear oversimplified to someone interested in a career as a facilities manager because the work is becoming more sophisticated every year. It's best to learn a little about facilities management to comprehend the title, the function, and all that goes together.

We'll go through what facilities management is, its primary duties, how facilities managers carry out their duties, and the overall goal in the sections below. Although we'll cover the fundamentals, keep in mind that facilities management is experiencing a period of innovation. Organizations use commercial real estate, project management, what employees expect from facilities, and the instruments used to manage buildings are all evolving.

 WHO IS THE FACILITY MANAGER

Facility managers are experts who serve in various capacities within the corporate world. Still, their main goal is to assist you in enhancing your organization's operational effectiveness. It would be best if you worked with facility managers to achieve your business's objectives. Every task they carry out ensures that your organization runs well daily because they are responsible for this.

Facility managers must operate both strategically and operationally to achieve this optimum efficiency. When engaged in operational activity, they are available to assist with specific tasks and make adjustments as needed. In terms of strategy, they help the business create plans and procedures that will enhance operations in the future.

THE KEY ROLE OF A FACILITY MANAGER

Facilities managers oversee the care and upkeep of residential and commercial properties, ensuring that the grounds and buildings are kept in good condition. They supervise the facility workers and are in charge of planning and budgeting for anything from routine maintenance to significant building projects. Facility managers are sometimes known as contract managers, business service managers, and support service managers.

Hard FM tasks refer to the management of a building’s physical space, such as:

• Property strategy, design, and planning
• On and off-site building management
• Implementing a predictive, reactive, or preventive maintenance approach
• Contract management
• Space management
• Maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
• Lighting, plumbing, and electrical inspections
• Ensuring fire safety systems are in working order
• Providing emergency responses

Soft FM tasks refer to the management of services that a business depends on to provide a safe built environment, such as:

• Health and safety management
• Building Security
• Waste management services
• Budget management
• Supporting staff across departments
• Workspace management
• Cleaning and washing facilities
• Catering

In essence, facility managers are in charge of all the services that support a company's or other organization's ability to function. Among the key responsibilities are managing and approving contracts with service providers for security, parking, cleaning, catering, technology, real estate, facility management, project management, and other services, as well as supervising multidisciplinary teams of staff that include groundskeepers, cleaners, and security.

• Maintaining basic amenities like heating and water, controlling spending, and assuring cost-effectiveness.
• Allocating and managing space between buildings while ensuring that facilities adhere to legal requirements and environmental, safety, and health criteria
• Giving business advice on how to become more cost- and energy-effective
• Directing construction, remodeling, or renovation projects
• Assisting companies with office relocation and lease decision-making by preparing written reports and advice.

To ensure facilities can be most efficient if they work for a construction business, they may also have some input in designing a new office building. Even though many facilities managers handle a wide variety of duties, it is feasible to specialize in "soft" or "hard" facilities management, real estate, or project management services. Soft services are mainly concerned with people, while complex services are everything to do with the actual structure, such as electrical systems. Office hours are 8.00 am to 5:00 pm; however, overtime is occasionally needed to fulfill deadlines or handle some emergencies.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FACILITY MANAGER IN YOUR ORGANIZATION

An essential component of successfully running an organization is facilities management. As a result, when you include a facilities manager in the daily operations of your company, they will be crucial to:

• Planning Strategically

Strategic planning gives your company a defined direction and will enable you to monitor your advancement over time. A facilities manager will assist in determining short-term and long-term goals, such as reducing expenses and increasing productivity, and will also help you achieve these goals. You may get from where you are to where you want to be by using strategic planning. The successful and manageable expansion of your organization depends on strategic planning.

• Managing Your Daily Activities

Facilities managers are likely to participate in the day-to-day operations of your company in addition to strategic planning for the future. Facilities managers will also arrange, coordinate, and manage office space, supervise contractors, and plan disruptions to lessen their effect on business operations. A competent facilities manager will raise your business's overall operational effectiveness. They will give your staff the resources they need to do their jobs properly and support the smooth running of your company's daily operations.

• Putting in place and enforcing health and safety regulations

Your company needs policies to safeguard its staff, clients, and customers from harm. Usually, your facilities manager will supervise this process. To lessen the dangers of workplace hazards, they will conduct risk assessments and establish and enforce health and safety procedures.

They will also manage any crises that arise on-site and keep an eye on your processes to ensure they are constantly current. They will assist your company in adhering to health and safety regulations by doing this.

• Coordinating building and premises security, maintenance, and repairs

Facilities managers often manage the guard, upkeep, and rehabilitation of your building. This safeguards workers and their belongings, stop unauthorized access, and guarantees that your installation complies with regulatory standards. As well as, responsible for maintaining the entire site or a specific section, evaluating its state, determining whether repairs are necessary, and ensuring they are made. They are also in charge of planning the management and disposal of garbage. Many workers take for granted how clean their workplace is, but without a facilities manager overseeing the process, the level of hygiene could deteriorate.

 CORE AIM OF FACILITY MANAGER

The core objective of a facility manager is to create an accommodating work environment for employees. It will serve many broader goals, including attracting and retaining top talent, improving efficiency and productivity, and creating a positive workplace culture.

Facilities managers aim to maintain and maintain an organization's buildings, ensuring that they meet legal requirements and health and safety standards. Facility managers (FMs) operate across different business functions, working on both a strategic and operational level.

End of the line, facilities managers are crucial to the efficient operation of an office. They have a significant role in the long-term strategic planning of the company's objectives and day-to-day management. They'll also ensure your office operates at peak efficiency, meets goals, and adheres to a strict budget. A qualified facilities manager will provide your business with the resources it needs to operate efficiently and safely.