Facility management (FM) is the comprehensive management of products and services within a facility. It is the process of organizing people, processes and things in order to provide collective services to a community. A common example is the management of a residential or commercial building. Learn more about the services that needed in the field of facility management.
Space and Infrastructure aka Hard FM
Hard facility management includes infrastructure, the physical structures that make up buildings. This includes the design, planning, repair and maintenance of various systems within the building, such as:
- HVAC
- Electrical
- Plumbing
People and Organization aka Soft FM
Soft facility management includes the coordination of people and their work activities within their physical environment. This includes the management of accounting, human resources, marketing and other types of departments within an organization.
Facility managers are responsible for ensuring a safe, efficient environment for employees, customers and visitors. They are responsible for managing projects, reducing costs, saving money, mitigating risks to health and safety and many other tasks.
Environmental Health and Safety
Ensuring that the environment is safe and free from toxins is a main objective of facility managers. They investigate and handle any sanitation issue that may cause injury or illness to employees. In addition, they mitigate risks to fire safety that may cause severe bodily injuries or property damages.
Cleaning and Sanitation
Facility managers maintain housekeeping operations to ensure that the facility is clean at all times. They are responsible for scheduling professional cleaning services on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Repairs, Maintenance and Inspections
Facility managers maintain the systems that are necessary to run a building. They respond to complaints about malfunctioning equipment and call in for repairs when necessary. Regular maintenance is recommended to prevent equipment from breaking down suddenly and causing major inconveniences. In addition, inspections may be scheduled to check for defects, such as broken pipes or wires, that could worsen over time.
The need to build sustainable businesses and environments has increased the need for facility management. Facility professionals are responsible for constructing buildings, setting up facilities and operating the services from within. They must know how to coordinate a good amount of their time, effort and resources to complete a wide range of tasks. In the end, make sure that your facility provides enough comfort and efficiency to its owner and occupants. Contact us at 408-295-2182 to find the right professionals for your project.