The successful maintenance and management of a facility are becoming increasingly crucial as the fast-paced Fourth Industrial Revolution dawns. Buildings are becoming smarter, and technology is becoming more complex, requiring appropriate management to avoid business disruption and maximize data insights.
This is where having a full-time facility manager comes in handy. Facilities managers are in charge of ensuring that the company’s physical infrastructure is in good working order, as well as recognizing opportunities for increased efficiency and cost savings.
The importance of good facilities management
Effective facilities management is critical to the success of any organization, regardless of its size or breadth. Your organization’s agility, flexibility, and sustainability can all benefit from good facilities management and upkeep. It ensures that business activities are efficient and smooth and that they are not frequently disrupted by a variety of technical issues.
What does a facilities manager do?
The normal responsibilities of a facilities manager differ from one organization to the next. Facilities managers are in charge of the upkeep and repair of an organization’s buildings, ensuring that they comply with legal requirements as well as health and safety regulations.
Facility managers (FMs) work in a variety of corporate activities, both strategically and operationally. Facility management specialists are responsible for providing, maintaining, and growing a variety of services, including:
- Property strategy
- Space management
- Communications infrastructure
- Building maintenance
- Testing and inspections
- Building administration
- Contract management
- EHS(environment, health, safety)
- Security
- Facility Maintenance planning
- Managing renovations and refurbishments
Responsibilities of the facility manager
In general, the facility manager’s job is to guarantee that the facility runs well on a daily basis by conducting daily inspections and doing repairs and maintenance.
The following is a list of some of the responsibilities of a facility manager:
- Sourcing and overseeing contracts and service providers for functions such as catering, cleaning, parking, security, and technology
- Advising businesses on measures to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the facility
- Supervising teams of staff across different divisions
- Ensuring that basic facilities are well-maintained and conducting proactive maintenance
- Dealing with emergencies as they arise
- Managing budgets
- Ensuring that facilities meet compliance standards and government regulations
- Planning for the future by forecasting the facility’s upcoming needs and requirements
- Overseeing any renovations, refurbishments, and building projects
- Helping with office relocations
- Drafting maintenance reports
Core traits and skills of a successful facilities manager
A variety of abilities and competencies are required of successful facilities managers. They must be able to maintain positive connections with a wide range of stakeholders, including suppliers, employees, managers, contractors, and executives.
A facility manager’s job is complicated and varied; they must manage budgets, draw on technical expertise, make quick judgments, and handle problems. They also benefit from previous experience, which will assist them in identifying potential problems and resolving them as quickly as feasible.
Modern facility managers should be able to comprehend and apply technology such as computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) to improve their work by increasing productivity, minimizing downtime, and streamlining daily operations. Check out our What is a CMMS System and How Does it Work guide for a more in-depth look at CMMS.
Some of the qualities needed for expert facilities management include:
- Competent writing and communication skills – including the ability to communicate technical information
- Relationship-building
- The ability to prioritize and multi-task
- Time management skills
- Teamwork, leadership, and motivational skills
- Procurement and negotiation
- Proactive thinking
- Understanding of soft and hard service delivery
- Passionate about delivering consistent excellence
What qualifications does a facilities manager need?
There are a number of different qualifications that can be applied to a facilities management role. Examples include:
- Degree in facilities management
- Higher national diploma
- Foundation degree or a related qualification in management, engineering, or business studies
Many organizations prefer applicants who have a professional facilities management certification, such as the International Facility Management Association’s competency-based Certified Facility Manager (CFM) accreditation.
Relevant technical skills and managerial experience are also required. Working their way up in a company via in-house training, further certification, or an apprenticeship can potentially lead to a career in facilities management.
Does your business need a facility manager?
A specialist internal facilities manager is employed by many larger companies. In smaller businesses, however, facilities management responsibilities are frequently assigned to a member (or members) of the staff outside of their normal responsibilities. This can interfere with their essential tasks, and it also means that facilities management and maintenance may not be as efficient as they could be.
For firms without in-house facility maintenance experience, outsourcing is a recommended choice because it may be both more effective and cost-effective. An outsourced provider can take on some or all of the responsibilities of a facility manager, allowing you to focus on your primary business.