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What is Facilities Management?

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Facilities management is a broad term that refers to the design, construction, use, and maintenance of some of your company's most valuable resources--its facilities. A facilities management department coordinates an organization's efforts in all of these areas. Once you get a view of how broad an area is covered by facilities management, it is understandable that one study reports that facilities management accounts for thirty percent of annual spending by organizations.

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. Consider some of the topics within the sub-section of buildings: electricity, heat, air conditioning, computers, other technology, stairs/elevators, and plumbing, to name a few areas. In addition to buildings, facilities management also includes sub-sections such as roads/parking lots, architecture, construction, renovation, and landscaping/green space.

Understandably, 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, universities, and major corporations 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, from the time a customer walks through the door or drives into the parking lot, your facilities advertise your business. Finally, 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.

Whether they have designated employees for the task or not, every organization runs a facilities management program. The question is not whether to have a facilities management program, the question is how good is the one you already have.

Next Page: How should I make decisions regarding the construction and location of my facilities?

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