A facilities management strategy focuses on improving the wellbeing and performance of staff within a company. The right strategy will go beyond daily services and support, and prioritise the development of long term initiatives. These are best supported with the right combination of property maintenance services. The goal of a facilities management strategy is to ensure both the happiness and safety of those individuals within the facility.
Learn more: Dependable commercial property maintenance services.
What is facilities management?
Building and facilities management encompasses how facilities at a company are maintained and managed. These facilities don’t have to be offices, they can be any mechanical or electrical utilities, or even physical resources owned by the company that could prove to be a potential hazard to staff.
Facility managers should be future-oriented and agile in response to the evolution of the management strategy, and work effectively in partnership with individuals and teams across their organisation.
Why is a facility management strategy important?
Strategic facilities management can have different objectives depending on the company involved, however it should broadly focus on accomplishing one or more of the following goals:
Communication
Establishing communication with both stakeholders and building occupants can help you determine how the current environment functions, and where improvements could be made to improve safety and wellbeing.
Safe environment
Providing a safe and healthy environment is the ultimate objective for a facilities management strategy. It’s important to be aware of any potential risks to health, and implement strategies to avoid or correct any of these risks. These strategies can also include other aspects of hard and soft facilities management services.
Learn more: Hard facilities management services | Soft facilities management services
Avoid deficiencies
It’s always better to prevent a problem in advance, rather than have to fix it! If facilities are left unchecked for a length of time, their functionality can be affected. It’s useful to complete regular property management checks to identify any deficiencies in the building and avoid any major problems in future.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency saves money. Identifying where utilities in your building might be wasting energy can help make your facility more energy-efficient. You can also use equipment that saves energy such as energy-efficient lightbulbs, or by sealing any leaks from pipes and other items to reduce any energy wastage.
Business continuity
Some facilities will be completely dependent on fully functioning equipment in order to run their business properly. A business continuity plan acts as a contingency plan where key assets and their risks are identified within a facility. The continuity plan should clearly lay out how normal operations of the business could be affected as a result of a break in full function.
How to build a facility management strategy
Strategic facility planning can enhance an organisation’s effectiveness and the health and wellbeing of its employees. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Get clear on a strategic position
First, gain some clarity around the current environment and conditions of the facility. The strategic team should assess the culture and goals of the company, and decide on strategies to align with these. The appointment facility manager needs to understand how any changes will affect the needs of the company, and know which direction the company is heading. All of this can help inform future company requirements and operational costs.
2. Evaluate priority objectives
Once the core needs of the facility have been identified, the facility manager should assess objectives that align with these. Objectives that are time sensitive or support a large number of people at the facility should be given priority.
3. Create a strategy
Now you have your baseline needs and objectives sorted, it’s time to create the strategy itself. Developing a strategy involves identifying which initiatives can be used to reach the objectives already set out, and implementing a time frame in which to achieve them.
4. Strategy implementation and management
For the best chance at success with your strategies for facilities management, everyone across the company should be aware of what initiatives are in place. All team members should be clear on their roles throughout the facility management plan – what they have to do, and when!
5. Strategy monitoring and evaluation
To check that the FM strategy is having the desired effect, you will need to monitor the work being done and assess if any progress is in alignment with the priorities set out at the beginning. It can be useful to obtain direct information from staff themselves, and see if any changes should be made to prioritisation levels or the overall approach. Ultimately, the facility manager is responsible for this.
So there you have it – a blueprint for creating your own facility management strategy! But if you need any help or advice, we’re right on hand. Just get in touch here and we’ll be happy to chat through any of your queries.
