Branches of Facilities Management
As a business, having a commercial property is very important but adding value to it makes it a more lucrative proposition. In order to maintain the utilities within a property there has to be a deliberate intention to seek the right resources that ensure all real estate assets are well maintained.
An integrated facilities management solution therefore comes in to ensure that clients receive the best possible management for their facilities. This service will go a long way in the reducing the amount of redundancy and management related wastage that is associated with poor management.
There are several categories of services involved in facilities management and outlined below are three of the main ones:
1. Estate management
This includes a wide range of services that generally focus on the general oversight of realty including the physical premises, equipment and environs. In many cases this will also include certain support services. Below is a list of some of the major activities involved in estate management:
- Repairs and maintenance
- Overseeing utility services such as cleaning, waste disposal and landscaping
- Tenant and service provider liaisons
- Equipment maintenance
- Inspections and quality checks
- Security services
2. Office support management
Many serviced properties are equipped with offices for various purposes and there is a need to have qualified personnel to man these areas. Some of the office duties that require professional oversight include:
- Front office management
- Transport office management
- Courier and mail services
- Concierge services
- Warehouse administration
3. Engineering Management
Mechanical equipment and maintenance are a big part of any real estate property and they have to be managed in a professional manner. Facilities management offers specific engineering management solutions to fit the needs of specific properties. Some of the areas of concentration are:
- Operation and maintenance of mechanical equipment
- Reactive and planned maintenance for onsite equipment
- Management of energy equipment
- Quality assurance
- Assessment of possible risks
- Health and Safety Procedures
The main basis of all these activities is to be able to increase the value of any facility through professional handling of service provision. This is in line with local and international standards.
All the services mentioned above take a considerable amount of time and effort to deploy and maintain. This is the main reason why the facilities management is often an outsourced service and it is often pegged on professional execution even though sometimes they are seen as an unnecessary cost items.
Outsourcing the facilities management ultimately leads to reduced wastage due to proper maintenance and supervision.