Commercial facilities require ongoing maintenance and care. Without facility management and maintenance, buildings would quickly decay. Facility mangers work hard to keep buildings, and thereby businesses, working safely and efficiently.
Facility Management Explained
According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), facility management is “a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality, comfort, safety and efficiency of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.”
Facility management ensures efficient operation of buildings, systems, and services to support safety, productivity, and sustainability. Generally speaking, facility managers ensure a business’s buildings, assets, equipment and grounds are safe and efficient.
What Does a Facility Manager Do?
“Overall, we are responsible for providing high quality care of facilities, while being as efficient with time and expenses as possible. We do this by making sure to use and share best practices, both internal and external, as well as technology and innovation to drive continuous improvement,” explains Ted Spicer, COO of Continuum Services. This includes:
Maintenance and Repairs:
Developing and implementing a preventive maintenance plan, coordinating repairs and inspections, and ensuring the proper functioning of all building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and security systems.
Space Management:
Optimizing the use of space within the facility by coordinating office layouts, furniture arrangements, and storage solutions. This includes planning for expansions, relocations, or reconfigurations to accommodate changing needs.
Safety and Security:
Implementing and maintaining safety protocols, emergency preparedness plans, and security measures to protect the facility, occupants, and assets. This may involve overseeing fire safety, conducting risk assessments, and coordinating with relevant authorities.
Vendor Management:
Managing relationships with external vendors and service providers, such as cleaning companies, maintenance contractors, and security personnel. This includes negotiating contracts, monitoring service quality, and ensuring compliance with established standards.
Budgeting and Financial Management:
Developing and managing budgets for facility operations, maintenance, and capital projects. This involves forecasting expenses, monitoring costs, and identifying cost-saving opportunities while ensuring resources are allocated efficiently.
Sustainability and Environmental Management:
Implementing sustainable practices and initiatives to reduce the facility’s environmental impact, such as energy efficiency programs, waste management strategies, and green building certifications.
Compliance and Regulations:
Ensuring compliance with relevant codes, regulations, and standards pertaining to safety, accessibility, environmental impact, and building maintenance. This includes staying updated on changing regulations and coordinating inspections as necessary.
Stakeholder Communication:
Acting as a point of contact for facility-related inquiries and concerns from occupants, management, and external stakeholders. This includes effective communication and coordination with various departments, tenants, and users of the facility.
Overall, a facility manager plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of a facility, addressing maintenance issues promptly, managing resources effectively, and creating a safe and functional environment for occupants.
Continuum Facility Services
Our dedicated and experienced facility and engineers managers, building engineers, maintenance technicians and day porters perform high-quality facility services and preventative maintenance so you can be worry-free. Scheduled tasks are performed on a planned rotating basis, before a problem occurs, rather than at the time of an emergency or on overtime. This is an advantage that protects your facility’s assets and value, while reducing operational and capital replacement costs.
Our daily building operations and engineering service professionals’ focus on maintenance and more, including:
- Building Engineering and Operations
- Maintenance and Day-porter Services
- Tenant Request and Work Order Management
- Scheduled Mechanical and HVAC Maintenance and Repair
- Building Evaluation, Due Diligence and Asset Valuation
- Building Automation, Temperature Controls and Energy Management
- Predictive and Preventive Maintenance
- Lighting and Relamping Services
Contact Us
For more information on facility management and facility maintenance at Continuum Services, please call us at (833) 378-4088 or email cs-sales@continuumservices.com.
