A primary function or activity exists in every commercial or institutional structure. A hospital’s main activity, for example, is the treatment of medical patients. The primary purpose of an automobile assembly plant is to produce automobiles and trucks. The facilities manager is in charge of the efficient operation and maintenance of these structures.
In most organizations, the facilities manager is a salaried position. The facilities manager’s job is to provide an optimal environment and support services for the occupants of a building or building complex in order to support and improve an organization’s primary activities. People, processes, buildings, and technology all play a role in effective facilities management.
Convention centers, industrial and office complexes, hospitals, hotels, vacation resorts, and airports are among the commercial and institutional buildings where facilities managers work. The diverse and unique needs of each building necessitate multidisciplinary managerial expertise. A hospital facilities manager, for example, might be in charge of laundry services and hazardous waste disposal, as well as the purchase and installation of a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and contracting for parking lot asphalt repairs.
A facilities manager is usually in charge of overseeing occupational safety and health issues. Fire safety, industrial emission controls, alarm systems, and indoor air quality are among these responsibilities. The facilities manager must be familiar with local, regional, and national safety laws and regulations. Grounds management and maintenance, building automation and building systems management, and moving or installing new equipment and furniture are all examples of facility management responsibilities.
The establishment of competency and performance standards and benchmarks is critical in the global economy. The Certified Facility Manager (CFM) credential was developed the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA). The IFMA’s stated goals are to ensure professional excellence, establish standards for professional facilities management practice, promote the value of professional facilities management, and positively influence future facilities management practice.
A facilities manager must meet a set of educational and practical experience requirements to become a CFM. He or she must also pass a competency-based exam that measures a person’s abilities against established facility management standards. The exam assesses knowledge in nine areas, including operations and maintenance, human and environmental factors, property management, planning and project management, personnel management, and communication skills.
The role of the facility manager is changing all the time. Many facilities managers are also expected to contribute strategically providing information to upper management about the best use of space and advising upper management on space and support service decisions. This strategic role emphasizes the global economy’s growing influence and importance of effective facilities management.