Facilities management is a continually changing industry as facilities themselves have become digitized. For this reason, facilities management best practices must evolve. Today, facilities managers are relying on data and analytics to enhance decision-making. This means new and seasoned facility managers must stay updated with the latest facility management best practices and technology to obtain a competitive advantage. Read on for four tips for better facilities management to help you achieve operational success, cut expenses, and enhance maintenance management efficiency.
- Automate facility maintenance operations
Establishing a streamlined and customizable workflow is one of the most effective ways to ensure good facilities management. A simplified and automated workflow helps maintain consistency, enhance facility efficiency, and increase visibility.
Be sure to automate processes like HVAC systems and facility lighting to increase operational efficiency. By connecting your company’s HVAC system to the automation system, you gain more control over the heating and cooling of your building. This leads to better energy usage. Investing in automatic lighting systems can also lower energy expenses in the long run.
You should also invest in facilities management software to generate and submit electronic work orders. This does not only eliminate paperwork. It also enhances visibility in your facility maintenance operations, improves employee collaboration, and enhances facility efficiency.
- Create an inventory of assets
To enhance visibility and make more informed decisions about your assets, you should establish which assets are in use at specific locations. You cannot keep track of warranties and repair and maintenance expenses without clearly understanding what assets are in use at each site. You also cannot perform preventative maintenance or make repair vs. replacement decisions about your assets, leading to expensive consequences. For this reason, consider investing in equipment tracking and management systems to accurately track and tag assets across different locations within your organization.
- Customize facilities management operations to suit your company’s needs
When it comes to facilities management, one size does not fit all. Each organization operates differently, so whether you prioritize asset management, preventative maintenance, or special projects, you must tailor your workflow to your entity’s unique facilities maintenance needs. This enables you to capture, report, and track critical details about your facility’s process, giving you the tools you require to foster operational success. It also ensures that every facility decision is in the organization’s best interest.
- Ensure open and effective communication across the board
Be sure to maintain clear and open communication across departments, among your team members, and with external suppliers. Ensure everyone is on top of any changes made within your facilities and operations. You should also listen and act upon your team’s concerns.
Communicate with your vendors about service requests, scheduled and ongoing repair and maintenance projects, training programs, equipment, and invoicing. By maintaining open communication, you improve your team’s productivity and accountability, maintain good vendor and contractor relationships, and eliminate unnecessary tasks.
Endnote
As a facilities manager, each day brings new opportunities and challenges that necessitate innovative solutions. You streamline operations, cut costs, and ensure overall sustainability by automating facilities maintenance processes, creating an inventory of assets, customizing facilities management to your organization’s needs, and ensuring effective communication across the board.
