16.03.2020, 20:00
Debunking the Myth: Why FM is Not Exclusively About Managing Contracts
Paul Lucas, managing director of Artic building Services, explains why the daily responsibilities of facilities managers extend well beyond managing contracts and contractors.
Strong Facilities Management is vital to the performance of every business. Productivity, agility, safety, sustainability and compliance rely on it. Managing multiple contracts can be time-consuming and disruptive to the Facilities Manager – who needs valuable time to operate across various functions that fall under their remit at a strategic level.
The Role of Facilities Manager
Managing contracts doesn’t uphold government regulations and compliance standards. It doesn’t identify and resolve problems. It doesn’t improve and streamline day-to-day operations. But all too often, managing HVAC, electrical, mechanical and refurbishments contracts across multiple sites can deplete your time, your resources and represent a financial drain on the business.
Moreover, contrary to an oft-cited belief, consolidating services delivery under a single contract doesn’t provide an excuse for doing away with FMs but, instead, bolsters their ability to prioritise urgent situations that arise, supervise their various different divisions, and advise on business and cost-saving measures.
Indeed, consolidated services delivery also frees up more time which FMs can use to focus on space and management, security and budgetary control, forecasting and planning; as well as overseeing preventative maintenance measures and reducing energy usage.
Partnering with professional third-party providers of facilities management services including Artic, also allows FMs to delegate contract management and improve their oversight of any services that are being delivered with obvious operational benefits, including:
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The option of selecting between full range of solutions (in my company’s case technical and engineering solutions) which are tailored to your needs;
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The ability to tap into a continual resource of expertise; and
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Reducing time that is spent on dealing with a multitude of contracts.
An integrated Facilities Management solution provides you with the support and resources necessary to ensure the many jobs under your remit get done.
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