Advantages Of Facility Management

1. INTRODUCTION
The concept and approach to facility management is different from organizations. (Atkin & Brooks, 2005) refers to facilities management as being associated with the effective and efficient coordination of services applicable to enhance the performance of an organization. While (Barrett & Baldry, 2003) sees FM as an integrated approach to operating, maintaining, improving and adopting the buildings and infrastructure of an organization in order to create an environment that strongly supports the primary objectives of that organization, (Barrett & Baldry, 2003)
The broad approach to facility management in many organizations is to operate in a form of mixed culture; it can describe it as a “Jack of all trades “environment, where

The organization is located in Steel Park, Bellville. It manufactures a stockholding, comprehensive product range and superb infrastructure combined with its technical competencies and continuous improvement initiatives enhances its status as the pre-eminent supplier of steel products to a vast valued customer base. Facilities management is not a distinct function and hence all facilities management related activities are undertaken by the office manager.
Advantages
• In this particular example facilities management corresponds to reactive and scheduled maintenance
• Facilities linked operations form part of the office manager duties namely soft FM services
• The facility manager has the responsibility to ensure that all maintenance work is carried out as necessary
• In-house personnel carries out only reactive maintenance and other house keeping
• All scheduled maintenance requirements for the steel machinery are out-sourced

Disadvantages
• Gaps between the scope of the various contracts might

More than three full time facilities managers’ staffs are responsible for the coordination of a number of contracted functions.

Old Mutual is a large commercial organisation with three main divisions namely investments, insurance and asset management. Facilities management in this organisation covers a wide range of activities; however, the organisation contracts out the majority of these functions, which leaves the facilities department consisting of an in-house management team of three people who ensure that the various contracted contractors, complete their duties.
Advantages
• The In-house facilities management team is responsible for ensuring that all contracted services are completed as agreed upon in the various contracts.
• Single point of responsibility (consultancy capacity to the organization)
• Accountability increased
• Improve company focus
• Access to world class professionals and expert
• Latest standards & trend (makes use of facilities management software packages