Topic > Importance of Facilities Management - 640

Facility is a “place or building used for a particular business or industry or to provide a particular type of service”, and management is “the act or skill of direct and organize the work of a company or organization” as cited by (De Toni, Fornasier, & Nonino, 2006) by (Mazzarotto & Traverso, 2003). Facilities management defines as “the application of total quality techniques to improve quality, add value and reduce risks related to the occupancy of buildings and the provision of reliable support services” (Alexander K., 2003). Facilities management offers an integrated approach to manage, maintain, improve, and adapt an organization's buildings and infrastructure to create an environment that strongly supports the organization's primary objectives (Atkins & Brooks, 2005). Facilities management requirements are constantly evolving and leading to a change in the focus of facilities management. According to (Jensen, Sarasoja, Choenen, & Voordt, 2013), the evolution of the FM focus is as follows:i. FM has spread as a new discipline in many countries since the 1980s, although this activity had already been carried out before. ii. FM is focusing on controlling and reducing costs compared to the 1990s by adapting some indicators in the management of facilities and services. iii. FM is motivated to provide an attractive workplace. iv. FM is focusing again on cost reduction due to the financial crisis and the economy.v. Nowadays, FM is emphasizing sustainability issues in the management of facilities and services. Facilities management was widely introduced in the 1980s but according to (Booth, 2013), “despite its confusing beginning, the tipping point of facilities management appears somewhere around the 1980s”. However, the faci...... middle of paper...... which is intended to more closely align a company's people, process and technology initiatives with its business strategy and vision. In turn, this helps support and innovate new business strategies” (Business Transformation, 2007). According to (Bill, 2011), the outcome of business transformation can be between: (a) Better customer operations (b) Better product operations (c) Better business operations (d) Better profits (e) Better returns on assets ( f) Better positioning for the future for sustainable competitive advantage In the business context, facilities management is a recognized tool of the business supply chain (Then, 2013). Figure 1.1 shows the business aspect of facilities management and from there there are five (5) aspects, namely (a) FM and business support; (b)FM and design; (c) FM and procurement; (d) FM and sustainability; (e)FM and people.