03/09/2018
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) defines facility management as “a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.” From this definition, we understand facility management to be the coordination of a facility’s operations meant to make the organization as a whole more effective at what it does.
Put another way, think of your facility – the building itself and everything inside, both people and objects – as its own living being. Facilities management is responsible for making sure everything works harmoniously together, and the facility manager is responsible for keeping the facility alive.
The term ‘facility’ refers to any range of establishments that serve a greater purpose such as providing goods and services. In the most traditional sense, this refers to factories and offices, but the term facilities also includes schools, jails, sports complexes, hospitals, hotels and retail establishments.
Each of these facilities is a complex organization of people, teams, departments, spaces, equipment, technology and more. Facilities management is the coordination of everything within the facility so operations run smoothly. Considering the large scope, facility management can be quite a daunting task. However, facility management software simplifies an otherwise very complex process. Facility managers use facility management software to identify and schedule tasks, keep records, make facilities decisions and more.
