History and evolving role of facilities management
The History of Facilities Management
- Facilities Management emerged in the US in the 1960s due to the growth in services.
- It became recognised as a formal business discipline in the 1970s when the first Facility Management degree programmes were established.
- The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) were formed in 1980 and 1993 respectively, marking important milestones in acknowledging the field.
The Core Aspects of Facilities Management
- The maintenance and care of commercial or institutional buildings, such as hotels, resorts, schools, office complexes, sports arenas or convention centres.
- Service deliveries in different areas include security, maintenance, cleaning, and renovation.
- Role might also include space management, telecommunications, business continuity planning, and environmental sustainability issues.
Changes in the Role of Facilities Management
- The role originally focused on the management of buildings and estates, but it has evolved beyond that.
- Today, it is about the co-ordination of space, infrastructure, people and organisation.
- Facilities Management looks after the health and safety of staff, property portfolio management, and maintaining and testing business services like heating and lighting.
- The role also encompasses sustainability, which includes ensuring the organisation is minimising its environmental impact.
Trends Impacting Facilities Management
- Technology has had a large impact on the facilities management marketplace.
- Building Information Modelling (BIM) allows facilities managers to visually manage their building, from construction to demolition.
- Digitisation, automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) are influencing operational efficiency and offering more data for managers to base decisions on.