Facilities management has many responsibilities. It’s challenging enough to organize maintenance for a single facility, but it becomes even more difficult when you have multiple sites without a modern and affordable CMMS.
Skilled facilities managers help organizations perform at their best while allowing them to concentrate on their core business activities. They keep a professional eye on the facility’s state and use data-generating tools to save cost and improve productivity.
Unnecessary Maintenance
A well-maintained facility is a vital part of any organization. It not only reduces operational costs, but also helps maintain customer satisfaction and brand image. This is why it is essential to keep track of all assets, from furniture and machinery to the building itself.
Whether it is due to a lack of staff or simply neglect, deferred maintenance can have a number of negative consequences for the organization. These include:
Poor maintenance can also lead to safety hazards. Failing to test fire alarms or inspect door locks could put your employees at risk. In addition, ignoring HVAC maintenance can cause indoor air quality to decrease, which may lead to health issues such as headaches, fatigue, and trouble concentrating.
Additionally, deferred maintenance can result in the structural integrity of a building or equipment being compromised. This can result in expensive repairs, reduced productivity, and potentially even a complete breakdown of the system or structure.
In the worst case scenario, failure to maintain facilities can even result in loss of life. A study done by researchers found that buildings with incompetent management can experience accelerated depreciation, which can shorten their economic lives.
Inadequate facility management can also drive up product costs. This is because the operating expenses that come with maintaining a facility and its equipment are reflected on the prices of the goods sold. This can negatively affect customers, leading them to switch brands to one with better maintenance and lower prices. This can significantly damage the company’s reputation and impact its bottom line. However, this can be avoided by implementing proper maintenance strategies. These can include identifying and monitoring systems that are close to the end of their life cycle, so preventative maintenance can be carried out before they fail.
Damaged Assets
The facilities management process involves the use of equipment and structures to support core business operations. This includes everything from buildings and grounds to technology and infrastructure. When these assets are damaged due to poor facility management, it can lead to significant costs for the company in terms of repair and replacement. In the worst case, the damage can also damage the company’s reputation and customer experience.
A common cause of asset damage is a lack of preventive maintenance. Performing regular inspections and scheduling maintenance tasks helps ensure that problems are addressed quickly before they escalate into large, costly repairs. This is especially important in areas where the environment can be harsh on facility equipment and building structure. For example, paint that is pealing on wood trim can allow water to penetrate the wood and lead to costly repairs down the road.
Other potential causes of damage include a failure to adhere to company policies and regulations related to the disposal of materials, a lack of employee training on proper safety procedures, and an insufficient approach to managing vendor relationships. In the latter case, companies need to ensure that contractors are following anti-discrimination and other human resource laws.
Taking these risks into consideration, it’s clear that a good approach to facility management is essential for every type of organization. The bottom line is that experienced facilities teams can help to safeguard brand value, optimize operational efficiency, and create a positive customer experience with their expertise and tools.
Damaged Equipment
Poor facilities management can have a significant impact on the overall performance of a facility. It may lead to costly repairs, equipment failure and a reduction in productivity. This can lead to loss of business, which in turn can be detrimental to your company’s profits and customer satisfaction.
Poor maintenance and deferred repairs are a common cause of damage to equipment in facilities. Deferred maintenance results in increased costs for repairing or replacing the damaged equipment, and it also shortens the lifespan of the equipment. This can result in significant loss of revenue, health and safety risks (including tetanus and building collapse) and a reduction in the production capacity of your company.
Using an effective CAFM, CMMS or IWMS solution is a key component to an effective facility management strategy. These solutions allow for the efficient use of resources, the ability to anticipate and respond to emergencies quickly and effectively and to create an environment that is sustainable.
In addition, an experienced team of facilities professionals will ensure that your organization adheres to regulatory and compliance standards and practices. This ensures that your facility is in line with the latest environmental and health and safety standards.
It is also important to consider the human factor when evaluating facilities management. Dishonest technicians can cause major damage to your facility and the integrity of your operations. This can lead to expensive and time-consuming repairs, low product quality, and a negative effect on your company’s reputation.
A professional facilities management provider like GreenKeyFM has all the necessary tools to screen and hire qualified technicians, ensuring that your company receives high-quality service. This reduces the risk of hiring dishonest technicians and helps you maximize the return on your facilities management investment.
Damaged Employees
Facility managers must be ready to deal with a wide range of damage control activities on a daily basis. This includes relocating damaged items to safe storage, repairing water leaks and fire suppression systems, and reducing the likelihood of pilferages. These are often complex tasks that require a lot of coordination and skill to carry out.
Unfortunately, facility management is a high-risk job that comes with its fair share of hazards. These include exposure to chemicals, stray wires and electrical issues and mold and other allergens that can impact employee health. If not dealt with properly, these safety risks can lead to expensive repairs and even litigation.
Poor facilities management can also damage employees’ morale and productivity. For example, when facilities management programs fail to address maintenance needs or prioritize building equipment, employees may feel stressed and anxious about their work environment. This can affect employee morale and increase turnover rates in the long run.
Experienced facility managers are well-versed in local, national and industry regulations and compliance standards. They are also aware of environmental health and safety best practices and utilize sensors to monitor air quality, spot energy efficiency opportunities and track utility usage. This helps reduce liability, prevent fines, and protect the organization’s reputation. If a company fails to meet compliance standards, it can face hefty penalties or even lose revenue in the long term. For this reason, it’s important for companies to hire a professional services provider that understands the responsibilities of facilities management and can offer solutions to minimize risk.
5. Damaged Customers
Having the best facilities management practices is essential for creating a comfortable, inviting and above-expectation customer experience. If not managed properly, a single issue can turn into a major problem for a customer’s experience and perception of your brand. A common example is a malfunctioning facility, which can result in the company losing customers. This is why it’s important to keep your facility functioning efficiently, with proper maintenance and repairs.
Keeping up with the latest industry regulations and compliance standards is critical for commercial facilities. An experienced FM team is well-versed in all applicable laws and takes the appropriate measures to ensure compliance. When facilities are not managed correctly, it can lead to health, safety, and environmental issues which could damage your reputation with employees and customers.
Poor facilities management can also make it challenging to hire high-quality talent. If your team is unable to manage processes effectively, they can become disengaged and less productive. It is difficult to replace experienced staff, and it’s often more costly to train new hires than to retain current team members. This will put a strain on your budget and slow down operations.
Lack of visibility into the state of your physical infrastructure can lead to many problems, including in-transit pilferages and a lack of reporting on service order status. This can create a chasm between your field teams and leadership teams, with the latter having no clear idea of the progress being made on service orders or other important information. This can result in increased errors, extra work and lost opportunities. It can also increase your liability risk and put pressure on future financial budgets. Fortunately, the right technology can help alleviate this problem.