Do you remember group projects you had to do in high school? There was always that one person who organized the group gave everyone specific roles, and made sure deadlines were met on time. Whether you were that person or not, you can definitely acknowledge they were necessary to the success of the group. Well, that model for success didn’t go away when you graduated. Especially not now when your company needs space and a specific environment to get your work done. In businesses and enterprises today, there’s still that designated person whose job is to make sure everything on the facilities side of your company runs smoothly, comfortably, and efficiently. That is your facilities manager.
Overall, facilities managers are in charge of integrating people, places, and things within the building to operate succinctly and successfully. They work across multiple disciplines to help your business become a booming success. They’re there to help you, but there are plenty of tools that can help these professionals as well.
If you work as a facilities manager, you understand all the nuances and details you have to stay on top of within the building itself. All those little details that others may take for granted are your job to take care of. Keeping the lights on, tracking inventory, and solving any building issues are all in a day’s work for you as a facilities manager. With so many people relying on you, you want to be sure you’re relying on the best resources. Stay on top of standards, certifications, and supplies with the help of technology and software programs. You also may need to rely on your relationships with other professional teams to help you when something goes awry. No matter what industry you’re in, there are great tips and resources to make your job as a facilities manager easier and more effective. Here are some of the most important.
Keep track of your supplies.
As a facilities manager, you aren’t just responsible for the building but for the supplies inside it as well. You need an effective, centralized way to keep track of your supplies and inventory. An example would be medical equipment management software for a hospital. This program allows you to track medicines, equipment, and data in real-time in patient’s rooms, at the nurses’ station, or in the office. You don’t have to run around anymore to communicate what is in and out of stock. You can simply keep all that information in one place.
Keeping on top of this ultimately saves time for you and your staff. Giving everyone access to the system means they can get answers immediately and access resources in real-time. These software systems are designed for your specific industry with access available to the whole team or specific subsets of people. Simplify your maintenance tracking, customize your notifications, and make check-in a breeze. By managing your assets from anywhere at any time, this resource will greatly improve your availability and efficiency.
Take care of your building’s needs.
As a facilities manager, your number one priority is, you guessed it, the facility. Whether you’re in a big warehouse, multi-story office building, or a small storefront, your building is going to have its own challenges and set of needs. It’s up to you to fix any and all issues that may arise. Some of these jobs may not necessarily be the most glamorous. If there’s a clogged toilet on the third floor, you’re called upon to fix it, or you call in the plumber. One of your greatest resources is the relationships you get to foster with other companies in your community, like how plumbing midland tx will always answer your call with real people and not a recording. They can help your building with honest, straight-forward service that will benefit both of your companies. Foster these friendships and rely on the help of experts when a job is bigger than you can handle.
Buildings may seem like immovable, sturdy structures, but they can still be susceptible to damage. Mother nature is not always kind to your facilities. After a big rainstorm, you may want to come in and assess any damage. You may be dealing with roof damage from hail that you’ll immediately want to call in roofing contractors to take a look at. Expertise in these areas matters, so you want to rely on contractors with years of experience. Your business is only as good as the roof over your head, so make sure you’re staying on top of all your building’s needs and creating a beautiful, safe space for your team to work.
Know your standards.
You’ve probably heard the saying that inspectors and facilities managers need to be sure everything is “up to code.” Well, those codes and standards are, in fact, a huge part of your job in facility management. Find resources that lay out the specifics of all the regulations you need to follow.
Know you’re following OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) protocols and have ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) specifications. There may even be specific fire and safety standards to adhere to and deliberate cleaning methods. Depending on where you’re located and what industry you operate in, there are going to be specific guidelines to follow. As a facilities manager, you need resources to inform you of these standards, help you get up to code, and alert your employees of how they can help.
Check the necessary certifications.
Another resource for you will be your certifications. If you can earn recognition for your safety protocols or green initiatives, you’ll be held in higher regard as a company. This lets your clients and customers see you as a leader in your field and as a company that takes their responsibilities seriously.
You also need to stay on top of these certifications as time goes on. Find resources like classes that can keep your restaurant staff up to date on their food service certifications or ways to help make sure your paramedic staff is certified in CPR. This is where communication with your team will help you stay on top of all these certifications that keep your company running.
Track the budgeting needs.
Maintaining a building is no small task, and it’s not a cheap one either. To keep the lights on and the rent paid, there needs to be someone in charge of the budget, no matter how complex. That’s the facility manager’s job. Every year, it’s a good idea to review your annual budget.
Meet with your financial team and higher-ups in the company to find opportunities to cut out waste and run things more efficiently. This may also mean familiarizing yourself with the lease agreement, reviewing service contracts, and checking your systems. By taking an active interest in how money is being spent at the company, you have the opportunity to redirect funds where they’ll be more useful.
The beauty of facilities manager resources is that they can be specified for every industry. Whether you need to track your retail stock, organize the office mail, or customize customer experiences, you can find helpful resources online to do just that. It just takes a little digging and some creativity to find the perfect tools that you can fit your specific facility.