Part 1: Facilities Management—A Strategic Professional Discipline
The Shift Toward Strategic FM
Facilities Management (FM) has evolved far beyond basic operations. It is now recognised as a strategic professional discipline with the potential to drive long-term value and optimise the whole life cost of a facility. During a presentation at ICW 2024, Stan Mitchell, CEO of Key Facilities Management and Arivagara Pavithran, CEO of Maxwell Cfm International, highlighted a critical fact: approximately 80% of a facility’s total costs occur during its operational phase, compared to just 15% for design and construction and 5% for demolition.
Strategic vs Tactical FM
FM operates on three interconnected levels:
- Strategic Level: Focuses on “doing the right things” to align FM with organisational goals, ensuring compliance, and driving value.
- Tactical Level: Concerned with “doing things right” by ensuring that FM activities are efficient, optimised, and performance-driven.
- Operational Level: Handles day-to-day services, ensuring the consistent delivery of outcomes that support the organisational mission.
The Value of FM
The value of FM lies in three core areas:
- Compliance: Ensuring that operations meet regulatory and corporate standards.
- Value for Money: Beyond cost savings, true value involves optimising performance and balancing quality with expenditure.
- Standards: International standards guide FM operations, enabling consistency, accountability, and improved results.
Mitchell emphasised that FM is not just about physical infrastructure—it’s about people. Its success depends on aligning human resources, processes, and technology to deliver outcomes that drive organisational excellence.
