Hospitality and Facilities Management - Assignment Example

Facility Management Introduction Facility management is an industry that involves a lot of activities that pertain to care and maintenance of institutions and other commercial services. Mostly the institutions that use this service include hotels, convention and educational centres, schools and hospitals. The profession includes multiple disciplines to ensure that an ideal functional environment is maintained in the working area. The scope of services range from technology to processing and include waste management, management of the Information Technology infrastructure, pest control, mechanical and electrical maintenance. In order to ensure that a company survives in this industry, there is need to provide services that are of the highest quality is sustainability and growth is going to be achieved. Hence promptness and organization are important for efficiency with consideration of the latest technologies to ensure that cost efficiency is achieved for clients as the services get upgraded (Atkins & Brooks 2009, P.15). In order to ensure quality and efficient services are delivered in facility management, there are various factors that need to be considered. These factors are on various levels and the two important ones are those of strategic tactical and operational phases. In the context of strategic tactical, the owner and manager need to be aware of the impact that is probable due to the decisions made about condition of services and space. On the other hand, the facility managers are totally responsible for the operational aspects. In this, they should be able to decide on all the services being offered in a building from an aspect that will consider the factors like the optimal, cost, safety and effectiveness of the services that are offered in relation to the surroundings. This will be done in order to allow occupation of the building without much worry on issues of safety and other aspects. In doing this, they will be able to achieve the level of service that is needed and in the process improve the image of their work in relation to the public as they will be deemed to be successful (Thomas 2011, p.1). Assessing Customer Services Lighting In the case of lighting especially in commercial properties consume about 30-40% of total electricity consumption. Hence in this case, this can be reduced by the combination of common sense conservation with use of energy efficient lamps like those made of fluorescent tubes. In the case of lighted exit signs, it is important to ensure the bulbs that are fixed in such fittings are of low watts. In addition the installation of sensors can assist in that in the case motion sensors and in conference rooms where the rise of inactivity leads to automatic switch off. Finally the lighting can be task based rather than general lighting in order to reduce the amount of illumination and energy being used (Atkins & Brooks 2009, p.13). Water Conservation To enable the conservation of water, the use of low-flow faucets and low-flow toilets are among the best approaches that can be employed to ensure that water is being conserved during the normal use and cleaning process. In the times of cleaning the dish washers and laundry should be done on fully load where the cleaning will only take place when the bulked up to cut down on repeated washing that consumes a lot of water. In the outdoors the plants and flowers that are planted should use a minimal amount of water to ensure that minimal or little water is spent in sprinkling (Bell 2003, p.6). Health and Safety The health and safety of the people who work in the facility that is under management is principal. In this, there is need for compliance especially in the main aspects to the laws and regulations that have been provided by local and national authorities. Some of the factors that will be considered in the management are the industrial hygiene, assessment of risk, air quality and eventual limitation of the risk in various areas (Bell 2006, p.7). Danger Prevention According to Lewis & Payant (2007, p.9) in the facility management, the need for protection of all the occupants from various dangers that may arise is very important. This can be done by constant monitoring and putting up of safeguard measures to minimize the negative effects should such incidents arise. One of the main aspects of this is security, the need for CCTV and surveillance cameras is very important to guard against any burglary or unauthorised entry. In addition, maintaining these systems is very important to ensure they work as required continually. Besides, the ventilation systems along with other automated building facilities like elevators need regular check-up to ensure safety of the users. In making the customer service quality, the facility manager is able to improve the level of service that is offered to the clients in general. The company is able to deliver services that are effective and responsive. In addition, it brings about cost effectiveness to the organization as a whole while giving a competitive advantage to the company as compared to rivals. This can be attributed to the fact this being core business, will assist in enhancing the image and culture in the organization as a whole (Bell 2006, p.6). Strategies Bell (2006, p.7) states that some of the strategies that can be employed in facility management include corporate strategy, business strategy and functional strategy. In the corporate strategy, the main purpose is the diversification into new products or new markets. This approach is based on a review of business like the current business performance in relation to the expected performance. In business strategy, it’s almost similar to corporate but has specific focus to the performance overall with the community. Hence it should be coordinated and integrated activities. To achieve there is need for development of competencies especially in covering the competitive advantage. This can be achieved by delivering the effective service to the facility that is being managed. The functional strategy is created with the purpose of the production process hence will be used to achieving the business strategy and corporate strategy at large in the long run. Management of Buildings that are on multiple sites In the case of management involving building that is more than one site more human resource is required. This is in that the manager will need deputy manager at each of these buildings to assist in facilitation of various facility chores that require supervision on a frequent basis. All these deputies who are in-charge f each building are the ones who foresee the daily repairs and maintenance that may be required. These are especially in the common space of the building like the hallways, staircase and rest rooms. Hence the task of managing these buildings will start with the appointment of building managers. However in the case of some complex task or renovation that needs to be carried out, the building manager will need to contract the facility manager on proper options and clarification (Borrow 2010, p.1). Borrow (2010, p.1), further states that despite this setting up the arrangement that will involve building managers will not happen without any challenges. Some of the most common challenges that the facility managers are bound to encounter in trying to ensure all goes well includes lowered maintenance budgets, mandates that are unfunded and resource constraints among others. In order to overcome this, the facility manager will have to utilize the resources at their disposal while trying to come up with a strategy that will bring about efficiency and cost cutting. In doing this, they will need to be very effective in decision making and this can only be done if they have enough adequate knowledge on all the building that are under their management. Effective management of property buildings and services In management of property building the organization has been carrying out the highest level of quality services. The service management in these buildings vary and include energy management, environmental and facility safety. In doing this a healthful workplace has been provided to all those that use the buildings. The specific services that are carried out in these buildings include cleaning, that includes window washing, pest control and landscaping. In the building’s energy management is done through energy audits. Waste removal done includes shredding and recycling of the reusable waste. There is the maintenance and operation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Ensuring the emergency generators do run and review of the safety services that include the fire extinguishers and fire safety services. Other services include the management of the parking area and any other service that may be requested by the manager (Thomas 2010, p.1). Impact of space management on facility management According to Atkins & Brooks (2009, p.21), the proper utilization of space in facility management can impact positively on the various facility and estate processes. The first thing about space management is that it will help in the identification of under-utilized space and make more use of it. In the alignment of workplace it will be done with intention of initiatives that have a business goal. Beside this, the management can also help in the future forecast of space requirements and take the necessary adjustments. The whole process of space management can come in handy in analysis of space and the charge-back process. It will assist in the streamlining of the move process and increase efficiency as it will be compared with the actual utilization of space. Finally space management can assist in the building information modelling to assist in the generation of data. Implications of property portfolio on wider facilities management The creation of a property portfolio can be a very helpful approach. This can be attributed to the fact that it be an energy management tool that will be used to assess and track the consumption of water and energy on the various facilities. By doing this it will help in creation of recommendations that can be implemented in order to have energy conservation. In addition, it will help in the identification of building s that is underperforming and the reason why hence to assist in the creation of solutions. In the case of investment in these facilities, the portfolio will assist on pointing the facilities that will require investment due to the expected returns. The portfolio also assists on the monitoring of the energy costs and this will enable the customization of meter names and other key information (Bell 2003, p.8). Decision making process for facility manager The ability to make decisions can prove to be the failure or success point of any manager. Decisions need to be made at various stages of management like planning, organizing, leading and control of the various services that are being offered at any facility. Decisions being made can be based on programmed decisions or on non-programmed decisions and this will depend on the situation. The process that should be followed in making decisions by a manager will involve first identifying the problem; the next step is analyzing the situation using the information available. This will be followed by establishing a decision criteria and evaluate the alternatives available in order to land on the best solution available. Finally after the decision has been made, the next thing is follow up and appraise the decision based on the consequences (Borrow 2010, p.1). The other three strategies that can be used along with decision making or assist in arriving at the decision include analysing the requirements developing solutions and implementing the solutions. A top level analysis can be used in establishment of thorough understanding of the organizations facility management. This includes the objectives and policies that are employed. After review of this entire next step is the analysis of all the information available and interpret it to give and allow new ideas in order to come up with a solution. Finally after all this, a suitable solution that is selected will be implemented. A structured and strong approach will have to be sued in selecting the decision to implement and this will be based on factual information (Lewis & Payant 2007, p.9). Importance of effective project management Effective project management is very important; it helps in ensuring that no problems arise in the facility especially relating to organization and management of the resources that are available. The manager is the one who charges with the sole responsibility of coordinating all the services that will be offered at the facility hence if not effective will result in inefficient service delivery that will affect the company’s reputation and jeopardize its competitive edge. Some of the tasks of the manager will be risk management and reduction of energy and water costs among others. Failure to do this may result in failure to achieve the laid down targets. Poor planning can lead to failure to give the required services within the required time and hence inefficiency on the side of service delivery. Among the duties of the project manager include viewing the service delivery at a facility in comparison to where it should be and what steps need to be put down in order to achieve the same. This cannot be achieved if proper project management is in place. Despite lack of managerial authority, the project manager has to ensure that all operations are up and running efficiently to ensure the required service delivery is achieved (Thomas 2011, p.1). Importance of Safety Management Bell (2003, p.7) states that safety management involves the various methodologies that have been put up to be followed in the case of a safety concern. In addition, it assists in carrying out safety audits at the various processes in the facility and if they are up to date. This can also assist in coming up with solutions to be implemented if the guidelines present are not adequate. The safety policies in place will also assist designing and installation of the safety measures that will be put in place. The main goal of safety measures is to ensure people are protected along with the facility in the case of any hazard that may arise. The safety measures that are put in place have to adhere to the regulations and by-laws in place both the local and national authorities to ensure safety certification is achieved. The safety measures put in place affects the strategies that the facility manager will used because every action and strategy to be implemented will have to meet the safety management measures in place. This means that it will assist in ensuring the facility meets all the safety measures according to the safety management as no task will be undertaken that does not meet the requirements of the safety management policies in place. This will eventually result in effective service delivery because all the services delivered will be done with safety and adhering to all measures that are required (Borow 2010, p.1). In conclusion, facility management is a wide profession especially in facility management. This is because in order to achieve this, a wide variety of aspects and regulations need to be met. This will include an efficient facility manager, strategies employed by the facility manager, safety management in place in order to ensure all services are delivered in the required time and quality. Bibliography Atkin, B. & Brooks, A. 2009, Total Facilities Management, Third edition, Oxford: Blackwell Science. Borow, H. 2010, 7 principles of effective project management, Viewed on 15 October 2011, http://www.haukeborow.org/2010/01/7-basic-principles-of-effective-project-management/. Bell, D. 2003, Building Management Policy and Procedures fro Emergency Preparedness and Facility Coordination for the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. LBLNL/PUB Building Manager Policy and Procedures. Pp. 6-8. Lewis, B & Payant, R. 2007, Facility Managers maintenance handbook. McGraw-Hill Prof Med/Tech (p.9) Thomas, J. 2011, Strategy Levels. Viewed 15 October 2011, http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Sc-Str/Strategy-Levels.html. Read More