Overcoming Facility Management Hurdles: 8 Common Challenges You Need to Know
Facility management is the backbone of successful businesses. The facilities where we work, meet, and live require attention to detail, proper planning, and diligent execution.
They should be safe and functional for your clients, employees, and guests, but not all managers know how to manage a facility’s day-to-day challenges.
In this blog, we will encounter some common problems that facility managers face.
Staffing
Staffing is one of the most important aspects of facility management. The right people can help you overcome many challenges, but finding them may be more difficult than you think.
The first step is to have a good manager who understands your business and what needs to be done. A good manager will also be able to identify potential problems before they become serious, saving time and money spent on fixing problems later on.
Once you have the right person managing your team, it’s important for everyone else on staff (including yourself) to work together as part of an efficient unit rather than as individuals working toward different goals or objectives that don’t necessarily align with those of other members within their department or team at large.
Security
Security is one of the most important aspects of facility management. As a business owner, you want to ensure your facility is safe from any dangers or threats that could threaten your people, property, and profits.
The following are some common challenges faced by facility managers when it comes to building security:
- Security measures are only sometimes enough. Even though you may have implemented all possible security measures at your workplace, there’s no guarantee that this will keep out intruders who are determined enough.
For example, suppose an open window or door could allow someone easy access into your building. In that case, even if cameras are installed around the perimeter, they can only stop them if someone checks them regularly (and even then).
- Security risks can arise from various sources, including external threats like burglars and internal threats like recently terminated employees who may attempt to enter company premises using access cards granted during their employment.
These risks can be especially high during peak season quarter-end periods when overtime hours are required, and employees may leave doors and windows unlocked.
Disciplinary problems related to substance abuse or other misconduct can also create security risks, and HR policies typically prohibit such behaviors, with consequences for violations.
Liability
Liability is a big concern for facilities managers. A well-crafted insurance plan can help reduce your liability, but it’s important to remember that you can’t avoid all responsibility. You must do due diligence and follow all regulations to protect yourself from being sued or fined by the government.
If you run a clean business with good customer service, it will reflect positively on your company.
You’ll also want to maintain a positive reputation by providing excellent service before any issues arise with customers or employees–that way if something does happen down the line, your customers will still be willing to work with you because they know how much time and effort went into making sure everything was safe beforehand!
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Energy efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand. Energy efficiency is a key component of sustainability, as it can help you save money while reducing your environmental impact. Many facilities managers report that their budgets decrease by as much as 25 percent after implementing energy-efficient measures.
Energy-efficient building design and management practices include:
- Using efficient lighting systems (such as LEDs) throughout the building
- Installing equipment that uses less electricity than traditional models (such as HVAC units)
- Ensuring proper ventilation by keeping doors shut when not in use or installing fans to circulate air throughout the space
Aging Infrastructure
As your facility ages, it’s important to maintain and upgrade your infrastructure. If you don’t, the cost of repairs and lost productivity can easily become overwhelming.
Let us take a look at the following points to prevent this from happening:
- Plan! When planning for upgrades or replacements, consider what types of equipment would work best in each area of your building. This will help ensure you have all the right tools when it comes time to make those changes happen.
- Look for signs that indicate something needs repair or replacement before they become major problems (elevators breaking down frequently).
Technology Vendors
Technology vendors can be a good resource for finding solutions to your challenges but can also be a distraction and expensive.
Regarding technology vendors, you want to ensure that you’re working with someone who has your best interests in mind and will help you achieve your goals. The right vendor will provide insight into the most cost-effective solution while staying aligned with what is important to your organization.
They should have access to up-to-date data on market trends to offer recommendations based on current industry standards rather than what was popular five years ago when they last worked with another client at another company!
Lack of Plans for Change
Any facility manager in the business for more than five minutes knows that change is inevitable. You might be moving offices or renovating an existing building, or your company might outgrow its current space and need to find a larger one. You can’t avoid change, but you can prepare for it.
Whatever the reason, planning will help you avoid problems later on down the road when change becomes necessary–and keep things running smoothly while making sure everyone stays happy at work!
Lack of Proper Communication
The first and most important step in overcoming this challenge is to identify the proper channels of communication, such as:
- Employee-to-employee
- Vendor-to-contractor or tenant
- Contractor-to-contractor/tenant
- Owner/board of directors/owner’s representative – this channel will vary depending on who owns your building. It could be as simple as a periodic meeting between yourself and the owner or more formalized through regular updates given by an appointed representative from each party involved in managing your facility.
Conclusion
By understanding the challenges, you can better prepare for them. This will help reduce risks, improve efficiency, and save money in the long run.
Effective facility management plays a critical role in the success and accomplishment of business objectives.
Opting for one of the best Abu Dhabi facility management can be a game-changer as it guarantees well-maintained, efficient, and regulation-compliant facilities.
To select the appropriate facility management company in Abu Dhabi, it must have a proven record of success, a comprehensive policy for facility management, and access to advanced tools and resources.