Asking this question encourages a broader discussion. What are different types of service facilities? Do they share the same needs and requirements or are they significantly different? The diversity can be overwhelming, raising questions about what each one requires.
Let’s explore the different types of service facilities and facility management, and how they can make informed decisions to optimize their spaces.
What Are Different Types of Service Facilities?
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) defines facility management as a profession that integrates people, place and process within the built environment to improve the quality of life and productivity of the core business.
Facility managers are responsible for the overall operation, maintenance and management of a physical workspace or facility. They play a key role in ensuring that the various systems within a building like heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrics and plumbing work together seamlessly to support organizational goals.
Some of the most common service facilities and facility management responsibilities are:
Office Buildings
Office buildings encompass a huge variety of business facilities such as call centers, coworking spaces, training centers and general working offices. Due to this broad range, the facility managers’ responsibilities will differ significantly.
Generally speaking, they will be accountable for planning the layout and utilization of space to meet the needs of their occupants. From small-sized companies to large corporations, they need to make sure the space maximizes efficiency. Additionally, they will be responsible for ensuring environmental practices are being followed throughout the building to make sure operations are sustainable and energy efficient.
Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities
Also known as dentist practices, medical clinics and veterinary hospitals, these facilities require varying levels of facility management due to the wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as client types.
The facility manager must ensure that the room design aligns with the needs of the service users, to make them feel comfortable whilst efficiently using the space. Equipment, beds and staff all play a role here when design is being considered. These facilities must also comply with relevant health and safety regulations which is another facility management responsibility.
Higher Education Facilities
Also known as universities, colleges or sixth forms, budgeting and financial planning are vital for these types of facilities as there are different departments that need to be considered. Therefore, it is the facility manager’s duty to manage the budget, plan for capital expenditures, and find cost-effective solutions for their spaces.
Financial forecasting is just one task; security management is another important role that the facility manager must fulfil. This means that they must implement tools and strategies to protect the facility from unauthorized access and manage the surveillance systems. This guarantees the safety of the occupants and the protection of assets.
Manufacturing Facilities
Also known as factories and warehouses, manufacturing facilities require vast amounts of space that are also flexible and versatile to work around various equipment, goods and demand. The protection of assets is also important here when working with large amounts of equipment and items, so security responsibilities are assigned to the facility manager.
They will also be in charge of building operations and maintenance. As some warehouses and factories are operating 24/7, the building systems are constantly in use and relied upon at any time of day. By ensuring the plumbing, electrical and HVAC are functional and efficiently maintained, the facility manager can feel confident that operations will continue to run smoothly with less risk of downtime.
Different Types of Facility Management Roles
A facility manager’s role is not one-size-fits-all and will see them performing different tasks to suit their specific facility. However, their end goal is always the same: to ensure efficient, sustainable operations of physical spaces and assets. Here are some common facility management roles.
Real Estate Management
Whether managing one location or multiple, real estate management is important for every site’s overall performance. By ensuring space is being utilized to their maximum capacity, facility managers will see a return on the initial investment, ensuring costs stay aligned with business goals.
Real estate optimization and analytics can help with this; read “Freespace’s guide to real estate optimization”.
Space Management
Part of real estate optimization is space management which also makes sure your initial investment becomes profit in direct or indirect ways. Occupancy and utilization should be optimized for several reasons: to reduce waste, to improve the employee experience, and increase productivity.
Our space management software helps businesses reach these goals and more by simplifying complex seating arrangements to match capacity with demand.
Energy & Sustainability Management
Energy and sustainability are important factors for any space nowadays and it is usually the facility manager’s responsibility to address environmental concerns. Workspace occupancy indicators can help measure and monitor energy efficiency, assisting facility managers to make informed decisions regarding environmental certification standards.
Our PAM Sensor is designed to create alerts, enabling organizations to understand when agreed thresholds are breached.
Employee Experience Management
Not only are facility managers in charge of overseeing costs and budgets, but they are responsible for the overall employee experience in the facility they manage. With employees as their clients, they need to make sure that their well-being is looked after and the hybrid workplace is operating to the best of its ability.
The Freespace Employee Experience App makes it easy for employees to return to the office and feel comfortable in their work environment. In addition, our latest release, DNAi, offers an enhanced, intelligence-driven approach to employee experience.
Overall, facility management has been designed to create more efficient buildings and spaces for the people that rely on them. Freespace has created the tools facility managers need to succeed in this, so book a demo or contact us for more information today.
