Applying PM tools in FM

Infrastructure maintenance: Planning is a fundamental part of the conception design and construction of any infrastructural development. When it comes to large-scale commercial or public construction projects which serve large number of people or wider communities, the need for planning increases significantly and many considerations are taken into account by those involved in the project.

The lifespan of a building is usually expected to extend beyond that envisaged by its creators and during which time the purpose for its design and use may change several times. It will be completely normal to expect good project management practices and tools to be used. Westminster Abbey in the UK, for instance, has endured many centuries to become a major tourism site through change inspired by careful management. Many modern buildings will face significant change of use in their lifetime, not all modern buildings will last this long.

When it comes to managing the maintenance of the project after it has been commissioned for use, the same level of planning and project management is rarely applied. Before a project is completed, facilities managers should already be considering how it will be managed, taking note of electrical, plumbing and other important aspects of the work. It makes absolute sense for the same project management techniques and tools used in the construction phase to be rolled into the operational phase since both require meticulous planning in areas of labour and materials with respect to scope, time and quality.

FM professionals can benefit from the role that project management methodologies, techniques and tools play in supporting them through the following:

Involvement in the design stage will allow for effective project planning in determining the full cost and schedules of FM plans long before any maintenance activity can begin.

Applying project management tools, which will enable facilities managers to schedule and track activities by managing, organising and planning more effectively and boost FM processes as striving to meet maintenance deadlines is a very important part of their work.

Project management techniques will help maintenance operations work flawlessly so that activities happen on time. A fully resourced project plan with clear deadlines and good implementation team will reduce waste and minimise cost leading to satisfied customers and users. We all know that maintaining infrastructure will be ineffective if things don’t happen on time.

Project management tools that support performance and service standards by giving a facilities management team huge confidence that they can deliver against internal performance metrics. Perhaps even more important is the fact that visibility is critical to top management. The need to see performance at a high level and be able to relate it to the bottom line is becoming more and more important.

Project management methodology drives efficiency, which means it can greatly boost overall achievement. A recent survey in the UK showed that employing a defined project management approach enabled a facilities management company to meet or exceed quality standards 93 percent of the time and meet or exceed anticipated business benefits 89 percent of the time. The more FM professionals prove they meet high service delivery and business efficiency standards, the more recognition and business they are likely to get.

The conclusion, therefore, is that project management methodology arms the FM companies with tools that will not only help to maximise the efficiency of operations, but also do so in a way that is visible to clients, which in turn elevates the role of the FM professional to its rightful status.

By: Tunde Obileye