Facilities Management is one of the most important roles in any company where property is owned or leased to house the company's employees, systems and business transactions with its customers. Next to human capital, it is a company's most valuable asset. Unfortunately, as a cost center, it is often not given the notoriety of its profit center counter parts, and in many instances, is often thought of by others as a simple job. Yet, ask any non-facilities professional who has been given the responsibility to over see a facilities department, and they will tell you of the importance and value a strong facilities manager means to the organization. Now in Facilities Management, one can never expect to be able to predict everything that they may encounter, and different organizations give different responsibilities to their FM's, but if one were to master theses seven core aspects of the occupation, the manager in charge of facilities will control 90% of the challenges of his or her responsibilities, and more importantly, get kudos of recognition at the C-Level!
Key # 1: Be the CEO of You, Inc.
Desks And Credenzas
As evolved as our industry has become, many FM's still don't get to rub shoulders with the other managers within the corporate structure. Yes, you might have the same title as other department heads, but the status still has its "less than elite" appearance in the eyes of others. But, that should not deter one from being the best they can be. The only person you will want to impress is your direct superiors, because if you make their job easier, you will be rewarded. Especially, as in most cases, if you report to a CFO or other senior level, non-facilities professional who happened to draw the short straw at last year's session of the "senior responsibility shuffle game" that occurs in many organizations. The pride in being an FM is that your talents are portable, because whether you work in retail, financial institutions, warehouse or commercial office space, the problems are similar. Being the CEO of You, Inc. will allow you to excel and if a change in employers is ever necessary, your talents, contacts, resources and accomplishments will get you to the next level, if your current situation begins to flat line. Always remember, your job is to allow your employer to concentrate on the company's primary purpose it has to its customers. You only get calls when something is wrong, so after mastering this important key, being the CEO of You, Inc., mastering the next six steps will tackle most issues and keep the complaint calls and emails to a minimum! These steps represent what your fellow employees utilize every day, and they need to be in top shape at all times. As you read on, you'll soon see there is a pattern to my process. I do this so that the steps to master are done in a logical order that represents a non-facilities employee's trek from the time they arrive at work, to the time they get to their desk. It is in this 5-10 minute time span that most complaints are made. Make this trek a comfortable one, and you will win over the most discriminate co-worker!
Key # 2: The parking lot.
Whether your fellow employees drive to work, or take public transportation, if you are in control of a parking facility, you must make this lot as clean and safe as possible. Make sure it is paved, seal coated and properly striped on an annual basis. Assure that any damage is repaired quickly, and in colder climates when there is snow and ice, always have an excellent removal system so when the morning bell blows, your lot is clean and free of any snow, ice, dirt, trash or any other unsightly or unsafe condition. And, to add to the safety factor, always assure your lot is well lit from sundown to sun up. This is the first thing your fellow employees use when they start their day, and the last thing they use when they end their day. Make sure the parking lot is in excellent condition.
Key # 3: The landscaping.
If you have any grass, shrubs, trees or foliage of any kind, make sure it is in a state of pleasant, trimmed, weed free condition. Everyone wants to be able to say they work in a pleasant environment. What better way to show the people who work in your building, as well as the public who don't, that you care. A well groomed and manicured landscape always puts people in a happier frame of mind. Mix in some seasonal color throughout the year, and your building will be the jewel of the neighborhood!
Key # 4: The janitorial service.
Nobody wants a dirty work environment. Just as we noted already that a clean appearance in the parking lot and landscape beautifies the exterior, once the employee walks into the building, you must maintain that quality and standard of excellence. Moreover, the office these days is where most employees spend the majority of their time. It is "home" for 8-10 hours, if not more, each day! Glass should be clean; floors should be well polished; carpet should be cleaned and vacuumed regularly; trash emptied; and the grand daddy of them all: a clean rest room! With all the time we spend at the office, we don't want to be "grossed out" when we use the men's' and ladies rooms! Safety, beauty and comfort allow the employees to feel valued, and keep the complaints to a minimum!
Key # 5: Lighting.
OK-We are halfway there! We have made the arrival safe and pleasant, and we took care of everyone's personal needs that we can in the most comfortable way possible. Now its time for your fellow employee to do the work of the corporation without any physical discomfort. This is where we make sure the lights are always operating, and the quality of color, glare, and illumination are in tact. Always assure burned out lights are replaced before anyone complains. Sounds difficult, but it really is not. A good daily maintenance walk through, or lighting service provider will always get the lights on before too many burned out becomes a nuisance or eventually a project. If the lights are on and are designed to have a comfort level where the end user is not straining due to overly bright, or too dim illumination, you have once again conquered one of the biggest concerns. Poor lighting leads to less productivity, illness and fatigue. I definitely recommend a lighting consultant to assist here as they can recommend, energy efficient systems that incorporate the best color and brightness to handle any work environment.
Key # 6: HVAC
While temperature is the biggest complaint I have gotten over the years, a well balanced, even temperature environment can squelch the majority of problems. You will always get one or two people, who are extreme when it comes to their personal temperature likings, but following standards of temperature ranges, usually allows for the majority of employees to feel comfortable in all seasons. If temperatures are set at consistent numbers throughout, and air is properly balanced, employees will not experience hot and cold spots as they move about your building. During regular business hours, keep thermostats set between 72-75 in warm weather (AC), and 68-71 in cold weather (Heat). And whenever possible-lock out your thermostat to prevent tampering! If there is a period during off hours and weekends when no one is occupying the building, by all means have appropriate summer and winter setbacks to conserve energy.
Key # 7: Furniture systems.
Ergonomics has been for several years, and continues to be, a major effort to assure comfort at the work station. The furniture you choose can prevent a lot of the aches and pains many end users feel if they are not currently using comfortable furniture. Chairs with lumbar support, height adjustments, tilt back features all contribute to less body fatigue for the end user, and rid the FM of complaints which can result in the FM experiencing a lot of headaches! The same holds true for desks, credenzas, shelves, case goods, cubical systems, etc. All aspects of the office should be designed with comfort, both visually, as well as to support the personal comfort of the end user. With that, the equipment and systems should also support the office function. While I am a big fan of interior design, some times beauty is all that is specified in a furniture project, and comfort and function are forgotten. Your best partner is a knowledgeable furniture company who can offer a wide variety of colors, features and certified ergonomic products to handle all aspects of a long lasting furniture plan. Always make sure you choose a vendor who can supply you with free trials of different brands, fashions and comfort feature options for you to "test drive" with the end user prior to you making that large purchase commitment. In the long run, you will become well informed, and the end user will appreciate being part of the selection process!
Conclusion:
Now I know there are so many aspects of facilities management that are not covered here. But, after years of serving my fellow employees, these seven aspects of tailoring a facility plan conquer the most complained about aspects of facilities management. From the time the employee enters the grounds, to the time they settle in to their work station, these seven keys, when administered properly, will cut down on an overwhelming majority of common problems that will allow YOU to concentrate on special projects, and other facilities related requirements. Concentration on tasks that you need to devote more of your time, effort and collaboration to, sometimes with other departments, and hopefully, the C-level decision makers who will see your value to the corporation they never realized until now!
Black Friday Rich Cappuccino Finish Home Office Credenza Desk with Hutch 2011 Deals
Nov 20, 2011 16:59:19
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Black Friday Rich Cappuccino Finish Home Office Credenza Desk with Hutch Feature
- 73"L 24"D 84.5"H
- Home Office
- Home Office->Computer Desks and Workstations
- Some assembly may be required. Please see product details.
Black Friday Rich Cappuccino Finish Home Office Credenza Desk with Hutch Overview
- Total Dimension: 73"L 24"D 84.5"H
- Credenza Dimension: 73"L 24"D 30.5"H
- Hutch Dimension: 72"L 15.5"D 54"H
- Finish: Rich Cappuccino
- Material: Solid Wood and Veneers
- Home Office Writing Desk with Storage Drawers
- Crafted of solids and veneers in a rich cappuccino finish.
- Item features felt lined top drawers, keyboard drawer and computer storage.
- Ball bearing drawer glides
- Power strip and file storage.
- This updated styling and rich finish give this home office desk a bold look.
- Item is designed to be practical in use and to beautify your home decor.
- Detailed molding can be found on each piece making this the perfect collection for your home office.
- Matching desk (800564), file cabinet (800565) and bookcase (800567) are available separately.
- Simple Assembly Required.
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