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Industry roles
de nes a facilities manager as one who ‘organises, controls and coordinates the strategic and operational management of buildings and facilities in public and private organisations to ensure the proper and e cient operation of all physical aspects of a facility, to create and sustain safe and productive environments for occupants’.
Association formed in 2008
Giving facilities management an identity in New Zealand was one of the motivating factors in the formation of the Facilities Management Association of New Zealand (FMANZ).
It’s a young organisation, incorporated in 2008 by a group of facilities managers. They recognised the importance of excellence and professionalism and for knowledge sharing and education to advance the profession.
They also saw the need to promote a wider understanding of facilities management and its signi cance for the wellbeing of the built environment and the health of those who work within it.
Raising the pro le
In many respects, facilities management is the engine room of an organisation – whether these are commercial o ces, churches, hospitals, educational institutes, hotels or factories. Facilities managers are largely unseen but fundamental to the success of the operation.
The challenge for the facilities management industry is ‘moving out of the expense line to a value line’, as FMANZ Chairman John Braithwaite puts it.
‘As it has been for many years, being seen and understood for the positive e ects and in uences that we o er to the pro tability, productivity and enjoyment of the workplace is the number one challenge facing the industry.
‘There has always been a description in facilities management of working “from boiler room to boardroom”. Over the coming years, I would like to see facilities managers spending much more time in the boardroom providing intelligent, productive and considered advice to e ectively support corporate strategy and business planning.’
Promisingly, the 2014–15 Facilities Management Industry Census: Trends and Insights report suggests facilities management is being discussed more at the executive level. Of respondents, 31.3% stated this occurred often, and 53.1% stated it occurred occasionally, up from 18% and 36% respectively in 2013–14. The census was undertaken by the Facility Management Association of Australia, with support from FMANZ.
Career plan now possible
Traditionally, New Zealanders are accidental facilities managers, nding their way to the role via a mechanical background, such as engineer- ing, or gaining a quali cation in facilities management overseas.
Now, there is a career plan for high school students and others wanting to join the facilities management industry in New Zealand.
Subject to academic approval, AUT University is set to o er a Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree with a facilities manage- ment/asset management major in February 2017.
For people already working in facilities management there are oppor- tunities to upskill. These include the series of master classes AUT o ers in conjunction with FMANZ and the Diploma in Facilities Management run by the Facility Management Association of Australia.
For more To learn more about facilities management or to register for the 2-day FM Summit on 4–5 May, go to www.fmanz.org.
In their own words
Ask facilities management professionals what facilities management means to them, and you’ll get a variety of answers:
‘Facilities management is the discipline that aims to set and attain standards of excellence and quality in the sustainable design, construction, operation and maintenance of world-class facilities. We are the enablers that allow others in an organisation to carry out their core business.’ In-house facilities manager
‘Facilities management means the users have the freedom to get on with their core business without interruption. It is staff knowing that, when they come to work, they will be in facilities that are safe and well maintained.’ In-house facilities manager
‘For me, the experts Barrett and Baldry summed it up best. It’s about integrating the operation, maintenance, improvement and adaptation of the buildings and infrastructure with the people, places, processes and technology to create the environment that supports effective patient care.’ In-house facilities manager in the health sector
‘Good facilities management is all about having a robust plan and being ready and agile for the unexpected. Working in an emergency services network means we are often at the forefront of engineering, building resilience (post-disaster capability), health and wellbeing, and sustainability.’ In-house facilities manager in emergency services sector
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FEATURE SECTION