User:Wackomacko/Facilities Management Sri Lanka

Facilities Management Sri Lanka

The role of the facility is changing, whether you are at a university, a large enterprise, or a government facility. Energy is becoming a pressing cost that is out of control. Buildings are aging faster than they should. Activists are talking about green and sustainability. In such a platform the necessity of certain individuals with the capacity to manage these facilities in a effective, efficient, economic and environmentally friendly manner is paramount, thus paving way for the rise of Facilities Management. Facilities Management Sri Lanka (FMSL) is a community based professional body of Facilities Management professionals affiliated with the University of Moratuwa. This community comprises of dynamic young individuals who are multifaceted, flourish under pressure, flexible in the face of complexity, always looking for innovative ways to gain the edge and passionate about Facilities Management, simply bred and trained to undertake their responsibility as Facilities Managers in a global scale. Their home ground, the Department of Building Economics of the Faculty of Architecture at University of Moratuwa, offers the Honours Degree course in Facilities Management, which is also accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

What is FM?

The concept of Facilities Management emerged in 1980s .It has developed through four generations and currently the concept of Strategic Facilities Management is emerging. At first, it was regarded as an organizational function and now linking FM decisions to corporate strategy is gaining importance. FM has received worldwide recognition, mainly due to the importance of the role of Facilities Manager to an organization in this fast moving world. Facilities Management is essential for all types of organizations in developed as well as in developing countries such as Sri Lanka. Proper application of Facilities Management techniques will enable organizations to provide the most suitable environment for conducting their core business on a cost-effective and value-for-money basis. Managing non-core business services including the physical environment enables an organization to function at its most efficient and effective level. Thus, the Facilities Manager is an active leader who integrates all operations in the built environment of an organization to make it productive. With the increasing number of buildings and infrastructure, the demand for managing these facilities have created a "niche" market for Facilities Managers.

Defining Facilities Management it can be said that it is a profession that encompasses multiple-disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology. There are many definitions of Facilities Management and the following includes some key definitions, which will provide a clear view of what Facilitates Management is.

"The practice of coordinating the physical work place with the people and work of an organization." -The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM)

"An integrated approach to operating, maintaining, improving and adapting the buildings and infrastructures of an organization in order to create an environment that strongly support the primary objectives of the organization." -Barret (1995)

FM Services Facilities Management as a service provider offers a single point of contact to its customers through Integrated Facilities Management Solutions such as; Hard FM Services Air conditioning systems Plumbing systems Fire and life safety systems Vertical transport systems Electrical power systems Lighting systems Building management systems Security and CCTV systems Access control systems Public address and voice alarm systems Lighting protection systems UPS systems Emergency generation Aircraft warning light systems

Soft FM Services Cleaning Security Waste management Catering Mailroom Concierge Landscaping Asset health check

Condition Audits Assessing the current condition of a facility and its assets

Variation & Fitouts Upgrades and Renovation Projects

Management ''Construction Management Managing Service Providers''

Health, Safety and Environment Solutions ''HSE audits and site safety surveys Production of HSE manuals, policies and procedures Staff training Use of Health & Safety permits and establishment of procedures Risk evaluations, mitigation studies and reports Risk management plans and procedures Advice on environmental issues and green buildings Project management for the installation of security equipment Planned periodic site inspections and production of comprehensive HSE reports Advice on the provision of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and safety equipment Management of Control Room Operations Provision of HSE staff on a permanent or contract basis''

The modern facility is becoming more and more complex to manage. As corporations adapt their enterprise systems to respond in real time, facility managers need to adapt to help their enterprise deliver higher quality services at a lower cost.

FM in Sri Lanka

The professional discipline of Facilities Management is a novel profession to Sri Lankan building industry although it is well established in many foreign countries. Many universities and institutions all over the world provide professional education in the field of Facilities Management and wide opportunities for research are also available. In Sri Lanka, the B.Sc. Degree in Facilities Management offered by the University of Moratuwa are the first and the only higher educational programme regarding the subject. While there is an increasing demand for Facilities Managers in Europe, USA and Middle East, a significant market for FM qualified professionals is expected in the Sri Lankan context. The Sri Lanka's public and private sector organizations must be made aware of the benefits of employing Facilities Managers in their organizations.

With the rise of demand for Facilities Managers in the global context, with the intention of providing skilled professionals to cater this demand, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka commenced a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Facilities Management in 2006, under the patronage of the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka. The objective of establishing the B.Sc. in Facilities Management degree course is to produce professionals who will be capable of managing facilities in a built environment. The four-year full-time course is being conducted by the Department of Building Economics, which is well known for producing world recognized Quantity Surveyors for nearly two decades. The first batch of Facilities Management undergraduates were enrolled in year 2006 and currently three batches of students are being coached by a specialized panel of lectures. Unique features of the course; Problem based and industry focused learning A dedicated team of lecturers who are specialized in a variety of fields 34 weeks of industrial training A supervised research dissertation The accreditation for B.Sc. in Facilities Management degree programme from the Royal Institution of the Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a remarkable achievement.

Facilities Management Sri Lanka

FMSL was initiated parallel to the FM Symposium *09 organized by the Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa to make awareness in the Sri Lankan industries of the novel profession of Facilities Management. Since, FMSL has been working as the sole base of the community of Facilities Managers in Sri Lanka facilitating professionals and undergraduates alike. FMSL has been working around the clock to make opportunities to its members and to facilitate the future Facilities Managers as a portal of vast knowledge. It is also eminent that FMSL will work towards becoming the professional body for all Facilities Managers and related professionals in Sri Lanka, which as a country is making a leap with its current boom after a 30 year civil war towards hospitality, high-rises and such facilities.