Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
When something goes wrong in a building, the facilities team isn’t always the first to know. Often, it’s an administrative assistant, business services officer, executive assistant, or local office employee who sees the problem first. They hear an alarm. They discover a leak. They know employees can’t get through a door or that a scheduled […]
Every construction project generates a large volume of critical information including drawings, O&M manuals, submittals, commissioning reports, warranties, and test records. Once the project is complete, that data often gets scattered or never fully makes its way to the facilities team. As Paul Petroski, a senior facilities leader with the Department of Defense, noted, “Drawings […]
In facilities management, the term “firefighting” gets used a lot. Sometimes it is said with pride. Sometimes with frustration. Usually both. It describes the daily scramble to deal with leaks, outages, complaints, failed equipment, last-minute shutdowns, vendor delays, and emergencies that seem to arrive all at once. It is an “us against them” kind of […]
In many organizations, “emergency preparedness” still looks like a binder, a floor plan, and a drill last held 18 months ago. Facilities managers know better. Hurricanes, wildfires, cyber incidents, equipment failures, and utility outages aren’t abstract risks—they’re recurring operational events that determine whether a building protects people or becomes another headline about downtime and loss. […]
Building drawings and facility information have long been undervalued, often relegated to storage rooms or legacy systems, considered a necessary cost rather than a strategic asset. However, this information is far more than a historical archive. It is the foundation for ongoing operations, informed decision making, and long-term resilience. As buildings age and evolve, the […]
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues its rapid evolution, its impact on industries is undeniable—facilities management (FM) included. What once seemed like futuristic speculation is quickly becoming a reality, with AI-driven systems being adopted as decision-support tools across organizations. But how do business leaders feel about this transition and AI’s role in shaping the future of […]
Creating a facility master plan is a bit like piecing together a puzzle—there are a lot of moving parts to consider. Whether you decide to bring in external help or lean on your internal team, the key is to ensure your plan accurately reflects your facility’s current state, anticipates future changes, and outlines a clear […]
Are you prepared if your facility experiences an emergency? Don’t risk unnecessary harm to your building or its occupants if you haven’t prioritized this important part of facilities management. When disasters and security issues occur, facilities managers need to act quickly and ensure they have effective plans to deal with emergency situations. During Facilities Management […]
On Wednesday, June 19, join your colleagues and expert panelists for our FM NOW: Emergency Preparedness virtual summit! This FREE event will include three back-to-back webinars covering business continuity planning, emergency responder coordination, and the importance of having mobile access to building information during an emergency. Can’t make it to the webinars? No worries! All […]
During Facilities Management Advisor’s FREE upcoming webinar, learn how to reimagine your next facilities team and build a positive culture utilizing modern technology and process improvements to enhance your team’s daily work experience. Can’t make it to the live event? No worries! All registrants also receive a link to an on-demand recording. Wednesday, May 1, […]