As part of developing Cool Solutions Group, I have met with dozens of business administrators and facility personnel. As I have documented these experiences I see that there appears to be a discrepancy between Facilities Management and facilities maintenance. To some of you, this may sound like semantics, but I think that it is much, much deeper than two “words” that some would consider synonyms. Let me describe what I have seen and then let you decide if there is or is not a difference.
First, let’s explore how dictionary.com defines these 2 words
man-age-ment
1. The act or manner of managing: handling, direction, or control
2. Skill in managing; executive ability
3. The person or persons controlling and directing the affairs of a business, institution, etcmain-te-nance
1. The act of maintaining
2. The state of being maintained
3. Care or upkeep, as of machinery or property
As I look at these definitions, I see a couple things that jump out at me:
1. Management appears to define the act of being proactive.
2. Management requires a skill to lead and direct activities of an organization or team
3. Maintenance appears to be developing a way to maintain the status quo
4. Maintenance is focused on the care and upkeep of something which may be seen as reactive.
There has been much discussion and many books written about the difference between management and “leadership”. From a pure business perspective, I understand the differences. However, in this instance I would suggest that Facility “Management” if more congruent with Leadership than maintenance. Even the above definitions would lead to that conclusion.
What words could be used to describe management vs. maintenance? See below the word pictures that we would use:
|
MANAGEMENT |
MAINTENANCE |
|
|
|
|
Proactive |
Reactive |
|
Preventive |
Corrective |
|
Lead |
React |
|
Plan |
Respond |
|
Systematic |
Scramble |
|
Save over the Long Term |
Spend as needed |
|
Increase Life Cycle |
Band-Aid |
So, as you explore your facility stewardship needs, are you providing management/leadership, or merely maintenance?
Food for thought…
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Derek
Great post Tim! Thanks for helping the Branch “build the trellis” so we can focus on The Vine!
January 9th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Charlie Turk
Tim, Good insite and comparison. you stated it well but I stress, you manage buildings but lead people. The facility director should be the team leader but have the knowledge to manage if needed. If you have the blessing to have a good team, (2 or 10+) leadership is more important that management in the long run.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
John Croley
Tim, you mail caught my attention because for 20 years I have worked with maintenance managers. I have been working with a new group of people called facility managers on energy savings for HVAC the last couple years. We convert friction based V belts to Positive Polychain belts and drop amps 12%. The conversion pays off in 8 months and requires zero maintenance for 3 years. This has been a great win for the manager via cost savings, the maintenance team via time savings and the savings goes right to the bottom line. Your comparison is right on and getting both managers on the same page is powerful even if they do have different motives. Feel free to contact me for more information on this low cost ($25/1000 sq ft) high payback ($40/1000 sq ft)conversion. Thanks for the site, John
January 9th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Mike Ingram
I think there is indeed a difference. FM can be defined as so much more than maintenance,. FM can and should be proactive in looking for ways to staff, save, and service. Keeping up the the best tech ideas, security, “green uses” and more.
Also FM staff can look for ways to better set-up, design, and multi-use of its “plant” rather than simply caring out orders or manual instructions. In most church settings these fuctions are a last minute “Hick-Up’ and it not though out well or processed INTO Ministry systems.
In short FM is working “ON” verses simply “IN” a process. Therefore becoming a vital part of any ministry process and it total outcome~!
January 9th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Tim Sullivan
Tim, We have been in the management business for 9 years and the business thought that pops into my head is if it gets to the maintenance stage then we haven’t managed it very well.
Tim
January 11th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Ed
I think there is a big difference between facility management and facility maintenance.
Good facility maintenance has evolved over the past 30 years and should focus primarily on preventive maintenance. As your preventive maintenance programs evolve you should see a decrease in reactive maintenance.
Proactive, preventive (PMs), planning (maintenance planners), systematic (CMMS programs), save over long term and increase life cycles have all migrated to the maintenance side of your chart.
The facility manager not only oversees maintenance but also has tons of other responsibilities like facility budgeting, energy, procurements and the list goes on.
I know I have over simplified the differences and there are tons variables based on organizational structure alone.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:04 am