BIFM Conference: FM Leaders Urged To Take On More Risk
Delegates at the British Institute of Facilities Management 2006 conference next week will be told that the facilities management industry is in danger of stagnating if it does not take on more risk and develop greater value-focused services.
The keynote speech by Rakesh Kishan, a Senior Vice President of EMCOR Group, will warn leaders of FM organisations that they need to have their pulse on the core business strategy and the macro-trends that affect the workplace if FM is to be positioned as a partner enhancing an organisation's core business.
According to Kishan, founder of facilities management consultancy UMS Facilities Consulting and with 15 years advising both suppliers and customers in the FM industry, the majority of FM leaders are still too reactive in approach and have yet to embrace strong management and IT systems:
"The facilities management environment is changing. Organisations are demanding more from FM leaders, and those that cannot adapt fast enough will be left behind.
"Most FM functions are still mainly reactive in approach, fixing problems and working at the tactical level. But the requirements of tomorrow are for a proactive approach, a partnership model in which FM leaders anticipate needs, avert problems and understand and contribute to the core business at a strategic as well as tactical level. Fundamentally, that means taking on more risk. It also demands far greater investment in management processes, operational procedures and not least of all quality IT infrastructures."
According to Chris Chater-Poole, Managing Director of EMCOR Facilities Services in the UK, Kishan's comments are already in evidence:
"The work EMCOR does with National Air Traffic Services is a perfect example of the partnership model of anticipating needs and taking on greater risk. It has also resulted in delivering cost-savings."
The five year, £10 million NATS contract was won by EMCOR on the basis of delivering operational and maintenance support at NATS' two major control centres at Swanwick, Hampshire and Prestwick, Ayrshire. The special circumstance under which NATS operates means that vital power and systems to its buildings are at all times fully functional.
Chater-Poole added: "Outsourcing the FM function of NATS required a true partnership based on total alignment and understanding of the criticality of NATS core business function and the risks involved. Whilst meeting these fundamental requirements, EMCOR continues to drive improvements to service and crucially deliver significant cost savings to NATS."
Rakesh Kishan will be presenting his key note speech on the last day of the three-day conference being held at Oxford on 27-29 March. His expertise in the facilities management industry and successful consultancy business has led to speaking engagements throughout the world. As a consultant Kishan has experience with world-leading organisations including Procter & Gamble, Kraft Foods, Johnson & Johnson, Harley Davidson and Toyota.
EMCOR Facilities Services, with over 2,500 employees in five operational business units at locations throughout the country, is one of the UK's market leaders in the provision of facilities management, integrated service solutions and technical support across a broad range of public and private sector clients.
Notes to Editors
EMCOR Group (UK) plc
Headquartered in London, EMCOR Group (UK) plc (EMCOR) is a wholly owned subsidiary of EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME) a Fortune 500® company with over $4.7 billion in annual revenues and a global leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure and facilities services. An independent specialist contractor, established over a century ago, EMCOR gives life to new structures and sustains life in existing ones by its planning, designing, installing, operating and maintaining the sophisticated and dynamic systems that create facility environments - such as electrical, mechanical, lighting, air conditioning, heating, ventilation, telecommunications, security, power generation systems and public health - in virtually every sector of the economy and for a diverse range of businesses throughout the UK.
EMCOR Group's 'Build it. Power it. Service it.' slogan reflects its rare combination of end-to-end capabilities, and global reach with local execution, combining the strength of an industry leader with the knowledge and care of over 26,000 skilled employees at 70 local operating companies in 140 locations worldwide.
