FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

1980s witnessed the emergence of a new concept called facilities management. It was promoted by a need to deal with the work environment proactively in response to the explosion in technology. Facilities management is a discipline of planning, designing, constructing and managing space to coordinate the people and the activities of an organisation into the physical workplace. Unlike traditional maintenance management, facilities management integrates the building plans with the overall corporate plans. Its practice is integrative because it encompasses a wide range of activities. It is also proactive and creative as it has to deal with change. Facilities management is widely practised in the U.S., Europe, and some other parts of the world. From the survey analysis, it was observed that Singapore is many years behind the western's standard in terms of facilities know-how, awareness and enthusiasm. Facilities management is only practised in some forward-looking multinational corporations. But still, it is carried out on a limited and fragmented approach. It is clearly lacking in the strategic management of our buildings and space. Facilities management is now a global issue. Singapore must proceed in this direction to survive in the international market. The present property management and maintenance profession can make better contributions to the overall productivity of the organisations in particular, and the country at large, with proper applications of facilities management techniques.