Facilities managers strive for professional recognition

Simply speaking, facilities management is a broader sense of property management.

With the changing economy and business world, International Facility Management Association president and chief executive David Brady defines it thus: 'Facilities management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.'

The concept of facilities management became widely adopted in North America and Europe 20 years ago, but did not really come to the 'forefront' in Hong Kong until five or six years ago.

The association's Hong Kong chapter president, Richard Myers, says: 'The evolution of Asian organisations, businesses and the economy has shaped the changing roles of facilities managers. With this new definition, it helps to make the profession stand out as well as match closely to today's environment.'

The Hong Kong chapter has gained about 220 members since its establishment in 1991. On a worldwide level, the association has more than 17,000 members. Most members are facilities and property managers, engineers, architects, designers, surveyors and furniture suppliers.

Facilities management carries a lot of weight within a corporation. It accounts for the second-largest amount of corporate spending after human resources; it comprises all ranges of assets, including building maintenance, security and cleaning as well as landscape, administration and others.

The association is striving to help its members gain professional recognition through certification. 'We want our industry professionals to be educated and recognised on a legitimate basis, rather than to be based and assessed solely on work experience. The Certified Facility Manager recognition is to acknowledge the professionals' experience and knowledge,' Mr Myers says.