Facilities Management

Sections of this topic

    Sections of This Topic Include

    Plan Your Facilities
    Select the Best Location
    Specific Facilities (signage, computers, etc.)
    Setting Up an Office
    Telecommuting (working from home)
    Inventory
    Management (this section is in “Operations Management)

    Logistics
    and Transportation Management (this section is in “Operations Management”)

    Also, consider
    Related Library Topics


    Plan Your Facilities

    Small-business planning often overlooks the critical importance of clarifying
    what facilities are needed to support the development and provision of a product
    or service, and then to plan how to get those facilities. That is true especially
    if you are providing a product rather than a service because a product often
    requires space to store the necessary materials and supplies to produce the
    product, as well as to develop it.

    Important decisions about facilities include, for example: How much space do
    Do I need it for storage? Production? Personnel? How should the facility represent
    my brand, colors, and tone? What about parking? What about expected future
    growth? Should I rent or buy?

    After answering the above questions and considering the guidelines in the following
    articles, write down your requirements for facilities. You, or any others who
    are helping you, can continually reference your requirements to ensure that
    your facilities meet your requirements.
    Strategic
    Facility Planning — Now More Important Than Ever
    What
    to Consider When Making Business Facility Decisions
    Implementing
    Facilities Management Successfully in 7 Steps
    Facility
    Planning: Steps, Process, Objectives, Importance
    50
    Expert Facilities Management Tips and Best Practices

    Useful Resources in Facilities Planning Include
    Planning
    | Project
    Planning
    | Technical
    Writing

    Select the Best Location

    Having having thought about your needs and preferences for facilities, you
    are ready to think about where to locate your business. Decisions include, for
    example: Do I want proximity to my customers? Proximity to my suppliers? Distance
    from my competitors? What municipalities might grant you some tax breaks if
    you locate near them? What about parking?

    Before you select a location, your answers to these questions should be written
    in a specification that you can reference when searching for a location or that
    you can bring to a real-estate agent. That way, you will be making the best
    choice based on your actual needs, rather than on your personal preferences.
    How to Find the Best Location
    A
    Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Right Location for Your Business
    Choosing
    the Right Location for Your New Business
    How
    to Choose the Best Location for Your Small Business
    How
    to Choose a Business Location

    Useful Resources in Selecting a Location Include
    Planning
    | Technical
    Specifications
    | Contracting

    Specific Facilities

    Building

    Strategic Facility Planning:
    A White Paper

    HVAC Systems

    HVAC (Definition)
    Types
    of HVAC Systems

    Offices

    See Setting Up an Office below.

    Computers

    Computer and Network Security
    The Use of Computers in Facilities/Installations Planning
    Computer Aided Facilities
    Management

    Setting Up An Office

    Designing
    An Effective Home Office

    Designing
    Your Home Office

    Introduction
    to Property Management

    (This section is about setting up office facilities. Information about organizing
    yourself, your files, paperwork, etc., is included in the topic Organizing
    Yourself
    .)
    Office
    Design, Leasing and Organizing

    Organizing
    Yourself (organizing your office and activities, once the office is set up)

    Time
    Management

    Telecommuting (virtual workplace)

    Basics

    Basics of Telecommuting for Companies
    The Rise of the Truly Virtual Workplace
    Why and how to transition to a virtual workplace

    General Resources About Telecommuting

    Telecommuting Defined
    26 Great Telecommuting Resources
    Telecommuting Resource Center
    List of sites
    and articles about telecommuting

    General Resources
    About Facilities Management

    USArchitecture.com a by the State Directory of Architecture, Engineering and Construction
    International Facilities Management Association
    Facilities Management News


    For the Category of Facilities Management:

    To round out your knowledge of this Library topic, you may want to review some related topics, available from the link below. Each of the related topics includes free, online resources.

    Also, scan the Recommended Books listed below. They have been selected for their relevance and highly practical nature.

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