Abstract

All phases of the facility life cycle require facilities management, from planning to occupancy to disposal. Typical maintenance and operations contracts at U.S. military bases have requirements covering such categories as disaster preparedness training; pavements, signs, and signals; utilities distribution; landscaping; and pest management. Quality standards that are specified in the contract may deal with maintenance of electrical equipment; structural components, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as management of architectural and engineering design and construction. Strategies for facilities management translate goals into activities for quality control, quality management, and quality improvement. For example, quality control strategies may include corrective action, inspection, and records control. Quality management strategies include the core quality control strategies plus audits, document control, process control, and training. All these activities would be strengthened by establishing a quality system based on ISO 9001 or 9002. Quality improvement strategies are built on the results of quality control and quality management activities. These may lead to improvement strategies such as customer surveys, management reviews, process assessments, and quality cost system initiatives. Facilities management can benefit greatly from introduction or expansion of an automated information system, which would cover such jobs as crew scheduling, parts inventory management, preventive maintenance, and equipment history.