Synergis Management Services today launched the free online fmPROFILE^® tool to provide a quick way for companies to check the standard of their facilities management (FM) function. When aggregated, data from fmPROFILE^® will also provide regional and global benchmarking data to facilities managers, building owners and occupiers. Developed in association with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Hong Kong Jockey Club, fmPROFILE^® works for any organisation and is based on Kaplan & Norton’s Balanced Score Card concept by evaluating the performance of the FM function in relation to 10 key factors.

At a time when companies are looking at operational efficiencies, their carbon footprint and IT spending more closely than ever, fmPROFILE^® offers the opportunity to determine how their FM is (or in many cases isn’t) supporting them in their efforts. “We have already amassed quite a lot of data from companies who took the test off line and many have been surprised with the results. Until now there has been no objective way of knowing how you stood compared to your peers” says Synergis Head of Facility Management, Deric Probst-Wallace. “The test provides a very easy to comprehend graphic so the results can be useful right away”.

Feedback from users during the testing stages has already been very positive. Giles Hunter, who has already been through the process with his company, says “The FM profile tool is a useful way of identifying the skills possessed across a team, enabling one to allocate those resources to best support projects and share knowledge with other team members who may be in need of subject matter expert advice.” Organisations have also been interested in fmPROFILE^®’s aggregated regional data. Several interesting trends have already emerged, such as how Singaporean companies tend to score higher on the IT Systems Criteria while Thailand’s strongest area appears to be asset management.

While all data recovered during the survey remains anonymous, after the launch of the online tool a six month programme of data collection will see experts compare and compile organisations’ scores with existing local and international records. Synergis then plans to compile it into an indispensible booklet to be launched in January 2010. “Through providing information about how we are performing right now across a range of industries and geographies, we will not only give people the information they need to improve their own management practices but also raise the profile of this very important industry”, says Probst-Wallace. Organisations completing the survey will receive a copy of the booklet.

How it works in detail
Synergis Management Services have developed a consulting process & tool which is used for measuring the performance of the Facility Management (FM) function of any organisation. The tool is known as fmPROFILE^®. While the 20 minute online survey is free, anonymous and comes with no obligation, a more extended version of the survey can be done together with a licensed consultant and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. To date, consultations have taken place in numerous cities in Asia and through a licensed provider in the UK.

fmPROFILE^® is based on Kaplan & Norton’s Balanced Score Card concept in that the performance of the FM function is scored in relation to different key factors relating to FM such as:

• Strategy and Planning
  Developing FM strategy, documenting business plans and achieving objectives
• Asset Management
  Management and maintenance to ensure effective operations of the facility and the protection of key building and equipment asset value
• Safety, Health & Environment (SHE)
  Providing a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for facility users
• Financial Management
  Understanding and management of budgets to ensure value for money in delivering FM services
• Performance Management
  Identifying service levels and measuring improvement of FM service delivery
• Procurement
  Ensuring the integrity and quality of FM services and materials procured from suppliers
• Knowledge Management
  Developing the FM organisation and team members through learning and knowledge sharing
• Information Management
  IT systems employed to support the effective delivery of FM services and provide management and budget information
• Customer Services
  Understanding customer support requirements and building customer relationships
• Space Management
  Understanding space utilisation and immediate and future space requirements of the customer