FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Lim Hong Guang
CT 0341499
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Introduction
Sodexo Singapore Pte Ltd is the leading global firm for food and facilities management
services which partners with schools and MNC’s to provide offshore facilities. The company is
located at 223 Mountbatten road and lies on 10,000 square ft area at the Sodexo’s APAC
department. The company’s versatile work arrangements and technological innovations have
been key in improving the quality of its workers life. The firm’s business line encompasses retail
sales for its prepared drinks and foods for on-premise consumption. The company has developed
as a consumer discretionary industry since it provides alluring experiences to its Singaporean
customers (Sodexo Singapore, 2020).
Sodexo Pte Ltd has utilized facilities management to improve the quality of its services to
ensure its customers are healthy and motivated to achieve life goals. The firm has spearheaded to
develop food services in Singapore since 1982 to develop a competitive edge over its market
rivals. Its operations have been developed in over 12 countries in the APAC region and provided
employment for over 100 professions. Facilities management plays a vital role in promoting the
company’s sustainability towards achieving growth. The three-storey building is dedicated for
sole office use. Sodexo chose this building as the units are column free allowing efficient space
utilization, moreover natural lighting is superb which greatly improves user comfort compared to
100% artificial lighting (Rondio, 2018). As most facilities executives within Sodexo drives,
Carpark availability is superb as car park lots are surrounding the building.
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(Mountbatten, 2020): the figure shows how Sodexo has development an ultra-modern parking to
accommodate its different classes of employees.
(Mountbatten, 2020)
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The figure illustrates the outside design of Sodexo building
Another consideration was that the building uses a Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV)
air conditioning system to aerate the rooms and maintain optimal temperature in the rooms,
unlike centralized VAV (variable air volume) systems, temperatures in VRV and VRF air air
conditioning can be finely adjusted each office room, only cooling occupied rooms thereby
greatly improving cooling efficiency,
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Fig 2, source: (Hwang & Radermacher, 2009)
The Figure above shows the potential savings of using a VRV system compared to a
traditional VAV systems. Generally, it is observed that the use of VRF system compared to the
VAV system has an energy-saving capacity that ranges from 27 to 30 percent. (Hwang &
Radermacher, 2009)
Facility operation
The main objective of facility operations at Sodexo Pte Ltd involves governing the firm’s
services, processes, people, and tools to improve business efficiency. Facility operation has
helped the company achieve organizational effectiveness to coordinate the wide range of its
business operations (Shen, Hao & Xue, 2012). Consequently, facilities management has helped
incorporate innovative ideas within Sodexo’s management to improve the quality of products
and services provided by the firm (Sapp, 2017). Facility management contributes in sustaining
organization’s profit with its facility operations by managing its overhead costs. Facility
management helps minimize extra costs to help the organization invest more on capital. The
main objectives of facility operations is to maintain and operate the organization’s facility
services.
As a result, the management has introduced integrated facilities management to improve
the quality of life for its customers. For instance, facilities management has been introduced
ranging from production plants to offices to maintain consistency in delivering its services
(Sodexo Singapore, 2020). So, the company has taken care of Singapore’s end-to-end facilities
needs to ensure the firm respond to disruptions in an active manner.
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Facility operations at Sodexo have created the best global practices at competitive prices
to developing a strong presence in Singapore. Also, a unique combination of global expertise has
been developed to incorporate local knowledge towards developing a competitive edge in the
Southeast Asian region (Sapp, 2017). Facility operations have been diversified to articulate
service's effectiveness such as developing clean records. Sodexo has spearheaded to provide the
highest hygiene standards by offering instrument sterilization and janitorial services.
The firm aims at promoting better health through environmental purification by
maintaining clean and unpolluted air (Sodexo Singapore, 2020). The premises are spunkily clean
and has installed ventilation and air condition (HVAC) systems to control the temperature within
its facilities. Evidently, Sodexo has embraced preventive maintenance as part of achieving its set
market goals to its target market.
The facilities manager at Sodexo is responsible for ensuring that the building and services
meet the needs of its personnel and customers. The facility manager is accountable for security
and cleaning services to ensure the company provides the best customer experience. As a result,
the facility manager is accountable for ensuring the surrounding environment is suitable for work
relative to set standards in Singapore (Sapp, 2017). For instance, the facility manager ensures
that Sodexo’s reception is a one-stop location that offers customer support and services to
provide an alluring experience.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
(Rondio, 2018)
Fig 3, showcases Sodexo’APAC office reception area,
The front house services at Sodexo comprise of a call center, helpdesks, and car park
management to help fulfil the needs of its customers. Document management at the company
prioritizes confidentiality since the firm deals with highly confidential information (Kang &
Hong, 2015).
(Karim, 2016)
Fig 4, Trained Sodexo Receptionist providing good front of house service.
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The company is capable of securely managing a highly sophisticated process by creating
a smooth workflow that adheres to set quality standards.
Since the company is a huge organization, it has developed a strong waste management
portfolio. The company manages its wastes in an environmentally friendly manner to safeguard
its sustainability in the Singaporean market. Sodexo has developed methods to methodically and
proactively prevent food wastes to ensure the firm meets its target with minimal environmental
pollution. For instance, the firm has spearheaded to minimize energy and water consumption
while providing its services in Singapore (Wang, 2012). The organization is capable of
delivering services that articulate waste streams through a single contact point (Alexander,
2013).
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Sodexo has achieved sustainable facility operations management capable of articulating
customer concerns in modern Singapore's context.
(Wang, 2012)
The figure shows some of Sodexo’s employee at work
Reliable
Facilities management would help Sodexo be reliable by utilizing the competency
framework complementing the role of facilities manager at the company. For instance, the
company’s facilities management would be highly reliable if human resource management is
developed through a competent approach (Wang, 2012). Project management at the firm would
address minor renovations that must be carried out to promote the physical and health safety of
its personnel. Maintenance and support cost would be kept low to ensure the firm engage in other
innovative initiatives aimed at achieving sustainability in Singapore’s context. Consequently, the
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firm would achieve ambient comfort for its workers to ensure they provide alluring experiences
to its customers. The use of smart technology applications should be utilized to help Sodexo
develop an expansive workplace to fulfill the wide range of gigantic tasks. For instance, the IoT
facilities platform would provide automated sensors to increase guest’s experiences based on
desirable comfort levels (Kučera & Pitner, 2013). Maintenance alerts are sent to the management
when needed to provide satisfactory experiences to its customers.
(Torres, 2018)
Fig 5, Example of screenshot of a predictive maintenance software.
Besides, the firm’s facilities management is reliable since there is active participation
from its workers starting from the top leadership. The employees’ participation has helped the
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company incorporate current trends within its portfolio to achieve overall sustainability (Wang,
2012). Information available from the company’s stakeholders increased reliability while
running the building’s operations. The facilities manager is capable of addressing best practices,
insights, and strategies aimed at improving the company’s portfolio. Development trends
articulated by the company shows that the firm is capable of increasing its efficiency and
effectiveness (Cigolini et al., 2018). Evidently, the firm utilizes modern trends aligning to its
target market to spearhead its sustainability and addressing the needs of its customers in
Singapore. Also, the firm has addressed the hidden maintenance costs through its automated
systems to repair in real-time (Shen, Hao & Xue, 2012). As a result, Sodexo has utilized the ecoefficiency and safety paradigm to achieving stipulated growth aimed at articulating customer
concerns.
Ensuring Functionality
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Fig 6 (Sodexo APAC House, 2020)
Sodexo’s reception area
Facility management would enable Sodexo to be functional by aligning the people aspect
towards achieving the primary objective. The company would coordinate the physical workplace
and assign the employees based on their key competences. Facility management would ensure
the firm operates at its highest capacity and foster achievement of set goals and objectives within
the required timeframe (Sheynkman, 2020). A poor workplace environment inhibits personnel
from achieving organizational goals that thwarts productivity initiatives undertaken by the
organization in Singapore. Besides, facility management would spearhead Sodexo’s functionality
establishing processes that help achieve order in the workplace environment. The company
would foster its processes while reserving space within the building relative to its customer’s
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preferences (Cigolini et al., 2018). Consequently, the facility manager would identify key
governance areas that must be realigned to develop a reputable framework in Singapore’s service
industry. Processes development would be achieved to ensure the firm adheres to current trends
in Singapore.
(Sodexo APAC House, 2020)
The figure shows an application at Sodexo which increases its functionality
The application increases functionality by providing apps analytics services such as Ecostructure
to provide workplace advice. Also, Edge control provides power monitoring expertise when
connected to Smart X room controllers and occupancy sensors. Also, management systems by
Scheider electric building helps manage comfort and lifecycle services through analytics
developed by real-time data. 200 sensors have been linked up to provide intelligence insights and
automated actions within the company’s building.
The Results
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The use of Sodexo APAC house reduces energy consumption by 20% and CapEx expected to
return in a few years. Also, occupants comfort is achieved by increasing efficiency and energy
sustainability within the company (Sodexo APAC House, 2020). Facility management helps
integrate technological developments by ensuring Sodexo Pte Ltd is functional. The facilities
manager would spearhead the development of workplace management systems to aggregate data
vital in articulating crucial decisions required to shape the workplace environment (Kang &
Hong, 2015). Facility management would increase the company’s functionality by identifying
and implementing desirable solutions within the company’s portfolio.
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Fig 7, picture of Sodexo’s smart chef app, Sodexo offers easy access to balanced meals through
the firm’s automated RFID smart kiosk and a Smart Chef mobile app that allows stuff to peruse
the menu and easily purchase their meals and beverages. It all comes together to showcase
Sodexo’s leading position in Quality of Life services, demonstrating workplace innovation as
well as an enduring commitment to social and environmental sustainability.
Fig 8, Showcasing adjustable height table which improves staff’s posture and overall health
Source: (ID21 Administrator, 2020).
Facility management serves to use the aggregated information to understand applicable
innovations in the workplace environment (Sheynkman, 2020). As a result, facility managers
would collect and analyze information from networked technologies to develop an insight into
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the workplace environment (Cigolini et al., 2018). Finally, the management would determine the
cost and the benefits for smart technologies based on their applicability within Singapore’s
context.
Safety
Stakeholders’ safety is the key value of facilities management to ensure employees feel
secure while dispensing their duties as outlined by the company’s portfolio. Workers would not
be satisfied until the workplace environment is safe from external hazards (Karim, 2016). So,
facilities management would help the company craft safety procedures and standards to ensure
workers and customers feel comfortable while on the premises.
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Fig 9, "3 checks for Safety" campaign ensures safety is always part of the conversation
Source: (Sodexo Group, 2020)
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Fig 10, Safety awareness poster from sodexo
Source: (Your Sodexo. (2020).
Also, facility management stands to help Sodexo develop property and information
technology which does not pose a risk to individuals accessing the building. Effective planning
would critical in developing a sustainable environment that articulates all the necessary security
measures to prevent injuries in case of an accident (Khakzad, Khan & Amyotte, 2011).
Renovations would be carried out based on guidelines that promote safety. So, the company
would be subjected to periodic inspections to upgrade areas that require changes relative to set
safety guidelines (Karim, 2016). Besides, facility management would help the organization
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develop a security protocol that must be followed during evacuation. Such a protocol aims at
reducing the number of casualties due to the unplanned movement of people in the building. The
Singaporean government would be required to make similar protocols which must be followed
by all buildings housing a wide range of businesses and stakeholders like Sodexo. The facility
management would be critical in safeguarding the occupants’ safety.
Security
Fig 11, a trained security guarding Sodexo’s Facility
Facility management would help develop a safe environment for Sodexo by addressing
its specific needs and challenges in its building. For instance, the firm would develop a control
room manned on a 24/7 basis combined with electronic security (Karim, 2016). The electronic
security system seeks to provide extra monitoring and backup in case of a security breach at the
building. As a result, the site management team would have daily access to activities inside and
outside the premises to ensure the building is always safe.
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Facility management will provide technologies for a strong defense ensuring that Sodexo
premises are secure. Security developed by the facility management should be hard to notice to
ensure unscrupulous individuals to strengthen established security protocols. Security should be
the first priority since thieves and burglars target such buildings due to their worth. Facility
management would ensure the premises are secure by deploying insights developed by security
experts in Singapore (Short, 2017). Facility management proves vital in outlining security threats
for Sodexo Pte Ltd that develops strategies to combat its negative impacts in the future. A secure
building would ensure minimize the risk of accidents to ensure the firm achieved its set
objectives in Singapore. Proposals by facility management spearhead that the organization’s
building ought to incorporate the latest technologies and stringent security protocols ensuring the
building is secure.
Besides, facility management ensures that a competent security plan is adopted by
Sodexo to mitigate the risks posed by the market. A mitigation strategy would be developed by
the facility manager to arrange people, policies, technology, and assets in a manner that helps
achieve sustainability (Khakzad, Khan & Amyotte, 2011). However, the security plan adopted by
the facilities management must be effective hence trained staff should be consulted during the
process. The facility manager would spearhead the development of building blocks aimed at
fostering the security of the premises (Short, 2017). For instance, an access control alarm and
monitoring system would be developed to ensure the firm is secure. The facility manager would
be capable of managing and monitoring access in and out of the building. Also, the technological
development develops interfaces to alert users of set security protocol and the repercussions of
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breaching them. Technologies prove vital in ensuring the facility is secure limiting external
intrusions.
Pleasant workplace
Xchange sets a relaxed tone for the rest of the space. User comfort and wellness is further
emphasized through the maximization of natural light and a dynamic seating plan, where a
variety of work options include sitting or standing at height-adjustable desks, or retreating into
soundproof phone booths. The smart office drives productivity through the use of digital
innovations that seamlessly engineer technology into the space, offering novel solutions that save
energy, optimize space and improve wellbeing.
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Source: (ID21 Administrator, 2020)
Facility management would provide all-day comfort and easy to maintain providing a
pleasant workplace. The facility manager would ensure that all stakeholders are taken good care
thus developing an expansive workplace needed to articulate all organizational concerns (Control
Solutions, 2015). For instance, facility management at Sodexo would develop several sensors to
ensure its workers are comfortable developing a pleasant workplace. The facility manager would
address value concerns to increase workplace productivity. The facility manager would
responsibly help the building’s occupants as a strategic approach to creating a pleasant
workplace. The manager would also boost the company’s productivity by motivating the bottom
line stakeholders towards achieving organizational sustainability. However, initiatives
undertaken by facility management must outline the impact of boosting productivity using the
company’s bottom line stakeholders (Atkin & Brooks, 2015). Consequently, the facility manager
would address overhead costs within their perspectives to ensure stakeholders achieve set goals
and objectives in the market.
The facility manager would address noise pollution and privacy issues within the
workplace environment to develop a pleasant working portfolio. For instance, computer printers
should be covered with sound shields thus increasing productivity. Workers need to concentrate
the need to utilize facility management to control noise pollution to increase responsiveness from
Sodexo’s stakeholders (Control Solutions, 2015). The office layout would be re-evaluated as a
strategic approach to develop a pleasant workplace environment. For instance, a simple fix
would be undertaken by the facility manager to boost productivity by increasing employee
motivation. Also, the facility manager ought to keep the workplace organized to help create a
pleasant environment to motivate workers towards achieving set objectives. Facility management
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would also ensure workers have decent places to keep their documents to prevent privacy
intrusion (Atkin & Brooks, 2015). Finally, decorations would be provided to ensure the
workplace looks appealing and attractive to stakeholders.
Inputs
Transformation process
Outputs
Financial resources
Process flow
Leasing
Client relationships
System improvement
Capital market
Diversity at the workplace
Process design
Property and facility
environment
management
Talented employees
Improved technological
applications
This is the paraphrased table
Conclusion and recommendations
The research into facilities management postulates that Sodexo Pte Ltd facility operations
must be fostered to increase overall efficiency. The facility operations outline how the
organization has developed a competitive edge in the global market since it utilizes current
trends in its business portfolio. Facility management ensures that the company is reliable by
utilizing the competency framework to develop a strong market presence in Singapore. Besides,
the building would be secure since facility management utilizes modern technological
developments to monitor movement inside and outside the premises. A pleasant workplace
would be achieved by increasing workers' comfortability levels to help them offer the best
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services to the firm’s customers. However, Sodexo needs to utilize technology to drive
organizational sustainability by collaborating with clients to develop sustainable solutions. Also,
the business should reduce carbon emissions to increase environmental sustainability relative to
guidelines stipulated by the Singaporean government. The organization’s portfolio should be
realigned to help its customer reduce environmental impacts due to the organization’s activities
in Singapore. The company should diversify its delivery services through technological
developments to ensure the firm provides an alluring experience to its clients in Singapore.
Finally, the company should develop resilient partnerships aimed at collectively achieving
change and amplify its efforts in Singapore.
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