Key Factors for Success in Facility Services Outsourcing
Outsourcing facility and janitorial services can bring tremendous benefits to any organization, including streamlined business processes and reduced long-term costs.
But a multi-tenant building filled with real estate firms, law offices, and investment funds have very different needs than a life science company that has much more stringent protocols, specialized equipment, and sensitive lab areas.
When it comes to facilities and janitorial management, life science stands apart. That makes it even more crucial to find a partner that understands these major focus areas:
Maintenance of Sensitive Environments
Unlike offices and public spaces, life science encompasses areas like clean rooms, vivariums and labs with complex biological safety levels. These require not just the correct combination of cleaning products, but also the correct standard operating procedures and protocols.
For example, janitorial services can’t just be “extra careful” in lab spaces. Those individuals must be trained and follow precise protocols with personal protective equipment, utilize cleaning solutions and equipment that will not have a negative effect on ongoing projects, and work at a pace that emphasizes precision over speed.
That leads to maximization of product or research yield, so risk of contamination is mitigated. Errors made in this environment could lead to massive loss of time and/or money from the potentially significant negative impact on human health care and ongoing projects.
Collaboration and Communication
Working with life science organizations requires a high level of teamwork with a customer’s facilities team to ensure adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), as well as a proactive approach to ensuring uptime. Just as the industry itself is unique, so too is every organization within that industry.
Because of that, communication is key. Not only does that help prevent problems, but better collaboration creates a basis of risk reduction. For instance, perhaps a piece of equipment seems askew from where it’s usually placed. Alerting lab managers immediately could prevent disaster—but that’s only possible if you have a team that knows where that equipment should be in the first place.
Training and Safety
Spaces like labs and clean rooms don’t just have different equipment or furnishings than other places, they require specialized understanding and professionals who can set up, maintain, and clean them correctly.
That involves upfront training and certifications, but that’s just a starting point. Those facilities and janitorial professionals must receive ongoing training, including extensive safety protocols, and that training must include specific needs for each type of life science customer. Just as important is continuous knowledge of industry trends through conferences and seminars.
At UG2, we see each life science customer engagement as an opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise in the industry, and to maximize the resources already in place, so customers can develop strategies that are proactive and meaningful.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help you.