Facility Management in Life Science is About Far More Than Cleaning and Upkeep
Imagine your lab is running an around-the-clock experiment. Sensitive equipment is calibrated to exacting standards. The lab temperature must remain steady down to the decimal. Any small disruption, whether from a missed filter change to an unplanned power outage, could compromise millions of dollars of work and months of progress.
That’s the reality for life science organizations. And it’s why choosing the right facility services partner isn’t just about keeping the lights on. It’s about research integrity, compliance and, ultimately, safeguarding discoveries.
There’s enough stress in conducting important research work. There’s no reason to add to that the stress of maintaining a mission-critical environment when there are experts who can do it for you. That’s perhaps one of the reasons over 36% of life science organizations expect to outsource facility management (FM) functions over the next five years.
In a recent Boston Business Journal article, Tim Knowles, Senior Director of Operations at UG2, shared his insights on what life science companies need to look for in a mission-critical facilities management partner. Here are a few highlights.
Facility Services that Go Beyond Maintenance
Knowles emphasizes what many organizations know by now: facility management in life sciences is about far more than cleaning and upkeep.
When evaluating facilities management partners, look for companies that have expertise in essential services and best practices.
Here’s the quick must-have checklist:
- Cleanroom management (ISO, FDA, GMP compliance)
- HVAC and air filtration (precise environmental control)
- Preventive and predictive maintenance (reduce downtime, ensure safety)
- Waste management (safe biohazard disposal)
- Safety protocols (PPE, emergency response)
From maintaining controlled environments to safeguarding uptime in research and manufacturing spaces, the right partner supports both compliance and innovation.
Why Employee Training and Retention Matter
In any organization, employee expertise and consistency matter. In life science, they are vital.
The checklist above is a start and it only matters if the team executing it is appropriately trained and certified to work in life science environments. They should also continue to build on their knowledge of your specific facility.
Beyond training, look at employee retention rates. Turnover in facility staff can create risks to compliance, safety, and productivity. A partner that invests in ongoing training and prioritizes retention builds the kind of workforce that life science organizations can trust.
How to Choose the Right Partner
For leaders in biotech, pharma, and research, the takeaway is clear: facilities management partners should be evaluated on their ability to provide highly trained teams with a proven record in mission-critical environments.
Read more about how to find the right partner for your life science organization.
For the full Boston Business Journal article, you can read more here. And for more information on how UG2 partners with life science facilities, check out this article.