Facilities @ Management

1.2 “In the Beginning of FM…”

William W. ‘Bill’ Back Jr.

… there was, in the mid-1970s, a crisis brewing in the office work environment in the USA, which was then dominated by private offices. The workplace was becoming more open with the introduction of systems furniture. At this same time technology was proliferating creating electrical load and cabling problems, as well as security issue never before dreamed of. The then typical office space did not have the flexibility or capacity to accommodate these innovations. Because all of these innovations and issues were interrelated there was an additional concern, there was no single individual within most corporate organizations designated to deal with these issues as a total package in a coordinated and seamless manner. Within existing corporate organizations, each of the issues was usually managed separately, causing significant management conflict and subsequent operating cost increases. Recognizing that these issues were impacting productivity Herman Miller Research Corp. hosted “Facility Influence on Productivity” at Herman Miller’s Marigold Lodge in Holland Michigan in December 1978. This event brought together three leaders from different business sectors and different parts of the USA:

• George Graves, Manager of Office Services, Texas Eastern Transmission Corp., Houston, Texas,
• Charles Hitch, Manufacturers National Bank, Detroit, Michigan, and
• Dave Armstrong, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

Each of ...