What does O&M mean?

O&M in the office-fit out and construction industry means ‘Operations and Maintenance’. O & M refers to the functions, duties and skilled labour associated with the daily operation on-site.

During an office fit-out, operations and maintenance is a key part of the Officeinsight ‘Deliver’ process as our specialist team manage the whole fit-out process to deliver the project on time and to budget. The O&M manual is compiled throughout the project and is handed over on completion.

What is an O&M manual?

An O&M manual is a comprehensive copy of all of the documents, plans and manuals of the products that will need maintenance to maintain their useful life. Rather like an owner’s manual you get when buying a car, this useful manual keeps all the information in one place and helps avoid ambiguities on what needs to be done in different situations. The almost guide-like document is set out clearly with defined processes, as well as protocols and standards.

What is included in an O&M manual?

There is a lot included in the O&M manual, which will vary depending on the size of the project. Standard contents of an O&M manual may include:

– Technical drawings pack: detailed drawings, assembly and component drawings, as-built drawings.

– Recommended maintenance schedules for the installed products: this includes trouble-shooting procedures, responsibilities, schedules and test requirements and helps ensure that each part of the finished office remains in good condition.

– Operating procedures: this explanation will detail and document the major operating procedures so employees can quickly learn what and how to work different parts of the new office.

– Physical buildings: this section will hold all of the important information about the actual facility, such as floor plans and building specification information.

Why create the O&M manual?

There are many benefits to creating an O&M manual. From helping to keep processes, procedures and protocol clear through to avoiding uncertainty about your new office space and how it works. It contains information on what needs to be done in different situations and how to manage your new space. The information is kept in one place so you don’t have to hunt out and find several different documents.

At Officeinsight, we start to compile the O&M manual from the start of the project to ensure that all the information is captured and added as the project nears completion.