Page 16 - CIJ May 2023 Digital Edition

Cover Story

Who better than FM heads, plant heads and admin heads from

the pharma industry to talk about their best practices, challenges,
processes and other trade secrets? Here is an analysis of Clean India
Journal’s interaction with three of them, as well as their views, in

their own words.

Consistent manpower employee services within the Clean room maintenance

During the pandemic, existing budget. When a pharma company
the pharma sector faced a Budget planning commits to a regulatory body that it
manpower crunch that led to manufactures the products it markets
unfortunate consequences. If the company is expanding, and uses its own employees to do so,
The lack of skilled power for FM will also have to increase. outsourcing clean room maintenance
maintenance of the production This is forecasted based on to an external agency becomes tricky.
facility led to deterioration headcounts, and accordingly, However, the technically qualified
in the condition of assets. the cost is calculated. Statutory team of the pharma manufacturer is
Understandably, all three inflation has to be accounted not equipped to clean and mop the
respondents place consistent for. The minimum wage for facility themselves. Instead, skilled
availability of manpower at the unskilled, semi-skilled and outsourced labour works under their
centre of facility management. skilled manpower is also set direct supervision.
by the government; one should
Constrained budgets account for a 4-5% increase
every year.
There is a lot of push from If the facility manager wants
the management to reduce to sustain within the existing
costs across the board. One budget, they will have to find
consequence of this is that ways to reduce FM headcount
the subsidisation of employee by optimising their space
services is being rationalised. utilisation, or going for solutions
Earlier, manufacturing like robotic cleaning.
facilities were located 40-50
km away from the nearest city,
and employees found it difficult
to commute to and from work.
Shared office buses and cabs
came up as a solution. Today,
most such facilities are on the
outskirts of urban centres, and
more transport options exist.
Employee services will remain,
but the employee will also have
to contribute to them.
For a service that costs ₹100
(for example), no longer will
the organisation contribute ₹99.
With rational contributions
from employees, FM will be
able to continue providing

MAY 2023•Clean India Journal
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