Terminology

Facilities management systems glossary

Short definitions of the terms used throughout the site.

BAS / BMS

Building automation system / building management system; software and controls that monitor or control building services such as HVAC.

CAFM

Computer-aided facility management; a broad category of software supporting spaces, assets and facility processes.

CMMS

Computerized maintenance management system; software used to manage maintenance work, schedules, assets and history.

Condition-based maintenance

Maintenance triggered by measured condition rather than only time or failure.

EAM

Enterprise asset management; broader asset-lifecycle management that often includes maintenance, materials, cost and capital context.

FM

Facility management; an organizational function integrating people, place and process within the built environment.

IWMS

Integrated workplace management system; a platform category that can include real estate, space, maintenance, capital projects and sustainability functions.

MTBF

Mean time between failures; operating time divided by failure count for a repairable asset population under a defined method.

MTTR

Mean time to repair; average repair time across defined failures.

PM

Preventive maintenance; scheduled work intended to reduce the likelihood or consequence of failure.

Predictive maintenance

Use of trends or models to estimate condition or future failure risk so intervention can be planned.

RCA

Root cause analysis; structured investigation of underlying causal factors behind a problem.

System of record

The authoritative system in which a specific type of data is officially maintained.

Work order

A controlled record authorizing and tracking defined maintenance or facility work.