Engineers are the live wire that keeps the society running and this duty stems through his ability to yield astounding results in the workplace by his creative role in constructions and workplace design. Studies and Research have proven that the layout of a workplace is key in getting positive results. In achieving a good workflow, buildings for the workplace have to be people-centric such that it is convenient and accommodates recreational and relaxation facilities. In a nutshell, to get enhanced workplace productivity, buildings must be designed to be user-friendly; unnecessary complexities should be avoided in designs for the workplace, people must be able to navigate themselves freely around the building. Many companies tend to put up expensive structures but pay little attention to facility management as the years go by. It is one thing to create magnificent edifices and another to manage and maintain these complex facilities for maximum utility. Hence, the need calls for facility management overtime.
If attention is paid to facility maintenance and management by the workplace administrative, this would not only help reduce the operational cost of structures but boost productivity in the long run. Also, it has been observed that when the esteem of workers is high, they tend to reciprocate this by having a good customer relationship. Every worker prefers a workplace with fascinating facilities fit for human convenient. When his/her workplace is conducive, his esteem, in turn, is high and this ultimately leads to customer satisfaction.
The chain of workplace productivity is given thus; Productive workplace + Company productivity + Company moral equals to = Customer satisfaction.
It should be known that there are certain drivers of workplace productivity. Data from the research showed an evaluated scale of enhancers of workplace productivity. 90 % of workers performed better in the well-designed workplace. Lack of flexibility in the workplace limits productivity and 66% of companies recorded a better performance when natural lights and windows were present at the workplace. Generally, the physical features of an office environment can have a significant effect on the behaviour, perception, moral framework and productivity of employees.
Other salient features of a convenient workplace include temperature, air quality, lighting and noise condition. Any deflection from these may hinder maximum workplace productivity.
Summarily, the importance of workplace design is in the 3S. Designs must be built such that people would feel Safe, Secure and Satisfied. Anything short of these would offset concentration and productivity. Spaces must be built such that they enhance the incubation of ideas and involve less energy to navigate. In creating workplace designs, engineer should put in consideration Flexibility, Personalization that allows for quiet reflection and the use of technology and systems. These combined improve a company’s image.
The role of the engineer in achieving workplace productivity plays through from the design to construction, installation, operations and maintenance of the structure. This upgrade is known as facility management. The international Facility Management Association (IFMA) states that the overall integration of security, satisfaction and comfort of the workforce is dependent on proper facility management at the workplace. So to achieve this, the engineer remains a key player who has a duty in the workplace productivity by involving in Facility Management and Construction.
