Perspectives on facilities management for industrial districts

The possible evolution of facility management (FM) in industrial districts, which characterise Italian industrial system, is analysed. The paper investigates structural features of industrial districts, mainly formed by small sized enterprises, and how they influence the attributes of the FM market. An aggregation matrix is introduced to identify technical opportunities such as replicated, centralised and distributed facilities and management for industrial districts. A positioning matrix for a district-oriented FM is proposed, allowing FM providers to seize technical opportunities and to reap economies of scale and scope. Requisites and obstacles to the evolution of potential FM providers towards more competitive positions are outlined. The role of co-operation with and among potential clients, in particular, together with information, is clarified. Considering the client's perspective, the paper describes the forms of competitive advantage that can be gained through a district-oriented FM by single enterprises and by an industrial district as a whole. © 2002, MCB UP Limited