Facility Management vs. In-House Maintenance: Which Is Right for You?

Apr 10

In manufacturing, every minute of downtime costs money — and how you manage your facility can make or break operational efficiency. But one big question remains for many plant leaders: Should you keep maintenance in-house or partner with a facility management provider?

This decision can impact everything from staffing flexibility and response time to long-term operational efficiency. Let’s break down the pros and cons of each approach and explore which might make the most sense for your operation.

In-House Maintenance: Control and Familiarity

These setups work well when operations are stable, but they can be stretched thin during expansion or equipment upgrades.

Keeping maintenance in-house gives companies direct oversight of their team, tools, and tasks. For many, this creates a sense of reliability and control.

Pros:

Technicians are familiar with your specific equipment and plant layout
Faster informal communication within internal teams
Consistent staffing with direct control over hiring and training

Cons:

Limited bandwidth during emergencies or scale-ups
Higher fixed labor costs and ongoing training expenses
Slower adoption of new technologies without outside expertise

In-house teams often do well in stable environments where systems change infrequently and there’s little need for cross-functional agility.

Outsourced Facility Management: Flexibility and Expertise

Outsourcing to a facility management partner brings in a team whose core focus is operational efficiency, technical support, and compliance.

Pros:

Access to specialized talent, including electricians, mechanics, and energy experts
Scalable support for multi-site operations, expansions, or temporary spikes
Proactive maintenance and reporting through advanced tools and analytics
Streamlined costs with reduced internal HR burden

Cons:

Less direct day-to-day control over technicians
Onboarding time to align partner with your SOPs and expectations

Outsourcing makes sense when your plant is evolving rapidly, facing labor shortages, or pushing for digital transformation in operations. For example, a 2021 McKinsey article reported that predictive maintenance—often delivered through outsourced or hybrid models—can reduce unplanned downtime by up to 50% and maintenance costs by 20% (source).

What Sets Tempus Apart

At Tempus, we don’t just plug into your operations—we become a strategic partner. From machine installation and MES integration to preventive maintenance and facility security, we provide full-service support tailored to your manufacturing needs.

Clients often come to us when their in-house teams are stretched thin or when they need to bring new facilities online without starting from scratch. We help them reduce unplanned downtime, streamline facility startups, and shift from reactive to proactive maintenance — without the overhead of building internal teams from scratch.

So, Which Is Right for You?

Ask yourself:

Are your current teams equipped for the pace of change?
Do you have access to the specialized skills you need?
Are you spending more time managing maintenance than improving operations?

If you're navigating growth, restructuring, or new facility launches, outsourced facility management may offer more value, flexibility, and peace of mind.

Curious if outsourcing could work for your plant? Let’s talk through your needs and see what Tempus can do to lighten the load.

Have you read?

Top Facility Management Issues in Manufacturing

5 common mistakes in Industrial Preventive Maintenance

Discover how effective MRO practices can enhance efficiency

Choosing the Right Facility Management Partner for Your Industrial Plant