MD Online Automated FM Service Management System created in 2012 by MD Facility Management has been officially approved and put on the Software Register by the Federal Intellectual Property Service of Russia. Since 2011 MD Facility Management has been developing its own software for higher-quality servicing on the base of Property Operation and Maintenance Standard established earlier and applied for several years. In the end of 2012, the software underwent testing in some of the pilot FM projects. MD Online trial operation continued in 2013; and already in 2014 MD specialists began its intensive implementation at several other facilities. Today, MD Online is introduced at 18 real properties served in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. With the new instruments of automatic control such as maintenance scheduling and registering (service history), repair time calculation, quality and efficiency assessment, as well as effective personnel management and quick response to emergency situations MD Online helps largely improve the facility management performance.

Moscow, 10 June, 2014 – Alexander Skrobko, Vice President at MD Facility Management, joined the Facility Management Development Team called upon the initiative of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS – the Certification Institution). RICS was founded in Britain in 1868 to promote the interest of real estate market specialists. The meeting was dedicated to real property operation and maintenance issues and development of FM technology in Russia.
The following key issues were brought up at the meeting:

- Creation of expert platform on the basis of RICS to introduce and implement the best foreign practices in the field

- Educational programs to be based on international and European standards of real estate management; arrangement of trainings and other RICS events

- Creation of Russian database containing Facility Management costs and prices (Building Cost Information Service)

The meeting is the first in the series of dedicated events. The following sessions (one coming on 1 July, 2014) will go into detail on the projected Facility Management standardization and adjustment procedures in the Russian market.

The North-Western Representative Office of MD Facility Management performed in a new “role” of FM Training Expert. This became possible thanks to an invitation received from Russia’s largest educational center, Progress CNTI, to take part in Real Estate Technical Maintenance Conference, which was held in Saint Petersburg, 21-25 April, 2014 The Conference attracted the market experts from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Sochi and other cities. The biggest interest was drawn to the lecture delivered by Vladimir Drozdov, Chief Engineer of the North-Western Division of MD Facility Management. In addition, the Division arranged a master class at its flagman site Galereya Shopping and Entertainment Center. Here, Vladimir represented the service scheme the company uses to perform technical maintenance of building with quite a sophisticated MEP system. Upon the end of the event the Conference Organizing Committee gave MD representatives a Letter of Gratitude.

The Bank of Moscow announced its Gratitude to the Moscow Division of MD Facility Management for excellent performance of technical maintenance in the Bank’s office building (located at 14 Zhukovskogo Street, Moscow). MD has served the site totaling 25,000 square meters since August, 2013. The other office of the Bank of Moscow – served by MD as well – is situated at 1 Pakgauznoye Chaussee. At these sites MD renders the full range of technical maintenance services including preventive maintenance and repair of MEP. We appreciate the effort of the Moscow team of MD Facility Management, their professional approach and high-quality service. Well done! Keep it up! MD Facility Management has years of experience in servicing bank sites. The total area of bank offices served by MD across Russia exceeds 220,000 sq.m. Besides Moscow and the Moscow Region our company works with banks in Novosibirsk.

MD Facility Management has been announced among the top three winners of the Best Management Company Nomination in Commercial Real Estate Moscow Awards 2014. Annual professional Commercial Real Estate Awards was founded in 2004 by the Commercial Real Estate Magazine with the aim to highlight achievements in construction, development and management of commercial real property. The Best Management Company Nominees are professional service providers specializing in management, operation and maintenance of companies’ real estate. MD Facility Management has been selected the best along with the market leaders, Sawatzky PM and Jones Lang LaSalle. Sawatzky Property Management has stepped on top of the podium. We wish MD Facility Management further participation in such events and higher achievements!

27 March, 2014, Saint Petersburg – the Annual Office Center Management Conference held this year at Courtyard Marriott Pushkin Hotel attracted leading real estate developers and consultants, property and facility managers as well as engineering and construction companies.

Mikhail Mokrov, Deputy Director at MD Facility Management’s Representative Office in the Northwestern Federal District took part in the Conference.

Office buildings management experts shared opinions on:

• Commercial real estate market development tendencies in demand, format and locations

· Office center management. Positioning and operating issues.

Mikhail Mokrov performed as moderator in the second part of the Conference, which was dedicated to office building management and maintenance issues. The participants discussed methods to reduce the management costs reduction, manage the costs technical maintenance of complex real property (multipurpose commercial buildings and property with multiple owners), as well as such topics as “MEP Maintenance: New Challenges, New Solutions,” “Cleaning: What to Outsource?” and many other.

The event was organized by the non-profit Gild of Managers and Developers of Russia and CIS.

MD Facility Management’s Northwest Division underwent a quality management system audit and proved its compliance with ISO 9001:2011 (ISO 9001:2008).

To gain an ISO Certificate is to receive an official confirmation for the high level of professionalism, thought leadership, effective internal communication and separation of duties, as well as smooth-running servicing and quality monitoring procedures. All these factors work together making a successful fully integrated management system to deliver the best quality service.

ISO 9001:2011 (ISO 9001:2008) proves MD’s Northwest Division observes stringent quality control standards in facility management, building design, construction and operation consulting services.

The QMS established at MD Facility Management improves the service quality and helps better satisfy customers’ needs.

The International Organization for Standardization, known as ISO, is the world’s largest independent developer of quality management standards applicable to all companies regardless of their size and field of activity. ISO incorporates national standards bodies from over 160 countries across the world.

Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) sends a letter of gratitude to the Far Eastern team of MD Facility Management for their support in arranging the Olympic Torch Relay reception taken place at the University, 15 and 16 November, 2013. “The great teamwork made this large-scale event run at the highest level of expectations,” – the letter says.

Tatyana Andrusenko, Academic Block Manager at FEFU, was given special thanks for her commitment and professional attitude to the Olympic Flame welcome ceremony.

6 November, 2013– The Guild of Property Managers and Developers (GMD or GUD) hosted the Second Annual Capacity Building Conference Management of Business Centers in Moscow. Olga Gavrilova, Deputy Account Director at MD Facility Management, appeared with the report dedicated to Facility Management Assessment Methods and Service Standards; Real Estate Benchmarking and Performance Measurement.

The lack of strict service quality evaluation procedures adopted at a number of Russia’s managing agencies is one of the big obstacles faced by business center owners. Emphasizing the importance of the standards Olga Gavrilova represented the Service Quality Control program introduced at MD Facility Management.

Two main criteria are laid down in FM service quality assessment – Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) and Service Quality Index (SQI). CSI allows for obtaining specific numbers to estimate such emotional factor as customer satisfaction with the service. SQI is calculated by an independent auditor on the base of the regulatory documents issued within the company being assessed. These two criteria together enable to provide comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the Facility Management service.

18 October, Moscow, 5^th Annual Retail Lease Conference (KomAr-2013) – Olga Gavrilova, Deputy Account Director at MD Facility Management, appeared with a report at a special session dedicated to retail premises, namely Shopping Centers Development Concept for Small and Medium-Sized Cities and Their Integration in Local Infrastructure.

The major issue brought up at the session was the opportunity to reduce shopping center investment costs in tows with low population and income levels. In her speech Olga Gavrilova emphasized the fact that greenfield investment in small towns is a high risk and expensive venture. Therefore investors tend to acquire completed construction projects for their further redevelopment. However, this seemingly reasoned approach entails some difficulties.

“For instance, a developer inherits a shabby infrastructure and worn out supply systems. The renovation will take much time and costs. What is important is to optimize the operational costs at the stage of redevelopment. Eventually this will help increase the asset value,” says O. Gavrilova.