NBM Marks 47 Years as a Full Universal Service Provider

The National Building Maintenance Corporation (NBM) is a very unique company. It was founded in Ponce in 1967 by a man called Mr. Helcías Bermúdez. Today, his son, who bears the very same name, serves as president of the firm here in Puerto Rico. With sixteen years of experience in the industrial market with a company which has been established for over 40 years, Mr. Bermúdez said the following in a recent interview:

 “We provide services throughout Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Costa Rica and the United States. In 2003, we formed a joint venture with a company called GCA Service Group, a national service provider. This company had some very broad experiences in the areas of janitorial services maintenance, grounds maintenances and plant operation management (POM). They have a customized and proprietary software program (GCAware) which incorporates flexible modules to meet site-specific needs across any building, educational institutions (K-12 and universities), hotels, or multi-tenants (malls). In Puerto Rico, we have added those services to our clients in the manufacturing sector, medical devices, pharmaceutical and the health care sector, which add value to the main services.

While maintenance and other cleaning are part of our scope, we have expanded our services in the healthcare sector to include transporting patients, minimizing hazardous waste products and other needed services. These additional services could range from plant maintenance to providing security functions. In reality, anything and everything that can affect the smooth running of the facility is our concern. These services are obviously beyond the common services expected of a cleaning/maintenance corporation.

We cover a wide range of industries with diverse needs. For instance, at K-12, university and medical facilities, each obviously has their own type of “client” needs where such vital concerns as dealing with age, maturity and state of health are issues that must be dealt with constantly. The converse can be said of a pharmaceutical manufacturing site. The finished product and how it affects the end users is the main concern. Therefore we are a ‘people business.’

The diversity of each of these entities is where NBM has succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. The responsibility of our performing at optimum condition rests upon our shoulders, or else we get fired or replaced. We offer many, many services that, often times, our clients ask for. These include painting of classrooms, placing additional lighting in laboratories, landscaping, etc. In reality, we’ve become a universal service provider.

There are many other advantages to the services we render. Many corporations outsource both manufacturing and processing services that we can do for a substantially lower and more cost effective rate than they presently pay. These services can and do include safety and security features as well. For the client, his responsibility lies with determining if indeed we did the assigned work correctly and accurately. Again, if we fail, he dismisses us. As of right now, no one has, and our system has worked for both parties.

These clients are looking to reduce their risk and achieve the lowest maximum efficient economic cost for their operations. All work place activities, including human resources, are outsourced to us and we, in turn, contract out these same services at the lowest possible cost.

In production services, we can supply forklifts, if required, handymen, electricians and a host of other related necessities, including production. We provide the staff, management provides the training, and we supervise the work force and the job at hand. We subcontract all warehouse and distribution services and it works very effectively for us.

We have two main offices in Puerto Rico. One is in Ponce and the other is in Hato Rey. In Ponce, we have the warehousing, management and administrative staff. In Hato Rey, we have sales and operational systems. Both work to support our field representatives. Currently, we have 2,200 employees on the island.

We have over 70 managers, island wide, with specific responsibilities including taking care of customers. Above these managers, we have regional managers who cover all of Puerto Rico. Supervision of these regional managers is the responsibility of the company’s vice president of operations.

NBM also has under its umbrella a division with a recycling plant. The company is under the direction of Mr. Helmy Bermúdez and is located in Ponce. The firm concentrates its efforts in providing solutions for the management and reduction of waste products that represent a potential environmental threat like paper, cardboard, aluminum, pallets, plastic, etc.

If you measure the total square footage of the services of NBM, we are number one in Puerto Rico. Currently, there are few major corporations involved in this $250 million a year industry. The rest of the field is made up of smaller companies.

Our image is at least partially based on first impression, so all NBM employees are uniformed. This policy helps our image at all the sites we service. The client usually requires that we be uniformed, so that we are easily identified for the work that is asked of us.

Our people stay with us for a long time. Our annual turnover rate for our management is 4 percent. Retention of our management staff is 96 percent. Some of our outstanding employees have been with us for 31 years, another 24 years and still another 12 years. We firmly believe in our policy of promoting from within. Our employees gain experience and can deal with a variety of situations. Our client retention rate is 94 percent.

This job has challenges every day. Our staff is young, energetic and loyal. They seek out solutions to problems that they face every day. We would be nowhere without them and we say that often. We have a very fine sales staff and we have multiple tasks to pursue to get new sales such as participation in trade shows throughout the island. But when all is said and done, our best corporate effort is seen day to day by our clients. They are our single best barometer of how well we are doing. Nothing more need be said.”

CAPTION FOR MANUFACTURING PHOTO

Helcías Bermúdez, President National Building Maintenance