Final answer:
Facilities managers are most closely equivalent to institutional project managers, who manage various projects within an organization, similar to how facilities managers ensure that facilities meet the needs of occupants and run efficiently. The correct answer is option c. industrial program managers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Facilities managers are professionals responsible for ensuring that the buildings and their services meet the needs of the people that work in them. They handle services such as cleaning, security, and parking, to make sure the work environment is safe and efficient.
Among the options provided, the closest equivalent to a facilities manager would likely be b. institutional project managers. This term reflects the broad nature of their responsibilities which can encompass managing projects within an institution, although it may not be a widely recognized alternative title. The term 'institutional' implies a focus on organizations and facilities, aligning with the responsibilities of a facilities manager.
Industrial production managers (option a) typically focus on overseeing production in manufacturing settings. Industrial program managers (option c) may work on specific programs or projects within industrial sectors. Lastly, institutional production managers (option d) is not a standard term within the realm of facilities management.
Looking at the context of industrial engineering, it involves planning and overseeing aspects of production to improve efficiency, which does have some overlap with facilities management, but the focus is more on the manufacturing process itself rather than the broader scope of managing an entire facility's operations.