As its name implies, a computerized management system (CMMS) refers to a combination of several maintenance processes—all in one system. It aims to remove manual elements and improve productivity and equipment performance. For instance, it allows you to make the most of assets, including machinery, plant infrastructures, and machinery. Hence, it’s common in industries that require physical infrastructure, such as oil and gas production, construction, power generation, transportation, and manufacturing.
At the heart of this system is its database. It features a data model that arranges information about resources, such as the equipment, materials, and assets a maintenance organization handles.
Overall, the system is an incorporation of many different functions surrounding compliance and audit record keeping, preventive maintenance scheduling, maintenance and expense record-keeping, work requests and orders, and inventory management. With such a wide scope, a CMMS is useful to businesses.
Read on to learn how a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) can benefit your company.
1. It Leads To Better Planning And Scheduling Of Preventive Maintenance
Taking a proactive approach to maintenance is most advisable for businesses. This means that before a problem even arises, each machinery, equipment, and even the entire plant in general is well-maintained. Staying on top of all those maintenance tasks can prevent costly repairs in the future.
With a small plant or a short list of equipment to maintain, keeping a manual record of all the schedules shouldn’t be challenging. However, as your business grows and expands, this task may eventually become challenging.
To keep up with all those schedules, a CMMS will come in handy. It can help your business remain in control by automating work orders. Maintenance triggers can be developed based on condition, time, and usage in a CMMS. They set a work order in motion. Then the work order is scheduled and assigned. Consequently, preventive maintenance is easier to schedule, and the work order runs without a hitch, resulting in less downtime.
2. It Increases Asset Visibility
With CMMS software in place, it will be easier for everyone on the team to know which assets are available and what aren’t. Centralized information in the CMMS enables the maintenance managers and teams to be updated in real time on matters, like:
- When a particular asset was purchased
- What the efficiency ratings are
- When the maintenance work was performed
- What parts are used at any given time
- What the frequency of breakdowns are
3. It Improves Reliability Of Your Team
No matter how well-trained and skilled the members of your maintenance team are, there’s always that risk of human error. This is even more evident when you’re talking about bigger systems and longer lists of maintenance schedules and functions to take note of.
When automated with a CMMS, reliability is improved. You no longer have to keep track of schedules through ad hoc reporting. So, maintenance schedules are done right when they’re needed, and assets are provided when they’re required.
4. It Manages Work Orders More Efficiently
Efficiency is a universal goal across many businesses, regardless of the industry. In maintenance management, the need for efficiency is most present along the lines of managing work orders.
Here’s how a CMMS can achieve this. When you use a CMMS, it’s easier and quicker for you to assign, schedule, and close work orders when necessary. You get to configure all the work order screens more efficiently by automatically tracking all the work orders in the system.
5. It Helps Solve Any Maintenance Backlogs
Aside from managing work orders more efficiently, a CMMS can further solve any maintenance backlogs that may be in place because of a previous inefficiency in your systems. While a small degree of backlog can be acceptable, too much can cause a negative impact on your daily operations. Therefore, a CMMS will prove useful.
By utilizing a CMMS, you’ll be able to balance the maintenance costs of your business and all other related resources. As a result, backlogs will be addressed, and a proper schedule and assignment of tasks is done.
6. It Enables Better Work Request Processing
A CMMS can enable better work request processing in terms of maintenance management. When you take advantage of a CMMs, your business gains access to a request portal. This gives your maintenance manager the ability to receive and process work orders and requests 24/7. No order is ignored, and each request is updated in the timeliest manner possible.
With a request portal, managers can prioritize job orders based on priority or need. Moreover, work orders are created to streamline the whole process right across the board.
Conclusion
Though introducing new software like a CMMS won’t be easy at first, it will be worth it. With a reliable system to depend on, you’ll get to save time and improve the health and safety of everyone in your plant, warehouse, or site.