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Computerized Maintenance Management Software Trends
September 12, 2009 |
Top computerized maintenance management system suppliers update their systems to meet the growing needs of clients.
1. Leading CMMS do more
Up-to-date computerised maintenance management systems deliver more control of:
- Work schedules produced systematically
- The ability to schedule maintenance by asset type
- Stock control enhanced over long time periods
- Equipment issues recorded and alerts issued
- Flexible asset register creation with the ability to trace components
- Project management capabilities
- Shutdown planning functionality
- Immediate access to key documents, photographs and AV training aids
- Real-time distribution of information by email, SMS and web
2. Joined up thinking: a system wide approach Maintenance Management is increasingly believed to hold the key to profitability and now features in most enterprise management tools. Maintenance management funtionality is included in EAM (enterprise asset management), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CMMS systems. A CMMS delivers specific information to meet the needs of the maintenance team and can provide information to increase profitabity. By integrating a larger computerized system with an ERP or EAM system, you gain the best of both worlds - enterprise wide information management and efficient, effective maintenance management.
3. PDA based systems enable mobile maintenance
Today Technicians are on the move more than ever. Over the last 5 years the meteoric rise of wireless communications has enabled CMMS suppliers to enable remote electronic access to the computerised maintenance management system. To support greater mobility and flexibility, new PDAs have been introduced. Mobile technology. The following areas are where CMMS benefits are most obvious:
- Monitoring of assets
- Work orders
- Parts inventory and stock movement
- Text/email alerts for critical breakdowns minimise downtime
4. Easy access for personel
As a vital tool in the battle for lean manufacturing processes, a CMMS should be used widely across the organization by appropriate staff. We inhabit a world with a multi-ethnic workforce where IT literacy amongst the workforce is not homogeneous.
Therefore the interface to even the most sophisticated system needs to be simple and intuitive, reducing the need for training and supporting the adoption of a CMMS across all levels of personnel. Where manual data entry is required, text editors and pop up calendar scheduling makes text entry straightforward. Modern maintenance systems save time, allowing bulk alterations to tasks.
A considerable advantage of computerised mainenance management systems is their ability to easily trap and circulate data. With an aging workforce, documenting and collaborating on procedures for the next generation of maintenance engineers is critical. The more capable CMMS packages enable staff to locate and attach several files to both work orders and tasks and link multiple standard texts with a task. User passwords allow personel access to information which may be pre-configured. This is only available on some CMMS.
5. Visible reporting
Maintnenance managers are able to spot progress of projects, current problems and the position of important assets. Easy to read Dashboards help demonstrate the value of the maintenance department and can also enhance the wider factory culture, with everyone working from a very visible report that helps to bolster teamwork. The economic climate has forced companies to review the performance of its maintenance operation. The success of cost control, asset maximisation and downtime minimisation is largely dependent on the maintenance team.
With the capability to predict the future of your assets that these trends produce, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems will remain a vital tool for increasing the efficiency of maintenance teams of all sizes, helping them to turn from reactive to proactive asset management.
