The implementation of new maintenance technologies requires time, patience and both human and financial resources. That’s why it is important to set up a pilot program and scale up gradually. Maintenance Software Digitises Manual Processes.
Using maintenance management software helps you automate manual processes, increase asset performance and improve efficiency. Here are some of the ways it does this: 1. Digital Instructions. Maintenance Software Digitises Manual Processes.
Asset Management
Whether with pen and paper or old spreadsheets, manual methods detract from asset maintenance efficiency, facility management simplicity and even compliance. Smart maintenance approaches use advanced software to streamline the data capture, display and utilization process.
Using CMMS software to automatically create work orders streamlines the maintenance process and eliminates manual steps. With a view of key asset information, employees can quickly identify and execute the best preventive or predictive maintenance tasks.
Traditionally, EAM and CMMS software help teams manage business processes that include monitoring equipment condition, scheduling maintenance and converting high priority alerts into work orders for inspection or repair. Smart maintenance approaches go a step further to leverage the power of Big Data and the Internet of Things, providing the insight to move from condition-based maintenance practices to predictive maintenance strategies. Combined with reliable remote monitoring, this helps organizations improve productivity and reduce operational costs. Ultimately, it also helps them avoid unplanned downtime and improve the overall customer value delivered by the organisation.
Scheduling
The first step in smart maintenance is gathering the right data. A good computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) goes beyond work order tracking to give you more context for your equipment and processes.
Depending on the criticality of your machines, this might mean near-real-time condition monitoring so you can detect potential failures before they cause major production losses or stops. Getting this kind of information requires reliable connectivity to your assets, smart sensor technology and machine learning.
It also takes time to build performance data and establish a predictive model for your assets. This is where a digitised maintenance process becomes a game changer. It allows you to automate workflows and prioritize tasks based on the actual needs of your assets. This reduces manual work and makes it much easier to balance the demands of maintenance costs, equipment availability and compliance with regulations. This helps you move from condition-based to a proactive maintenance strategy that minimizes downtime and operational risk.
Work Instructions and Checklists
Work instructions, SOPs or OnePointLessons, are a clear explanation of how to complete a specific task or procedure. They can include step-by-step instructions, important safety- and quality aspects, as well as any prerequisites (such as acquiring certain materials or completing another task).
The best digital work instructions are easy to understand. They should also be compliant with any industry-specific regulations and standards.
When creating a work instruction, it is important to test it with employees. For instance, you can run a pilot with a small group of people and ask them to complete the task.
Communication
With smart maintenance, technicians can access equipment data in real-time. This allows them to track work orders more efficiently and ensure that the correct parts are available. It also enables them to perform predictive and prescriptive maintenance more effectively.
This approach is based on the use of industrial internet of things (IoT) devices to monitor and communicate machine data. It can improve common maintenance metrics like mean-time-between-failures, mean-time-to-repair, and cost control. It can even improve executive metrics like productivity, revenue, inventory and return on assets (ROA).
CMMS software is one of the best ways to implement smart maintenance because it provides a platform for tracking maintenance processes and providing insights that can improve equipment reliability and support operational efficiency. However, implementing it isn’t always easy. You must first establish the right resources to drive adoption and get the most out of your new system. To do so, start by defining clear policies and creating standard procedures to handle requests needs read more hear.
