Other ways a CMMS can help manufacturers optimize maintenance management

1. Streamline the reporting process

A CMMS provides a fast and easy way for machine operators and other employees on the shop floor to report problems. A work order request portal allows anyone to submit work orders, while enabling maintenance teams to maintain a digital trail, prioritize work orders, and facilitate scheduling. 

You can customize the work order request form by allowing users to submit photos and indicate priority level plus other information such as building number (in a large facility) and equipment type. Detailed work orders enable technicians to complete maintenance tasks without delays while minimizing error. 

2. Optimize the workflow

Create a set of standard operating procedures technicians can use to maintain complex assets. A preventive maintenance strategy minimizes the chance of unscheduled downtime by performing maintenance before an asset shows signs of wear. However, not all assets should be placed on a preventive maintenance plan. Routine inspections and corrective maintenance help you circumvent machine failure for medium-value assets that don’t warrant the high upfront investment of preventive maintenance.

CMMS features facilitate this process by providing the following:

• Detailed maintenance logs for every asset
• Spare parts management stem (so you never run out of replacement parts)
• Documentation for each asset (OEM recommendations, fault patterns, and maintenance procedures)

3. Manage work order scheduling

Automated work order scheduling means work orders are assigned according to priority level and technician availability. Recurring work orders—eg: routine inspections or preventive maintenance tasks—are automatically scheduled so you never miss one. 

When a new work request comes in, the maintenance planner sees a real-time view of what each technician is working on and which ones can be safely pulled into other tasks. It’s always best to use a technician who isn’t in the middle of another task instead of interrupting a task that is in progress. 

A CMMS gives you insight into the following:

• List of active maintenance tasks
• List of tasks that still need to be scheduled
• Which technicians are assigned to cover which tasks
• Who is available to cover corrective tasks that still need to be scheduled 

4. Create communication channels

Remember that maintenance doesn’t only concern the maintenance team. Employees who work with assets that are waiting to be repaired need to be updated on the progress of maintenance work. A mobile CMMS comes with a built-in chat function that makes it easy for managers to communicate with each other on-site, as well as push notifications that notify managers of important changes.

Conclusion

Manufacturing companies are increasingly competing on factors like the customer experience and the ability to meet demand, which leaves no room for error. A CMMS enables manufacturers to maximize the ROI of their most high-value assets, reduce unscheduled downtime, and maintain the highest level of productivity with available resources. 

Preventive maintenance helps organizations avoid costly downtime and unsafe working conditions while lengthening the useful life of assets. However, an effective maintenance strategy should also include corrective and reactive maintenance for non-critical assets, and there is no easier way of implementing the right maintenance strategies than with a CMMS.