Seven Asset Maintenance Tips With CMMS Software

Equipment Asset Maintenance Is Critical

Asset maintenance is critical in industries with large numbers of expensive equipment & machinery. These assets often are a large portion of the capital investment. Hence, proper maintenance is crucial to get maximum useful life and reduce unexpected failures of equipment.

Computerized maintenance management software, aka CMMS software, is an important tool for such asset maintenance management. We can use it to manage both preventative as well as unplanned maintenance of such equipment.

But that’s just part of the story…

In addition, the CMMS/ maintenance software can help us manage and retain a variety of equipment asset related information.

Asset Maintenance Tips Using CMMS Software

1. Collect different equipment information

In short we should collect a variety of information on the equipment. For instance, serial numbers, model numbers, manufacturer, purchase dates, warranty details and so on. Subsequently this makes for better asset tracking, planning for equipment replacements, warranty work and recalls.

2. Establish relationships between equipment

We should establish relationships between equipment. What could this mean?

Say identify an equipment as part of another equipment. For example marking a compressor as part of a HVAC system and so on. This equipment tree makes it easier to locate specific equipment especially when we have hundreds of similar equipment.

We can also identify the impact of changes on one equipment on other equipment. For instance we need to replace a specific compressor. With the equipment relationships we know that the HVAC system it is in will be out of service for some time.

3. Categorize equipment for better management

We should also categorize the equipment. For instance as compressors, pumps and so on. Therefore this can be used to define standardized operations for all equipment of a particular category. Say types of maintenance required, cost benefit analysis, depreciation schedules and so on.

4. Keep track of equipment spares & supplies

Manufacturer information can be used to identify part vendors, parts & supplies needed by different equipment. This can help us consolidate purchases of spare parts & supplies. Hence we reduce repetitive paperwork and delays getting items.

5. Collect asset maintenance history & costs

Reporting features enable us to check and review the maintenance history of specific equipment. For instance, if hierarchical reports are available, we can gather the entire maintenance history of an equipment and all its sub-equipment along with costs incurred. This can come in useful especially when we are looking at replacing an equipment. We will want to compare its costs vs. a new equipment.

6. Collect operational history

We should be able to log and keep information about changes to equipment. For example calibration events, problems and so on, as reported by the operators. Above all having all such information in one place makes it easier to review equipment information. After that we can identify any actions required. For instance these could be troubleshooting an equipment, time for equipment replacement, warranty support required and so on.

7. Collect other useful information

We can store images and pictures of equipment. For instance engineering drawings, their different parts and layout of complex items. This becomes useful when maintenance work needs to be done, equipment needs to be replaced or moved, planning for additions and so on.

Free CMMS Software Selection Guide

If you currently do not have a good maintenance software package, you will find this CMMS software selection guide useful. It gives you a checklist of different selection criteria. Use them to identify the right CMMS/ maintenance software for your needs. There are hundreds of packages available for different requirements! So using the guide can help you narrow the field and select the right one for your organization.