Organizing Your Department With CMMS Software

Computerized maintenance management  (CMMS software)  can help to organize any maintenance department no matter what the skill level of the employees are. One does not have to be a genius on the computer in order to use this program; even the least skilled employees will easily be able to find the information they need, to enter the information that is necessary, and more.

CMMS software can be the answer to your headache. No more lost work orders. No more unplanned downtime where parts are not available. No more equipment maintenance records that are behind by months. This program will let you know when a piece of equipment is due for a preventative maintenance procedure and even let you know what parts you have available or if you need to order it to stay ahead of the game.

This software program allows you to schedule planned downtime on all equipment. This means that you can schedule the necessary maintenance procedure at the least busy time possible where it doesn't hurt production rates; therefore, costing the company money. You will be able to have more control over things that you never thought would have ever been possible.

There are many  CMMS software  vendors that offer the software that can make your headaches go away; however, you will want to make sure that you only do business with one that backs their product and their service. Having 24/7 customer support is a must, especially upon installation and initiation of the program into the business. You will want a vendor that will provide a representative to be on site, that will assist in the installation and set up of the program so that it will work to its fullest potential, that is available via telephone whenever a problem may arise, and that has the knowledge and expertise to answer any and all questions professionally and promptly.

So, don't delay any longer; incorporate a  CMMS software  program into your business and take the headache of yours and your employees away as this program will make their jobs much easier all while making your company more efficient.

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2 Huge Reasons to Invest in CMMS Software during a Recession

These days many companies are scaling back on expenditures of any kind. And, why not? It just makes sense. Obviously, the severe economic downturn has impacted organizations across the United States and the Globe. Capital conservation has become the rule and cutbacks are inevitable. Yet, this is the just the kind of environment that completely justifies investment in Computerized Maintenance Management Software for organizations seeking to lower costs and protect vital plant and equipment assets. That's your responsibility, right?

1. Immediately Lower Operational Costs - Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Software provides an essential tool for managers working aggressively working to decrease downtime, inventory, material and contractor costs. Here's how:
    a. Less Downtime - Simple: Decreased downtime means increased production. A 1% improvement in productivity has 10 times the positive impact than a 1% reduction in costs. Imagine the gain in a production facility running 24 hours per day: A conservative estimated gain of 24 hours of production per year pours thousands of dollars to the bottom line. Savings estimate: Downtime cost of $2,500/Hour x 24 Hours = $60,000 annual profit increase.
b. Reduced Inventory - Elementary: Asset maintenance management allows you purchase inventory and parts when you need them instead of relying on guesswork. Without CMMS Software, managers might not know what is in their stockroom, can't find what they need and, frequently end up buying parts they already have. Of course, CMMS Software allows you to lookup parts, check stock and order only as needed. Savings estimate: Reducing an $800,000 inventory just 10% with a 10% interest rate results in an annual savings of over $8,000 in an annual profit increase.
c. Eliminate Contractor Costs - Smart: Managed maintenance keeps repairs in-house using a more efficient work crew. CMMS Software focuses crew time on work orders designed to keep the plant moving. Result? No maintenance logjams requiring expensive contractor time. This outcome creates not only a savings on labor but also a savings on parts! Savings estimate: Using a realistic 10% annual reduction in labor and material costs on a budget of $680,000 you return another $68,000 to the bottom line.

2. Increase Maintenance Productivity Right Now - Better work planning and scheduling maximizes crew efficiency while focusing crew time on work orders designed to keep the plant moving. Productivity increases of 10% to 20% using modern CMMS Software are standard. Maintenance managers know that saving just 60 minutes (12.5%) per day for each worker in a six-person crew at a $30/hr labor rate for 250 days/year can preserve $45,000 annually for the organization.

When implemented properly, a Computerized Maintenance Management System using CMMS Software can be a huge cost and time saving addition to your organization's bottom line. Isn't that what your objective is?

Sure, CMMS Software costs money. Our company, WinMain Software Solution, Inc. can get you started for $495. In fact, you can download and evaluate WinMain CMMS free for 30 days. Realistically, though most sizable organizations invest several thousand dollars to get properly setup and have authorized personnel trained up. But, with a prudently estimated return-on-investment (ROI) of over 1000% (yes, one thousand percent!), your CMMS Software investment is intelligent, wise and - urgent!

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Getting the Most From Your CMMS Software Investment

Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) are important contributors to asset, labour, supply chain and financial performance. Various tools optimize the maintenance function, while strategy provides the overall context and service level agreements define expectations.
David Berger, a CMMS expert and principal of Western Management Consultants in Toronto, believes the road to total maintenance performance starts with a well-defined strategy. “Performance measurement ensures you know when you’re there, various tools help you develop a trouble-free route, and service level agreements manage expectations along the way.”
He offers the following four key measures for achieving total performance:
• Asset performance. Maximize machine availability, throughput, reliability, equipment efficiency, utilization and quality of output. Go for minimum waste and minimize equipment life cycle cost.
• Labour performance. Measure use (productive versus non-value-added time and wait time); actual performance (percentage of standard versus plan); and effectiveness (percentage of contracted time, overtime and training).
• Supply chain performance. Check vendor performance, supplier pricing, obsolescence and procurement costs (rush orders, blanket purchase orders, e-procurement).
• Financial performance. Track cost per unit produced, planned versus budget versus actual cost, performance to schedule, cycle time, response time, backlog and compliance, service levels and cash conversion cycle.
Planned maintenance
A starting point for these measurements represents a balanced approach to planned maintenance that takes into account failure-, user- and condition-based machine maintenance and shop floor data collection. Through the integration of data collection devices and CMMS, condition-based maintenance captures a wealth of data, such as product (quality measures), process (feeds and speeds), environment (temperatures, pressures) and asset status (wear and downtime).
The purpose of service level agreements (SLAs) is to manage expectations, which has to be a two-way street or it won’t work. Operations has to define what it wants and maintenance has to deliver what operations needs. Clear communication is essential. Both parties must have the same interpretation and understanding of what an SLA means and how to implement and measure it.
An SLA is defined as an agreement between parties for the provision and receipt of service. It’s intended to offer a means of managing expectations and dealing with conflicts, but it’s also a tool for monitoring service effectiveness, a forum for building a good relationship between maintenance and operations and a basis for understanding the trade-off between service level and the cost of its provision.
Each party must understand and manage expectations around quality and performance standards, standard procedures, required skills and training, risk and business impact. You get what you pay for, so carefully measure the cost versus the level of service. Be realistic. Never write an SLA that exceeds realistic expectations. There’s nothing wrong with a “stretch goal” but Berger says major improvements are controlled through projects and formal project management, not through SLAs.

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Introducing the CMMS Benchmarking System

The CMMS Benchmarking System a universal benchmarking tool. Most important it provides the framework for an improvement process for gaining better use of CMMS and your current information technology for maintenance. This benchmarking tool was developed for a number of reasons;

1. As a means to evaluate the effectiveness of your current CMMS
2. To define functional gap
3. To define how to enhance current use
4. To help upgrade functional gaps
5. To serve as a methodology to help develop and justify a replacement strategy.

Applies to All Brands of CMMS: The CMMS Benchmarking System has 9 benchmark categories and 50 benchmark items. It is easily adaptable and can be specifically tailored to all CMMS systems and to their intended application. The CMMS Benchmarking System is an "internal benchmarking" tool based upon global best practices and is becoming a model process for benchmarking effective use of CMMS. It provides a methodology for developing a benchmark rating of your CMMS as Class A, B, C, or D. This process determines how well your CMMS is supporting best practices and the total maintenance process.

Does Not Evaluate Different Systems: It is not designed to evaluate the functionality of various CMMS systems nor is it intended to compare vendors. It can also be used as a method to measure the future success and progress of a CMMS system implementation that is now being installed. Maintenance best practices are the key and the CMMS is the information technology tool that links it all together. Maintenance information is one of the key maintenance resources (Figure 1) and must be a part of your approach to Continuous Reliability Improvement which covers all six maintenance resources.

Conducting the CMMS Benchmark Evaluation: The CMMS Benchmark evaluation can be conducted internally by the maintenance leader or via an internal team effort of knowledgeable maintenance people. Other options include using support from an independent resource like The Maintenance Excellence Institute. This provides an objective and qualified, third party maintenance benchmarking resource. The Scoreboard for Maintenance Excellence process in combination with the CMMS Benchmarking System provides powerful tools to help achieve greater value from all types of maintenance operations.

Classify Your Current Installation: The CMMS Benchmarking System used by maintenance management consultants provides a means to evaluate and classify your current installation as either "Class A, B, C or D". A total of 9 major categories are included along with 50 specific benchmark items.

Each benchmark item that is rated as being accomplished satisfactorily receives a maximum score of 4 points.

If an area is currently being "worked on" a score of 1, 2 or 3 points can be assigned based on the level of progress achieved. For example, if spare parts inventory accuracy is at 92 % compared to the target of 95 %, a score of 3 point is given. This example is included below in Figure 4
A maximum of 200 points is possible.
A benchmark rating of "Class A" is within the 180 to 200 point range.
Measure Success of CMMS Installation Progress: Developing a future "Class A" CMMS installation requires that each organization start early in the implementation phase with establishing how they will measure the overall success of their installation. The CMMS Benchmarking System provides the framework for internal benchmarking of the CMMS installation as it matures. It is recommended that a team process be used for the CMMS benchmarking evaluation and that it be included as part of the CMMS Evaluation Team's initial work.

Key Databases: A "Class A" CMMS requires that a number of key databases be established and that a number of maintenance best practices be in place. Data integrity, accuracy and continuous maintenance of the key databases provides the foundation for a "Class A" CMMS installation. There are a number of other factors related to the CMMS and to maintenance best practices that in combination produce a future "Class A" installation.

Our goal is to continue educating through effective maintenance management training and The CMMS Benchmarking System processes.

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How Worthy Is A Free CMMS

Your asset managers are going to thank you for purchasing or already having a CMMS in your company, as this is the one thing that is not only going to make everything more easier for them, but it makes the entire working of asset management and maintenance simple and easy. A CMMS is the short form for computerized maintenance management systems. Any business facility without a software to record, generate reports, schedule maintenance programs, and do other things is one of the most important tools you can have in your company. Especially if you have more assets then it is important to make sure that you have the right tools to help you determine the right software.

About Free Web Based CMMS Software
Usually you will find such free Web based CMMS to be basic and some companies give them out for a trial period. For those companies that think that spending on such software is not possible and it is an expensive venture this is the right way to go about it. You get relative control over the tool and you can customize and change it to a particular extent. However, the more you want change in the software pertaining to your specific needs; you know that you will be charged. It is also important to know that you won't be getting any advanced or sophisticated features with such a free CMMS Software. You are going to get only the basic features from such free software.
Some might think that this is indeed a great deal because you are getting software that actually costs thousands of dollars for free. As long as you are aware of the downfall of this software and you know that you are going to be getting only limited functions and features, and it is not completely customizable you can make use of it. It is difficult to find a free Web CMMS that is completely suitable for your company and your asset management needs. This is why they suggest customized software, which is not free though. This free software might not be completely to your tastes and your company's requirements; however, it is important to make sure that you have only the best for your needs. As long as your needs are small, a free CMMS the best tool for you.

Adhere To Your Financial Challenges With Web based CMMS
Financial challenges are faced by many companies which means that there are so many different types of companies that are thinking twice whether such a software is cheap enough for them or not. This is the reason why there are many companies into CMMS that show them that this is one tool that your company just can't be without. Truth be told, you get to have a lot of advantages with CMMS Software financially. You will find that it is the abbreviation for Computerized Maintenance Management Software. This happens to be one of the most popular software in the market when it comes to taking care of preventive measures and maintenance as well as overall asset management. We are sure that this is one tool that is going to be very beneficial for you in the long run.

Financial Merits That CMMS Software Can Pose
1. You know that with the software you are going to be able to lower the entire labour cost as you are reducing the emergency repairs that you might have on your equipment.

2. You also get to lower your energy bills as with the help of the Web based CMMS you have well maintained equipment, which invariably require less energy to operate.

3. You are going to be increasing the useful life of the company's equipment and assets by making sure there is better preventive maintenance scheduling in the process of asset management.

4. When it comes to lowers capital expenditures too, the Web CMMS is capable. It can get rid of unnecessary replacements and need major repairs on the equipment.

5. You get to make sure that standard maintenance procedures are kept in place and there is good accountability for the quality of work that is being performed by the resources.

With so many advantages financially, you might be making a high investment on the Web CMMS initially, however this is sure to pay off in the long run. You can see the benefits for yourself as you are saving expenses in so many fields. There are other advantages to this software too, not just financial ones. The management gets to make better and easier decisions and they also tend to ensure that there is a lot of efficiency in the business and targets are met.

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Going Live With the CMMS Software

Every company can find software, technology and the digital age a daunting task without the right guidance and expertise. With the CMMS Software you have it all in one package. This is one software that is going to be giving you a great idea on what is the right type of features you require in them in order to give your company a smooth and efficient process. No matter which part of asset management you decide to use the CMMS in, you know that you are going to benefit big with it. The minute you begin to implement the web CMMS, you know that you are making all the process and the procedures in your company smooth and super efficient. And once you begin to use it, you will know that you are no longer in a position to let go of it. This is sure to become one of the best and most important part of your asset management functions.

Planned and Preventive Maintenance
Web CMMS is one area where you are going to be getting a simplified version of your earlier complicated tasks, in all the areas that related to your asset and manufacturing related activities. Once you plan your maintenance activities you will see the change for yourself, you will see the expenses reduce, savings increase, less asset breakdown, more uptime, and better employment of resources, targets met on time, a better documentation system, and a highly efficient environment. You will also have a clear cut vision in front of you, as to where you are going wrong with asset management and where you need to work on. Web based CMMS Software is sure to do all this for you and more. While every company has challenges and pitfalls to overcome, all this is so much easier with the CMMS software.

Another important resource for planned maintenance is to have the right resources and information available to make good and sound decision. With the Web based CMMS you know that decisions are everything, they can make or break a company, and this where such Maintenance Software Programs actually come into existence. There are many ways to compare  CMMS suppliers and get the right quote. All this can be done via the internet, in a very cheap, accurate and simple manner.

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Using CMMS Software for Fleet Maintenance

When it comes to fleet maintenance, what gets lost in the cracks can cost you, literally. There's a lot to keep up on in running a fleet, from maintenance schedules to work orders to making sure parts are ordered on time. When a machine or vehicle goes down, you're out of luck, sometimes to the tune of thousands perhaps even hundreds of thousands, or sometimes millions of dollars.  CMMS software  does more than protect your bottom line. It protects your company's ability to function, profit and succeed as a business.

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Why use Web-based CMMS Software?

Purchasing a web-based Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS Software) or Enterprise Asset Management Systems (EAM) could be for you.  If you need access to information from different locations and would enjoy the convenience and security of web-based Maintenance Management Software then it just may be for you.  There are many different features to web-based CMMS Software.  Kris Bagadia explores them in his article "CMMS Solution? Look to the Web".  Click Here to learn more about web-based maintenance management systems.

 

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