For the most part, humans are very slow when it comes to performing highly repetitive tasks. Unlike machines, humans get exhausted and are also not very accurate when handling numbers like items left in the inventory or the frequency of maintenance processes.

Improper supervision of inventory, equipment, and work can cost organizations large sums of money over time. This, compounded with human error and inefficiency, results in huge losses for companies. Hence, the best way to maintain your assets and supervise all facilities is to automate the process using a powerful Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

What is a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)?

Ever since the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) was introduced in 1965, it has been a game-changer for most businesses. Since then, the CMMS software, also known as work order software, has come a long way in speed, user experience (UI), and user interface (UI).

A Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is a software that is highly beneficial to organizations that are asset-intensive, meaning they have numerous assets to supervise and maintain.

Earlier maintenance teams relied largely on simple spreadsheets and logbooks to keep an eye on all their assets. But those methods just do not cut it anymore. You need to go digital as much as possible for maximum productivity and savings in today’s world. That is where CMMS software comes into the picture.

A CMMS software helps companies, particularly their maintenance teams, go digital by helping them to schedule, organize, track, and optimize all maintenance procedures. Earlier, CMMS referred to basic work order management systems, but as we made strides in information and technology, this software has come a long way and has become an indispensable ally to many businesses.

Below are seven noteworthy features of the best CMMS software.

1. Cloud-Based

The modern Computerized Maintenance Management Systems is largely a cloud-based software that helps maintenance teams accurately record and track all maintenance work in a central location.

In the old days, businesses had always to carry around their data in files and hard drives. This can get quite cumbersome as the amount of data grows. A cloud-based software is an ideal solution for this. Every team member will have access to all the relevant data on multiple devices ad regardless of where they are.

Intuitive UI and infographics that are easy to understand and provide unparalleled insight into assets’ performance and the completion of work orders by team members.

2. Reduce Downtime, Increase Uptime

For asset-intensive businesses, the rule is simple. The longer they can run their assets, the higher will be their revenue generation. Unfortunately, unplanned shutdowns and unexpected breakdowns can be a barrier.

A talented maintenance team should not only be adept at fixing problems but must be equally skilled in stopping them from happening again.

A CMMS software will help businesses and maintenance teams to predict when a breakdown might occur accurately. This data helps the maintenance managers schedule appropriate preventive maintenance strategies before it is too late and avoid paying large sums of money towards damage control.

3. Extend Your Assets’ Lifespan

The data from your CMMS software will help you set up and implement effective maintenance strategies for your company’s assets. These maintenance efforts go into improving their uptime and health.

When the company’s assets are in their prime health, failures and breakdowns occur less, and the assets’ lifespan is greatly prolonged.

4. Keep an Eye on Your Stock

When you have hundreds and thousands of items in your inventory, from small nuts, bolts, and screws to large machines, it becomes impractical to keep track of their consumption manually.

A CMMS software can help you keep an eye on every item in your stock without any hassle. The cloud-based software can also recognize patterns of usage and even keep a history of records.

Moreover, you can even set a certain stock threshold. When an item in your inventory falls below the threshold limit, you will be immediately notified on your device. So, you can quickly place your order for the required items in your stock and never be short of anything!

5. Reduce Human Error Through Automation

It is only human to make errors. However, errors cost time and money to companies, which is something they are always short of.

Humans are subjected to emotions, fatigue, boredom, and more. Hence, they cannot perform every time with the same effectiveness and efficiency. However, computers can perform menial, repetitive tasks much better and faster than humans, without bias or error.

They can continuously monitor your company’s assets without ever getting tired. Collecting data in real-time allows computers to fine-tune certain parameters of your assets while running to get the results you are looking for in your final product.

For example, suppose you are working in an additive manufacturing company. In that case, the computers can regularly read the sensor data such as temperature and adjust the temperature numerous times in a single second to produce the ideal output – something that human beings cannot do for hours or days at a time!

6. Better Communication and Team Work

Communication is vital for a team to perform well in the tasks allotted to them.

Using CMMS software, maintenance managers can quickly and effortlessly allot tasks to their maintenance team members. They can even change the priority of the tasks depending on time and importance.

Every time such an action is performed, the team members are instantly notified on their devices and can begin their work.
The feature of changing and updating tasks and work orders at any time is greatly beneficial when it comes to meeting tight and unexpected deadlines.

7. Know It All in a Glance

A good CMMS software can display all the important and relevant data in a human-readable format on a single screen in a relatively easy way.

Data such as the progress of a job, history of orders, and stock levels are shown to your right on the dashboard so that you do not have to jump around numerous tabs. This also helps with filing reports faster.

Conclusion

It really pays to invest in an effective CMMS software. It makes work easier and faster. It also improves and streamlines workflows across all team members and takes your business to new heights!