5 Advantages of Using Computerized Maintenance Management Software
June 23, 2017Managing the maintenance tasks, schedules and personnel in the transportation industry can be mind boggling. It requires a complete coordinated effort between you and the maintenance team who are located all across the nation. This is an industry where you are required to keep your entire fleet in perfect working condition. It is a complex and time consuming job and often takes several employees and contractors located over several different locations to get the job done. You need to track units, maintenance schedules, part locations, retrofits, and even track employee time and training involved in completing the job. Keeping your finger on every piece of the puzzle can be difficult and even expensive when something slips by you and the team. An oversight can result in a break down, asset loss, sanctions, an accident, product damage and more.
The Solution is CMMS
Luckily, there is a software solution that can improve maintenance efficiency and maximize the use of your man-power, time and assets. This is known as computerized maintenance management software or simply as CMMS.
Let´s talk about how CMMS can take some of those maintenance headaches away and maximize employee time in getting these tasks done.
What Can a CMMS do for a Transportation Company?
CMMS brings greater efficiency to your company. No more lost documents, loss of data or files on the server — less downtime, and fewer employee hours spent fixing the issues that stem from maintenance mismanagement. Computer maintenance management software can effortlessly manage all maintenance schedules, inspection needs, fleet maintenance needs, part supplies and requirements, as well as other aspects of the business. This is software that helps fleet managers organize maintenance needs remotely and helps keep all fleet vehicles in perfect working order by placing them on proper maintenance schedules in their appropriate locations. The following are 5 simple reasons why computerized maintenance management software can help your organization.
1. Monitor and Track
As a fleet owner or manager, you know that there are aspects and issues that affect your business which do not apply in other industries. You may have issues with maintenance of vehicles located across country, recurring mechanical issues in moving assets, maintenance crew monitoring, and many other issues that are specific to transportation.
This can often make choosing software difficult, because you know that this type of product doesn’t cover all of the issues that relate to you. However, the right CMMS software can offer important features to help solve all of these aspects that are unique to your business. This type of software gives you:
- The ability to track maintenance records of vehicles from the CMMS database
- Schedule and monitor maintenance
- Detect possible maintenance problems that could arise from the data you input
- Analyze data and find recurring problems
- Schedule maintenance and track fleet metrics such as odometer readings and prior maintenance records
2. Track Maintenance Upgrades and Retrofits
CMMS software tracks all issues regarding upgrades and maintenance. It creates a detailed log of each asset in your fleet, giving you the ability to manage each unit and quickly visualize when it needs maintenance, a retrofit or repair (before the unforeseen breakdown occurs). With this type of system in place, you can catch maintenance hiccups before they become a problem.
3. Increased Man-Power Management
People working in this industry know that time and hours are wasted in waiting for vehicles, parts and in maintaining too many assets at one time. By implementing corrective actions and scheduling options you can better manage your time and your employees time. Computerized maintenance management software helps by spacing out maintenance schedules so that drivers don’t experience down time and technicians are not overwhelmed with work at any one point.
4. Pinpoint Future Needs
As is too often the case, a large fleet can bring confusion, and it is too easy to let a unit that needs replacing of parts or of the complete vehicle to go by for too long. This asset can quickly lead to excessive costs in repairs and maintenance. The reporting system of a quality CMMS system allows you to see what future replacements you need and gives you time to prepare for the added expenditure.
5. Improve Your Organization
How long does an employee have to wait because a unit is down, waiting on parts, overdue maintenance, or because of a sanction? With computer managed maintenance software you can schedule all of these tasks and assign them so that employees don’t cross streams and can keep up with the pace of the work load. Having this data visually and readily available gives you the ability to plan for large part or unit purchases.
When you implement an appropriate CMMS system into your organization, you increase productivity and set your business up for a lifetime of success. Increase your competitive edge with the CMMS that’s right to you.
Resources:
Builings Buzz: 8 Ways a CMMS Benefits Facility Managers
HDT: 5 Common Mistakes in Equipment Maintenance
HDT: Avoiding Common Maintenance Mistakes