Keeping Your Work Documented
Tracking maintenance is an important part of keeping your warehouse efficient.
There are several ways to go about recording maintenance. Some companies use different methods of recording, like paper checklists, Excel spreadsheets, whiteboards, and plenty more. Even though all these options have proven to be useful and effective, why do some people use CMMS over the alternatives?
In this blog, we’ll talk about what exactly CMMS is. Next, the pros and cons of using this software will be discussed. Afterward, we’ll discuss the use of this software inside the warehouse. Finally, the question of “what results does this provide me” will be answered to give you a better understanding of how to gauge success while using this intelligent program.
What Exactly is CMMS?
CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) is comparable to the Swiss Army knife of preventive maintenance. It handles tasks from documentation, reporting, work orders, and a centralized location for any records and maintenance reminders. It is the all-in-one package for your warehouse maintenance. But even though it’s an incredible piece of software, it does have some downsides to it.
Like with any form of recorded maintenance, there are both pros and cons present. This is not to say that CMMS is a bad product to invest your time or effort into, but it’s important to be transparent about the uses of this program. In this table, we’ve listed some of the advantages and disadvantages:
| Pros | Cons |
| Improved maintenance schedule | Upfront and recurring costs |
| Centralized records | Needs very specific entries |
| Easy access | Ongoing training |
| Supports proactive maintenance | Resistance to implementation |
Some of these advantages and disadvantages are present in other forms of preventive maintenance documentation. However, the one that may seem the most rigid is the resistance to implementation. This is not to say that everyone who encounters this style of documentation is immediately opposed to it, but it may take time for people to get used to new systems. Even though you may see advancement as beneficial and an improvement, it’s important to take time and show others why it could be valuable to them.
How can it help your company?
If your company does decide to use this incredible software, how exactly does it fit into the company’s workflow? First, the system must be installed into any computers or devices that interact with maintenance. The excellent part of using software such as this is the options. There are a variety of high-quality products that could suit your needs. However, installing this into your workflow is much more than just clicking on a button. This includes activities such as importing previous records, training employees, creating schedules, and establishing expectations.
Once you’ve selected and installed the preferred software, you’ll now be able to judge whether this equipment is for you or not. This could take some time and effort to get an accurate judgment, but how exactly do you tell if it’s working or not?
Using this system can provide you with a variety of results. These KPIs can determine a baseline for how effective the current maintenance planning is. You’ll probably see KPIs like MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), MTTR (Mean Time to Repair), and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness). These are just to name a few, but these KPIs are some of the key measurements that can determine how effective your current method is. Once you’ve had a CMMS in place, keep track of these results over time to see if they increased or decreased.
How Can Russell Conveyor Help?
At Russell Conveyor, we help businesses find the right solution to their conveyor and maintenance needs. For consistent help with your preventive maintenance needs, we offer a tiered approach called Russell+. With 20+ years of experience under our belts, we’re positive that one of our four monthly tiers can be the solution to your needs. We also post weekly blogs on various topics that can help clarify, inform, and educate readers on all things conveyor related.
Interested in seeing how Russell+ changes the maintenance game? Call (336) 526-3014 today to talk to our specialists.
Want to know more about what happens if preventive maintenance takes a backseat? Read this blog about ignored maintenance and the costs it incurs.
If you want to know more about our custom conveyor systems, read this blog on how a conveyor upgrade may be in the near future.
FAQs about CMMS
Do you have any questions about CMMS? Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about CMMS.
Compare systems based on the product’s useability and functionality. Make sure that whatever system you choose has the capability to solve your needs.
You’re able to measure effectiveness by keeping track of critical KPIs like MTBF and MTTR. The more attention and efficiency tasks are met with, the lower those KPIs should be.
While some may include more complex features and tools, most CMMS products tend to maintain a simple user interface.
CMMS is primarily made for maintenance issues while EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) systems engage in broader asset management (budget, performance, acquisition, etc).
Yes. Staff will need to know how to operate relevant features like making requests, closing work orders, and attaching photographs.