Technical Consulting Services
- Operational Excellence
- Quality Inspection and Consulting Services
- Audit Services
- Industrial Warehouse Optimization Services
- Reliability Excellence
- Commissioning Technical Support Services
- Shutdown Management
- Predictive Maintenance Optimization
- Preventative Maintenance (PM) Optimization
- Maintenance Cost Reduction
- Machine Health Management
- CMMS Selection
- CMMS Super User
Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Selection
Common Pitfalls when Implementing a CMMS:
1. Absence of an adequate selection and implementation plan that will manage
common pitfalls likely to occur in every CMMS implementation project.
2. Absence of a highly experienced CMMS Project Manager, backed by a
knowledgeable team to execute the plan and maneauver through the
many costly pitfalls that are typical of most IT projects.
3. Lack of commitment and support from upper management.
4. Allowing IT to manage the project, with little to no real end user input.
5. Goals and objectives of CMMS were not clearly defined before selecting,
purchasing and implementing the system
6. Key business processes and KPIs were not directly tied into the software
7. Little thought and effort was put into developing consistent nomenclature, codes and tables within the system,
especially in alignment new business processes that would collect, input and analyze essential data.
8. Software training not aligned with process training, leaving room for guess work, error and confusion.
9. No SUPER USER defined and adequately trained on all aspects of the CMMS functions and capabilities.
Ensure you do not make these costly mistakes! Having a good plan does not mean you are capable of fully executing
the plan...that takes experience! Let Carver’s experienced team of professionals assist you with planning and implementing your new
CMMS or optimizing your existing software to achieve your business goals. Please contact Carver with any questions
you may have to get your project underway.
What is a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)?
A CMMS is a software tool utilized to imbed Maintenance and Material Managements business processes.
The most common mistake companies make when replacing or purchasing a CMMS for the first time is that they let the ‘tool’ become the ‘master,’
rather than planning to have the system coincide with your own natural, effective business processes.
If you are not satisfied with your business processes then you should fix problematic processes before considering the purchase of a new CMMS.
If you do not, the CMMS procurement constraints can and will limit your ability to freely develop optimal business processes and functionality expectations.
Don’t let the tail wag the dog, i.e. don’t let the type of job you do (business functionality) be based on or artificially controlled by your tool kit limitations.
This seems obvious to the experienced but we have seen far too many Operational and Maintenance departments’ functionality CHOKED because the “tool masters”
(IT Department) put constraints on functional development without even understanding that they have.
The goals and intentions of a CMMS are to provide a useful transactional based tool that enables and imbeds your optimal business processes. How it accomplished
this task that is a secondary matter. For example, it should effectively track and schedule maintenance activities, identify opportunities for process improvements
and target better ways to spend maintenance dollars, etc.
The decision to implement a complex system is very risky and must be planned and configured based on a high degree of knowledge
and experience or its full potential will NOT be realized.
Let Carver’s skilled professionals share their knowledge and guide you through the CMMS selection and implementation process.
Please contact one of our Specialists to answer any questions you may have regarding CMMS selection.
What are the Benefits of a CMMS?
The benefits of a CMMS can be far reaching if well designed before you go shopping. If the system is properly designed and executed
it will ensure your operation is highly efficient and effective.
Important Features:
1. Clear, imbedded business processes and functionality will be delivered.
2. Machine ‘Measurement Points’ are consistently tracked to enable war trending analysis and life cycle condition reporting.
3. Cost effective storage, mining and evaluation of large amounts of data provided that QA standards for data input are well
established and adhered to.
4. Centralized location of data for operational applications, processes, inventory and personnel.
5. Administrative tasks become automated, leaving more time for maintenance activities.
6. Equipment History. Complete history maintained for each asset including parts and warranty information, repair history,
schedules and downtime.
7. Equipment Performance and uptime increased through optimization of maintenance schedules and inventory levels.
8. Maintenance Tasks. Provides Work Orders and increased PM tracking and efficiency.
9. Increased Control on key failure mode inspections achieved by documenting the most effective maintenance responses
to equipment condition.
10. Increased time for higher value activities due to reduced requirements for human intervention where decision-making
is required.
11. Proactive maintenance philosophy is cultured rather than a reactive philosophy, minimizing costs and stress associated
with emergencies and unplanned shutdowns.
12. Reduction of re-inspections where an assessment has already been made.
Contact Carver today so we can help you determine
what features will be best suited to help your business gain maximum benefit.
Steps required to accurately select and implement the best-fit CMMS for your operation:
1. CMMS Audit: The most important step in the pre-planning stage of the upgrade process is an audit of maintenance department
operations. Consider how the department handles work orders, quality control and risk management tasks. Identify and focus on
the HIGHEST VALUE goals, then obtain and maximize the RIGHT resources (including the end users of the program) to ensure a
useful product is selected and implemented. Observations by experienced auditors should form the basis of a CMMS upgrade plan
and its budget.
2. Define and Standardize Key Business Processes: Create formalized business processes that map and document key tasks to
diminish unnecessary steps, reduce time and effort required for tasks while ensuring reproducible, high quality results.
3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Making the right business decisions requires defining useful measurements and accurately
collecting data to determine if your processes are in alignment with your goals and objectives.
4. Develop Master Equipment Records: Creating a master list of all assets, components, systems and subsystems and
subsequently assigning a criticality ranking to equipment will help better plan and schedule maintenance activities for your most
vital assets.
5. Create Records for Equipment Parts: Assessing and keeping record of parts and materials required for asset maintenance and
repair and which of these materials are kept on hand will keep maintenance and purchasing activities and costs to a minimum.
6. Optimize Warehouse Stock: Creating a standardized naming system for all inventories will be vital when entering data into the
CMMS; this will enable end users to easily search and find required items and will reduce inventory value associated with carrying
unnecessary or duplicate stock.
Carver’s CMMS Specialists have lent their experience to many organizations just like yours to clean up existing or implement new Computerized Maintenance Management Systems. Contact Carver today so we can assist you in getting the most from your CMMS.
