Overview of the computerised maintenance management system

Since the dawn of industry, businesses have understood the risks of downtime and the value of every bit of increased efficiency. For as long as there have been machines and equipment, there have been strategies to coordinate, monitor, and streamline their maintenance. In the past, this was very much a manual undertaking, involving a lot of educated guesswork and reactive responses.

CMMS solutions were the first generation of software tools aimed at automating transactional maintenance processes. But today, businesses operate in a connected, digital world where modern enterprise asset management (EAM) systems can automate, predict, enlighten, and entirely transform maintenance.

Meaning of Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

A CMMS is a software tool used by maintenance planners, schedulers, and technicians to manage maintenance activities and increase the reliability and lifespan of assets and equipment. At the core of a CMMS is a database, which centralises all maintenance information in one place. The system also includes features for condition monitoring, inspection management, checklists, KPI tracking, and accurate documentation of all maintenance activities—which is essential in heavily regulated industries.

Historically, CMMS systems have been standalone applications that operate independently of other enterprise software. However, today, most medium-sized and large companies adopt modern enterprise asset management (EAM) solutions that offer a wide range of additional functionality. These EAM solutions typically offer native integration with ERP and other departments—such as HR and finance—to keep everything connected, from parts procurement to technician qualification and time-tracking.

How does CMMS software work?

CMMS software centralises the management, tracking, and optimisation of maintenance operations—allowing companies to maximise the availability and use of physical assets such as machinery, vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure. Here’s a brief overview of some essential CMMS features:

• Work order management automates and streamlines the process of creating, assigning, and tracking maintenance tasks
• Resource and labour management / scheduling helps your teams effectively allocate human and material resources—leading to greater efficiency and productivity
• Asset register provides a centralised database for all your assets, making it easier to manage and track them across the business
• Condition monitoring uses IoT sensors to continuously track the health and status of your assets and equipment, alerting maintenance teams to anomalies as early as possible
• Predictive maintenance gathers and analyses historical and real-time data to forecast when equipment will need servicing and attention—before things fail or break down
• Reporting and analytics enables you to stay on top of your KPIs with comprehensive data visualisations and tracking information
• Parts and inventory management helps you view and coordinate the availability, location, and status of spare parts, ensuring that the correct parts are available when required
• Mobile maintenance functionality enables your technicians to securely use mobile devices to access information and initiate and oversee numerous maintenance tasks from a remote location
• Auditing and compliance tracking helps you confirm that your maintenance activities are documented and compliant with the latest industry and regional regulations.

EAM vs. CMMS

EAM and CMMS were both developed to help maintain and optimise assets but their scope and impact differ and have evolved over time. Modern EAM solutions take essential CMMS functionality and expand and integrate it across the core areas of the business, addressing the complete lifecycle of assets – from initial research and capital planning to eventual disposal or recycling. EAM solutions leverage technologies such as AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to provide real-time insights into asset performance and maintenance requirements—and can be customised to meet the specific needs of different industries and organisations.

So while CMMS remains a useful and important tool, modern EAM solutions are better equipped to handle complex and dynamic business needs and deliver a more agile approach to asset management, helping to best optimise asset usage, reduce costs, and maximise return on investment.

Sectors that have transitioned from CMMS to EAM for asset management

EAM software is a versatile tool that finds applications across various sectors. Its usefulness in optimising maintenance processes makes it indispensable for a variety of businesses. Below are examples of five types of companies or industries that can benefit from EAM solutions:

• Manufacturing: Every year, manufacturing companies find costs rising and competition becoming fiercer. EAM provides the advantage these companies need to keep machinery in top condition, reduce stoppages, and increase overall productivity. It also improves visibility into regulatory compliance, which can be highly complex in this sector.
• Construction: High-value assets, demanding clients, and tight deadlines are just a few of the challenges in this fast-paced sector. With enormously heavy machinery and costly equipment in use, construction companies need highly reliable asset management. EAM systems ensure that all assets are maintained at optimal levels, helping construction teams to complete projects on time and within budget.
• Oil and gas: This is an industry where asset failure can not only result in heavy financial loss but also cause environmental damage as well. The role of EAM in predictive and preventative maintenance is essential in this sector, helping oil and gas companies meet (and exceed) strict compliance regulations and ensure that their operations are as safe and smooth as possible.
• Healthcare: With their patients’ lives in their hands, healthcare teams know better than anyone how important it is to have reliable and well-maintained equipment. As hospital equipment becomes more complex each year, the healthcare sector is heavily reliant on robust EAM solutions that can ensure the best possible maintenance protocols and outcomes.
• Telecoms and utilities: These sectors have complex field service management requirements. Service uptime is essential and often affects millions of customers. Advanced EAM solutions can help to proactively monitor and maintain infrastructure elements such as mobile phone masts, substations, and utility poles. This ensures that services are rarely interrupted and, if they are, are quickly restored—maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).
• Fleet management: Managing fleets requires the seamless coordination of numerous components, timetables, and preventative maintenance activities. EAM tools offer centralised record-keeping and predictive maintenance features that help to simplify these complex tasks. This not only prolongs the lifespan of the fleet but also reduces downtime due to breakdowns, ultimately resulting in cost savings and more efficient operations.

Best enterprise asset management solutions: What to look for

When selecting an EAM, organisations that are looking to optimise their asset management processes should consider several factors:

• Integration: Look for EAM solutions that enhance visibility across your business—integrating seamlessly with your ERP and supporting automation and optimised processes across core business areas such as finance, HR, manufacturing, supply chain, services, procurement, and more.
• Cloud-based system: When security risks and technical specifications are in constant flux, cloud connectivity allows for easier updates, patches, and more flexible data access. It also allows for rapid implementation and swift time to value.
• Mobile asset management: Seek secure and flexible mobile solutions that free your maintenance teams and enable you to assign the most suitable people to the task, wherever they may be.
• Configurability: Every business has unique challenges and opportunities. The best solutions will give you the ability to personalise your solutions to meet your needs.
• Ease of use: It doesn’t matter how well a tool works if people refuse to use it. The best EAM systems will have intuitive interfaces and user-friendly features.

You put an enormous amount of care and expense into choosing the right machines and assets to build your business. Today’s advanced EAM solutions help you to protect those investments and ensure they perform at their peak capacity for a long and efficient lifespan.