Pop quiz: what is a computer maintenance management system? In short, it’s the sharpest tool in your shed.
A CMMS allows you to go beyond patchwork, scattershot maintenance. Instead, you can perform maintenance informed by data in order to better understand your fleet.
But in order to do that, you need the right features for the job. And with so many CMMS options on the market, it can be hard to know where to begin. So if you’re new to computer maintenance management systems, here’s a closer look at the top features you need from your system and how that translates into your real-time job.
Reporting and Analysis
Of all the computer maintenance management system features on the market, reporting and analysis is the king. This is what sets a CMMS apart from old school recording.
Picture ye olden days, when you had to record everything on spreadsheets. Now imagine a system where all of your data is collated in one place, and the system can analyze asset information to notify you of a potential problem as soon as it arises (along with recommendations for a solution).
There’s a reason why this feature is the end-all-be-all of CMMS. When you get down to it, it’s the single most important feature in the entire tool. If your maintenance dashboard isn’t giving you the reporting and analysis functionality you need, it’s not doing its job.
Work Order Management
Of course, there are other features that are pretty handy to have in your back pocket. Work order management, for instance.
Overall, a work order management system offers you a centralized location for all orders, inventory and process tracking, and, of course, improved recordkeeping. But the benefits run deeper than just the functionality.
Better recordkeeping and a bird’s-eye view of your work orders allow you to do a better job budgeting. It also keeps your entire maintenance team on the same page, no matter where they are.
Predictive and Preventive Programs
On a deeper level, the best CMMS are the ones that can use all of their features to go one step beyond. These are the systems that allow you to stop putting out fires and instead deal with fire hazards before they can ignite. Or, in more straightforward terms, to predict and prevent maintenance problems before they have a chance to fester.
Look for a computer maintenance management system that can take all of your data together and turn it into patterns. That way, you can implement a system of predictive and preventive maintenance based on real data rather than arbitrariness or guesswork.
Modern Thinking on Your Computer Maintenance Management System
A computer maintenance management system is more than a checklist or a database. It’s a smart tool that allows you to take control of your entire machine fleet, improving the way you do business.
Need more tips to make the most of your CMMS? Check out our blog for more great posts, like this one on reporting, KPIs, and your organization’s success.