RCM Success Starts with CMMS

Driving user adoption of the CMMS is by no means an insurmountable problem, but still remains an issue that cannot be overlooked. Without technicians’ buy-in, the full benefits of the system will not be achieved. Before getting into the ways that to encourage maintenance technicians to adopt CMMS software, let’s begin with a brief overview of the issues that lead to their reluctance in the first place. 

In food manufacturing and FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods), maintenance is far more than a routine back-office function—it is a critical driver of profitability and operational resilience. This article contains three real-world case studies based on direct experience in manufacturing food maintenance demonstrating how leading food industry players modernized their maintenance operations with a CMMS system.

In industries where operational downtime can cost thousands of dollars or more every hour, efficient work order management isn’t just helpful. It’s essential. Whether your business is in manufacturing, oil and gas, hospitality, or utilities, knowing which tasks to tackle first can make a significant difference between smooth operations and critical failure. This article examines the importance of prioritizing work orders, the key factors influencing work order prioritization, effective risk assessment methods, and optimal strategies for implementing a successful system.

In a great step forward from management, an experienced reliability engineer was hired to help improve plant reliability. The first task for this engineer was to determine the equipment that causing the biggest losses for the business. Having had a CMMS in use for a number of years, this was the obvious place to start.

Tracking KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) is crucial for maintenance operations. With vast data at our disposal, we're able to calculate the performance of our maintenance teams to narrow down all stats from Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), Mean Time to Failure (c), and others. It is always challenging to have all the data at your fingertips.

One of the most pervasive trends in fluid handling today is that of miniaturization. The call for smaller and smaller flow control devices is evident across the industry. Regarding hydraulic and pneumatic components specifically, the extraordinary mass-to-power and mass-to-response features of such technologies are enabling miniaturization.1 But as hydraulic and pneumatic devices continue to go mini, the manufacturing process has become more finite and certain design vulnerabilities have become more pronounced.

Numerous articles espouse the benefits of implementing a CMMS. Regardless of the source, the overall takeaway is that a CMMS can significantly improve maintenance operations in various businesses across industry sectors. However, the question remains, “How do these benefits realistically translate into achievable and tangible goals during the first year following implementation?”