In today’s fast-paced business world, ensuring smooth and efficient operations and maintenance (O&M) is crucial for sustained success. At WorkTrek CMMS, we understand the importance of O&M and are here to provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to optimize your operations and maintenance processes for peak performance.
Defining Operations and Maintenance
Operations and Maintenance, often abbreviated as O&M, encompass the daily activities and tasks necessary for the management, upkeep, and continuous functioning of an organization’s assets, infrastructure, or facilities. It’s a critical component of any business, as it directly impacts productivity, reliability, and ultimately, the bottom line.
Example of Operations and Maintenance
A typical task falling within the realm of general operations and maintenance involves conducting oil changes for a vehicle fleet. Technicians with varying skill levels can handle this task. However, for more intricate procedures, such as replacing a transmission, it’s advisable to assign a technician with advanced expertise. Additionally, since transmission replacement is not a routine maintenance task, it would probably be categorized under a different maintenance category.
The Significance of Effective O&M
Efficient O&M has a multitude of benefits:
1. Cost Reduction: Well-managed O&M can lead to cost savings by preventing breakdowns and costly emergency repairs.
2. Enhanced Productivity: Smooth operations lead to increased productivity, which, in turn, positively affects the overall performance of the organization.
3. Extended Asset Lifespan: Proper maintenance extends the lifespan of assets, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
4. Safety and Compliance: O&M is essential for ensuring the safety of employees and compliance with regulations and industry standards.
Best Practices for Optimizing O&M
To achieve the best possible results in operations and maintenance, consider the following best practices:
#1. Comprehensive Asset Management
Efficient O&M begins with a comprehensive understanding of your assets. Utilize asset management software to keep track of all equipment, their maintenance schedules, and their operational status.
#2. Regular Preventive Maintenance
Implement a regular preventive maintenance schedule to address issues before they become critical. This not only reduces downtime but also prolongs the life of your assets.
#3. Workforce Training
Invest in training for your workforce. A well-trained team is more efficient, minimizes errors, and ensures safety compliance.
#4. Data-Driven Decision-Making
Leverage data analytics to make informed decisions. Analyzing maintenance data can help identify trends, predict breakdowns, and optimize maintenance schedules.
#5. Utilize Predictive Maintenance
Adopt predictive maintenance practices using IoT sensors and data analytics. This approach allows you to predict when equipment will fail, allowing for timely intervention.
Five Ways a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Enhances Operations and Maintenance
Utilizing a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to oversee maintenance operations is considered a best practice when executing an operations and maintenance plan. There are five key areas where the use of a CMMS can offer significant advantages:
Work Order Management: With a CMMS, you can effortlessly create, execute, and optimize work orders and work requests, all while maintaining comprehensive records in one centralized location.
Asset Management: A CMMS streamlines the management of all equipment-related information in one convenient place, including repair history, costs, hierarchy, parts usage, and more.
Parts and Inventory Management: The CMMS simplifies inventory organization and ensures you stay informed about stock levels, facilitating timely procurement of the right parts at the most favorable prices.
Reporting and Analytics: Data-driven decisions become feasible through real-time Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and customizable benchmarks, which can be readily displayed on a dashboard. Additionally, reports can be generated swiftly.
Mobile Maintenance: A CMMS mobile application empowers you to oversee work orders from any location, at any time, even when offline. Real-time access to work orders, assets, and parts, as well as the ability to record parts usage or completed work directly from your mobile device, is at your fingertips.
Conclusion
In conclusion, optimizing operations and maintenance is crucial for business success. It leads to cost savings, enhanced productivity, and the overall longevity of assets. By following best practices, implementing preventive and predictive maintenance, and investing in workforce training, your organization can achieve operational excellence.
Dario Sorić
Dario Sorić is the marketing assistant and website administrator for Worktrek.com. He graduated with a Bachelor of Digital Marketing from the University of Algebra in 2023. Feel free to contact him at [email protected].
In most businesses, success is easily measured by looking at the bottom line; but what’s the bottom line in the maintenance business? To better understand how to evaluate maintenance business performance, it’s helpful to examine how businesses generate profits. Quite simply, businesses generate profits by providing goods and/or services at minimum cost and sold at a fair market price. Obviously, revenues generated from sales must exceed the costs. It is important to note that the customer determines the fair market price.
In most businesses, success is easily measured by looking at the bottom line; but what’s the bottom line in the maintenance business? To better understand how to evaluate maintenance business performance, it’s helpful to examine how businesses generate profits. Quite simply, businesses generate profits by providing goods and/or services at minimum cost and sold at a fair market price. Obviously, revenues generated from sales must exceed the costs. It is important to note that the customer determines the fair market price.
Maintenance practices and technologies have evolved to meet the needs of the changing industrial environment. The function has evolved from a community of reactive fixers, to dedicated craftsmen, to proactive professionals. The next generation of personnel could well be based on practitioners of Quality Management Systems (QMS).
Maintenance practices and technologies have evolved to meet the needs of the changing industrial environment. The function has evolved from a community of reactive fixers, to dedicated craftsmen, to proactive professionals. The next generation of personnel could well be based on practitioners of Quality Management Systems (QMS).
Many smaller companies feel maintenance management software is overkill for their organizations. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, even a one-person maintenance department can reap the benefits of maintenance management software. The same benefits realized by the maintenance crew in larger companies are there for smaller maintenance departments also.
Many smaller companies feel maintenance management software is overkill for their organizations. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, even a one-person maintenance department can reap the benefits of maintenance management software. The same benefits realized by the maintenance crew in larger companies are there for smaller maintenance departments also.
Information technologies (IT), in the context of this paper, include all computer systems and networks, plant automation systems such as distributed control systems and programmable logic controllers, design drawing databases, procedures databases, and diagnostic monitoring systems. The role of information technology is critical for maintenance optimization because it relies on the ability of the plant personnel to bring all data together in a coherent fashion for optimum analysis and decision-making.
Information technologies (IT), in the context of this paper, include all computer systems and networks, plant automation systems such as distributed control systems and programmable logic controllers, design drawing databases, procedures databases, and diagnostic monitoring systems. The role of information technology is critical for maintenance optimization because it relies on the ability of the plant personnel to bring all data together in a coherent fashion for optimum analysis and decision-making.
We now have the ability to automate many of our standard maintenance processes, analyse in detail various parts of our businesses, and the performance of our equipment. We are able to plan shutdowns, technical change projects and operational maintenance procedures down to a very fine level of detail. As maintenance management generally makes up around 40 - 50 % of operational budgets, the savings made possible from increased efficiency and reduction of waste are staggering.
We now have the ability to automate many of our standard maintenance processes, analyse in detail various parts of our businesses, and the performance of our equipment. We are able to plan shutdowns, technical change projects and operational maintenance procedures down to a very fine level of detail. As maintenance management generally makes up around 40 - 50 % of operational budgets, the savings made possible from increased efficiency and reduction of waste are staggering.
Facility management personnel in all industries have waited a long time for computer technology to become applicable and affordable enough to implement in their respective maintenance efforts. In recent years, flexible, dependable and economical computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) have become available to help fight the never-ending struggle to operate and maintain buildings of all shapes, sizes and functions.
Facility management personnel in all industries have waited a long time for computer technology to become applicable and affordable enough to implement in their respective maintenance efforts. In recent years, flexible, dependable and economical computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) have become available to help fight the never-ending struggle to operate and maintain buildings of all shapes, sizes and functions.
Training for users of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is a multiple-phase process. There are three areas of training needs: basic training, application (CMMS) training, and internal training.
Training for users of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is a multiple-phase process. There are three areas of training needs: basic training, application (CMMS) training, and internal training.
The effectiveness of maintenance can make the difference between success and insolvency, between limping by financially and organizational excellence. Many companies and organizations consider their computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) and processes as catalysts for achieving a competitive advantage. Yet, good intentions are only part of the recipe for success.
The effectiveness of maintenance can make the difference between success and insolvency, between limping by financially and organizational excellence. Many companies and organizations consider their computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) and processes as catalysts for achieving a competitive advantage. Yet, good intentions are only part of the recipe for success.
The degree to which RCM analysis can contribute to profitability is directly variable with the quality and accuracy of the CMMS data on which the analysis is based. Because the technique is rigorous, its over-use will defeat the purpose and lead to cost overruns instead of savings. The way to optimize the RCM return is to apply the analysis strictly to the equipment and systems that will pay off from it, and to know this we must rely on the CMMS. This paper provides guidance for ensuring that the equipment data and history residing in a CMMS are complete and accurate; so that RCM analysis will be a success and positively impact a company’s bottom line, not hurt it.
The degree to which RCM analysis can contribute to profitability is directly variable with the quality and accuracy of the CMMS data on which the analysis is based. Because the technique is rigorous, its over-use will defeat the purpose and lead to cost overruns instead of savings. The way to optimize the RCM return is to apply the analysis strictly to the equipment and systems that will pay off from it, and to know this we must rely on the CMMS. This paper provides guidance for ensuring that the equipment data and history residing in a CMMS are complete and accurate; so that RCM analysis will be a success and positively impact a company’s bottom line, not hurt it.
The new general manager at Doe Run’s South-east Missouri Mining and Milling Division determined that inaccurate and incomplete maintenance data was a major contributing factor preventing effective management of maintenance costs. Management then decided to obtain the necessary knowledge and tools which would allow implementation and operation of an effective maintenance management program. The company chose to pilot a program at one of the mines, and depending on its success, the program would be expanded to other areas within the division.
The new general manager at Doe Run’s South-east Missouri Mining and Milling Division determined that inaccurate and incomplete maintenance data was a major contributing factor preventing effective management of maintenance costs. Management then decided to obtain the necessary knowledge and tools which would allow implementation and operation of an effective maintenance management program. The company chose to pilot a program at one of the mines, and depending on its success, the program would be expanded to other areas within the division.
In this year literally billions of dollars will be spent, in many different countries, on implementing CMMS and enterprise level systems. Some corporations, such as RIO TINTO and BHP, have attempted to circumvent a lot of this cost by developing implementation templates for use across their global operations.
In this year literally billions of dollars will be spent, in many different countries, on implementing CMMS and enterprise level systems. Some corporations, such as RIO TINTO and BHP, have attempted to circumvent a lot of this cost by developing implementation templates for use across their global operations.
Industry pacesetters use real-time equipment data to prioritize and optimize their maintenance resources. The process is straightforward in concept: use real-time data to determine the equipment health, but only inform the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) when maintenance is actually necessary. From there, the CMMS automatically produces the work order and uses the workflow that is already familiar to all maintenance personnel.
Industry pacesetters use real-time equipment data to prioritize and optimize their maintenance resources. The process is straightforward in concept: use real-time data to determine the equipment health, but only inform the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) when maintenance is actually necessary. From there, the CMMS automatically produces the work order and uses the workflow that is already familiar to all maintenance personnel.
CMMS systems, as we have come to know them, come basically from two distinct families. These are ERP systems such as SAP, JDE and the PRONTO system and EAM systems such as Epac, MIMS and a plethora of other systems. When most maintenance practitioners refer to CMMS systems they are in reality talking about EAM systems.
CMMS systems, as we have come to know them, come basically from two distinct families. These are ERP systems such as SAP, JDE and the PRONTO system and EAM systems such as Epac, MIMS and a plethora of other systems. When most maintenance practitioners refer to CMMS systems they are in reality talking about EAM systems.
Too many organisations neglect the benefits of a clearly defined prioritisation system. Even when they realise the importance the focus is invariably at a department or functional level. I have seen organisations where there are up to three or more prioritisation systems. None of which are inter-related. Along with work order classification, failure coding and integration with business processes, this is one of the key determinants of a maintenance systems future operation.
Too many organisations neglect the benefits of a clearly defined prioritisation system. Even when they realise the importance the focus is invariably at a department or functional level. I have seen organisations where there are up to three or more prioritisation systems. None of which are inter-related. Along with work order classification, failure coding and integration with business processes, this is one of the key determinants of a maintenance systems future operation.
All of the work of backlog management, planning and priority targeted capacity scheduling are focussed on efficient execution. To ensure that the tasks that need to be done, as per the true requirements of the plant, are done in a timely manner with as little waste of human and material resources as is possible.
All of the work of backlog management, planning and priority targeted capacity scheduling are focussed on efficient execution. To ensure that the tasks that need to be done, as per the true requirements of the plant, are done in a timely manner with as little waste of human and material resources as is possible.
From the very start, the implementation of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is a long and arduous process. One of the largest concerns is how to effectively get the correct data into the system in the first place, and then, how to get useful information out. The better and more consistently recording of repair activities is done, the greater potential for yielding greater and more specific information about an operation.
From the very start, the implementation of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is a long and arduous process. One of the largest concerns is how to effectively get the correct data into the system in the first place, and then, how to get useful information out. The better and more consistently recording of repair activities is done, the greater potential for yielding greater and more specific information about an operation.
