Defining a CMMS

There are a lot of definitions of a CMMS that are available and most try to explain the term by way of features that a typical CMMS offers. However, another way to describe a CMMS is to inform you how a CMMS changes the way you conduct operations particularly facility or industry maintenance activities.
The purpose of a CMMS is two-fold. The first goal is to give maintenance management the tools they need to control maintenance costs. For facility maintenance the two major costs components are labor and repairs.
The second goal is to keep assets in the best working order possible. Keeping assets in optimal working condition will reduce emergency repairs, lower capital replacement dollars and reduce energy expenses.
For many organizations achieving these goals requires a fundamental change in how maintenance operations are performed. More specifically, maintenance operations are forced to become more organized and more proactive.
A CMMS helps organizations achieve this by providing tools for reducing manual processes, the proactive scheduling of preventive maintenance and inspections. When maintenance operations are proactive with a CMMS, there are fewer maintenance problems, less labor needed, assets last longer and energy costs are sharply reduced.
In addition, the combination of these CMMS tools allows maintenance managers to know where all their assets are as well as the condition they are in.

Why Preventive Maintenance Is a Critical Part or Operations Planning

The purpose of preventive maintenance is to reduce the amount of unexpected repairs on an organization’s assets. The idea is that by having a pre-determined schedule of care, equipment will last longer, be more energy efficient and minimize unplanned downtime or emergency work.
More importantly, assets that have regularly scheduled preventive maintenance help maintenance operations remain proactive by identifying potential problems early. For example, while maintenance staff is changing the air filters on an HVAC unit, they notice that the HVAC unit is making unusual sounds.  Maintenance management is notified via a mobile handheld device and a work order is issued for a closer inspection.
The inspection reveals that the bearings inside the motor have worn out and that they need to be replaced. Preventive maintenance in this case, allows maintenance management to make small repairs before the HVAC unit fails and needs to be replaced.
Using the same example, when a HVAC unit is not operating correctly, it draws more power to accomplish the same amount of output. Performing preventive maintenance can optimized the energy efficiency of assets.