CMMS Health Check: Adjust the timing or rebuild the engine?
Many MC Global Solutions customers have taken the opportunity to use our Consultants to have a look under the bonnet of their CMMS to find out how well they are running.
Whether it’s a matter of finding the time, committing resources or the cost involved many people treat getting an expert in to look at their Asset Maintenance Management the same a booking their car in for a service. Or are they just afraid it will confirm what they already know?
MC Global Solutions Consultants have been carrying out CMMS Health Checks for many of our long-term customers over the last few months. It has brought to light both minor and major changes which can be made to bring their systems back to best practice and enhance the business operations. Listed below are three factors which were consistently identified as influencing system usability.
Staff changes.
When trained staff leave the Company, or their role changes, a knowledge gap is often created. New staff are not trained in, or made aware of the importance of system operation and as a result, will try to teach themselves or avoid using the software completely. While Maintenance Connection is one of the most user-friendly CMMS packages to learn, with printed and on-line tutorials available, there is always the fear of the unknown which will hold people back.
Unclear Workflow process.
As businesses grow and people’s roles change, there should be regular reviews of how the current work flow process is operating and whether it can be improved. New staff roles, advances in the MC software and addition of new hardware may result in a more efficient method of operation. There is also the need to ensure that ALL Technicians and Administration are entering ALL the required data to maintain the data integrity of the EAM package.
Poor identification of Assets, Classifications, PMs and Procedures.
During the initial implementation process, an identification and naming convention is created by the Consultant to ensure consistency, reliability and predictability. When new data is added to the various modules, adhering to these protocols will maintain consistency in reporting and identification.
As with all staff capabilities and proficiencies, the Administration needs to ensure that the understanding of the operation and modules within the CMMS is kept up-to-date. This can be either through regular, annual refresher courses by the MC Global Consultants or targeted training when new key staff are employed.
