5 Benefits of Using Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Software

Computerized Maintenance Management system (CMMS) software, also known as Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), is a software that is specifically designed to streamline and simplify the entire process of managing maintenance operations. This, in turn, can significantly reduce workload and eliminate paperwork, while increasing productivity.

CMMS software can help track assets, schedule and track maintenance activities, monitor work orders, and manage costs. Although CMMS originated as a punch-card system to be used for managing work orders in 1960s, it has now emerged as a sophisticated cloud-based system that can keep a centralized record of all assets and equipment that require maintenance, along with scheduling and streamlining maintenance operations.

In addition to the cloud-based CMMS software that works online, on-premises CMMS software is also available. As the name suggests, on-premises CMMS software runs on a computer of the user and therefore, the user can maintain control over the network access to the CMMS server to ensure data privacy.

However, the maintenance of on-premises CMMS software is a bit expensive, as it requires backups and constant monitoring of the server by the IT staff. In the case of cloud-based CMMS software that runs online, issues like taking backups for the system, hosting, security, etc., are taken care of by the CMMS provider. Unlike on-premises CMMS, cloud-based CMMS software gets updated automatically.

So, each of these CMMS software has its own advantages and limitations. Nevertheless, an enterprise or organizations can reap the following benefits by using CMMS software –

1. It can help enterprises plan and schedule preventive maintenance more effectively by automating the scheduling of maintenance activities and by preventing costly repairs and equipment downtime.
2. By minimizing equipment downtime, CMMS software can also reduce costs. It can make the entire process of scheduling maintenance more efficient and faster, and also reduce the work hours required for maintaining maintenance records. It can monitor maintenance intervals and give timely reminders as well.
3. By minimizing equipment failures, the CMMS software reduces the chances of on-site accidents and thereby, improve the safety of workers. The software can be used to store and track the information related to the health and safety of workers and thus, formulate more effective safety instructions, in order to reduce accidents and injuries.
4. Regulatory compliance is a crucial part of the maintenance process and a CMMS software can ensure better regulatory compliance of the maintenance procedures. The software can greatly reduce the amount of time required for preparing an audit to prove that all necessary maintenance have been done by the organization. Maintenance managers can generate compliance reports whenever required, in order to avoid any kind of noncompliance penalties imposed by regulatory authorities.

Finally, the CMMS software can enhance productivity by enabling faster and timely completion of repairs and maintenance. Work orders can be created instantly and all repair requests can be generated in the system. At the same time, the progress of the maintenance operations can be monitored and tracked in real time, which in turn will translate into increased productivity for the organization.