Using a CMMS: what are the benefits for your company?
In the age of digitalized maintenance operations, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) are king, whatever your sector of activity or the assets you need to maintain. This software is designed to anticipate and manage all maintenance functions, thus ensuring the quality of your company's services. A key argument when you consider that an equipment breakdown or shutdown can be (very) costly for your company.
Find out how CMMS ensures the reliability of your production assets, and how it contributes to your company's efficiency and profitability.
CMMS: what are we talking about?
Definition and background
CMMS, or Computerized Maintenance Management System, is a computerized tool for managing and optimizing the organization and execution of maintenance operations within a company. Historically, these operations were managed manually. With the advent of digital technology, the first CMMS software applications appeared in the 1980s, enabling better traceability, as well as more efficient organization and planning of operations. These solutions, initially reserved for large companies because of their cost, are now becoming more widely available, and are making their way into the mainstream. They should not be confused with more general ERP systems. CMMS can be an ERP module, but if maintenance is a major issue, we recommend using a software package specialized in this field.
What is the purpose of computer-aided maintenance management?
CMMS is designed to facilitate the management of maintenance operations. This facilitation covers a wide range of functions, such as :
- Efficient planning to organize preventive and corrective actions;
- Optimized, real-time inventory management to anticipate equipment and spare parts requirements and efficiently assign technicians to the various tasks to be carried out;
- EDM (Electronic Document Management) functions, facilitating the storage, sharing and modification of documents relating to maintenance, interventions or schedules;
- Data visualization has established itself as a key functionality. It enables managers to gain an overview of their equipment's performance, identify weak points and implement continuous improvement strategies.
Equipment that can be managed with CMMS
The versatility of CMMS means it can be adapted to a wide range of equipment, and therefore of business sectors. It is used in maintenance, for example:
- Buildings, by guaranteeing their proper operation, safety and that of their occupants.
- Distribution networks, whether for water, electricity or gas, can benefit from CMMS supervision to prevent breakdowns or malfunctions.
- Industrial equipment or rolling stock, to guarantee safety or extend service life.
- Computer equipment to anticipate failures and guarantee continuity of service.
- Documents and archives to ensure their preservation, accessibility and regular updating.
The benefits of CMMS for equipment management
Improved responsiveness to emergency situations
A company's efficiency often depends on its ability to respond rapidly to unforeseen situations. In this context, CMMS is an essential solution for proactively and efficiently managing corrective actions. In the event of equipment failure or breakdown, the tool immediately alerts the maintenance team. What's more, when it comes to after-sales service, CMMS ensures rigorous follow-up of customer requests, guaranteeing efficient and rapid handling. The result? Reduced downtime and greater customer satisfaction.
In-depth knowledge of equipment
It's vital to have a clear picture of the condition and specific features of each piece of equipment. Thanks to CMMS, companies can centralize all information relating to their equipment, including maintenance history, technical characteristics and lifecycle. This detailed knowledge greatly facilitates the planning of maintenance operations. It also makes it possible to forecast spare parts requirements, anticipate equipment replacements and define intervention priorities.
Real-time traceability of interventions
Transparency and traceability are two of the strengths of CMMS. Every intervention, whether planned or unexpected, is recorded. As a result, companies can easily analyze the data to detect any recurring patterns, weak points or opportunities for improvement. What's more, real-time access to this information enables managers to make rapid, well-informed decisions.
CMMS: what ROI can you expect?
Implementing a CMMS is more than just an investment; it's a strategic move aimed at drastically optimizing costs. Depending on the data, the use of preventive maintenance can save a company between 12% and 18% of the costs usually associated with repair costs and reactive maintenance. The AFIM (Association of Maintenance Engineers) has conducted studies to quantify the tangible benefits of using a CMMS:
- A reduction in job preparation times of between 20% and 30%.
- A reduction in intervention times of between 10% and 30%.
- Up to 50% longer equipment life.
- An estimated 10% reduction in production downtime.
Choosing the right CMMS solution
A large number of solutions are available today. The solution selected must obviously meet the specific needs of each company, but must also take into account the existing technical and human environment.
There are several key criteria to be considered in this important decision, including :
- Deployment mode (SaaS or on-premise): SaaS solutions offer the advantage of online accessibility, automatic updating and often a lower cost of entry. By contrast, an on-premise solution can offer more granular control, but generally requires more IT maintenance.
- User experience (XP): a user-friendly, ergonomic interface is crucial to facilitating the adoption of the software by users, thus reducing training time.
- A public API: the ability to integrate CMMS with other software tools via an API is a major asset for smooth, interconnected information management.
- Responsive support: fast, efficient assistance is a guarantee of peace of mind, ensuring that any unforeseen circumstances or questions are dealt with as quickly as possible.
Companies sometimes underestimate the importance of maintenance, but when it is considered a strategic issue, it can be a real lever for improvement and growth. Choosing the right CMMS solution can help you meet or exceed your objectives.
Our solution K-NOWdigital adoption platform (DAP), guides your teams through the adoption of your CMMS solution. Tutorials, training... everything you need to get to grips with the system and make updates smooth and easy, with onboarding, feedback, intelligent guidance and more...