Kirby Risk Summer 2022_Digital

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION

computer in the facility to input work order data at the end of the shift, technicians can utilize tablets on the plant floor to enter information at the completion of each job. Changes to schedule or scope of a work order can be passed to the technician as they are working. Selection of key parameters and drop-down menus minimize the time spent documenting work but still provide the necessary data for tracking and analysis. Utilizing voice-to-text allows technicians to enter the necessary details quickly and even attach pictures to the work order. A more technical description from Fiix by Rockwell Automation says a CMMS helps asset-intensive organizations digitally plan, track, measure and optimize all maintenance activities. CMMS software provides a centralized platform and workflow to manage maintenance operations that includes reactive maintenance, preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance. You can automate any asset maintenance task while eliminating paperwork and other time-consuming activities. There are two types of CMMS: cloud-based (available over the Internet) and on-premise (downloaded and installed on local computers). Both help manage maintenance. Beyond that, both types of CMMS are very different. According to Reliable Plant’s “Advantages of Cloud-based CMMS” article, cloud-based CMMS have a number of benefits including faster setup, no IT-related costs, can be accessed anywhere, mobile,

easy software updates, managed database (no backing up information to an onsite server), database security and 24/7 monitoring. As noted in the article, “the reliability, mobility and lower total cost of ownership that comes with cloud-based CMMS can give you the competitive advantage you need to take your asset management strategy to the next level.”

WHAT ELSE CAN CMMS DO?

Beyond work orders and basic maintenance data, a CMMS can help your equipment talk to you. “What if your equipment could tell you when it is experiencing abnormal conditions like vibration or temperature changes?” asks Mack. “You could get away from scheduling inspections and preventative maintenance based on the calendar and start to schedule based on equipment condition.” Networked equipment such as variable frequency drives, process instrumentation and the rapidly expanding availability of smart sensors can generate information about your equipment and processes. “This is not a project that you can fund, implement and say, ‘oh cool, look how much better things are,’” Mack says. “It is a journey that will never end. While you will see measurable improvements in downtime and maintenance costs at each key milestone, there will always be one more thing to continue to improve.”

STREAMLINE MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT How a CMMS system can save time and money. Running a facility’s maintenance is hard. Keeping costs down while keeping equipment running can often feel like conflicting priorities. Make the wrong decision about preventative and predictive maintenance and you’ll have a plant manager asking why equipment is down or a tech wondering why you are wasting their time performing checks that don’t add overall value. Maintenance Managers oversee the repairs, installations and upkeep of buildings, offices and other facilities, according to indeed. The main duties of a maintenance manager or supervisor include designing maintenance procedures and performing inspections to find problems and make repairs. All of these responsibilities need to be met while maintaining a budget and often managing a team.

Maintenance management started in the manufacturing industry. It started out simple — if a machine broke and no longer ran, then the maintenance manager fixed it. Fast forward more than 200 years and technology has made a lot of changes to how a factory runs. According to the ISA Interchange blog, “Innovations in technology in every area of life are more than they have ever been in human history and maintenance management is not left out.” Technological advancements ranging from communication to smart sensors and the Internet of Things have impacted maintenance management. Advancements in software support have made computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) the industry norm.

HOW CAN A MAINTENANCE MANAGER BENEFIT FROM FACILITY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?

The first step is understanding the management software. CMMS have been around a long time and many companies use some form of CMMS today, says John Mack, Kirby Risk Business Consultant. Modernizing your CMMS can be a big step in the journey to balance a centralized maintenance system and budget.

If you’d like to learn more about how a modern CMMS can help improve your maintenance efficiency, reach out to your Kirby Risk Account Manager on our Automation team.

With a modern CMMS you don’t need to print work orders for the day or week, Mack continues. Instead of needing a

20 CONNECTED | SUMMER 2022

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