Successful Facilitity Is Good Maintenance Computer Science Essay

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

CMMS

Paul Keely

B00038004

Submitted to the Department of Engineering, School of Informatics and Engineering, Blanchardstown Institute of Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

BSc (Hons) Energy Systems & Industrial Automation

February 2013

I hereby certify that the material, which is submitted in this assignment/project, is entirely my own work and has not been submitted for any academic assessment other than as part fulfilment of the assessment procedures for the programme Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Energy Systems & Industrial Automation (Bn 425). Any sources cited have been duly acknowledged in the text.

Signed:_______________________________Date:______/______/____

Abstract

For the purpose of desk based research, three CMMS’ have been selected from an internet based search. The report desribes in detail three selected CMMS’ (Computerized Maintenance Management System). There are two systems evaluated, (Maintenance Connection and Bigfoot CMMS) and a third system (MaintSmart Enterprise), which is a free system is also described in detail. The three systems are then compared and contrasted against each other.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The key to a successful facilitity is good maintenance management. If a facility can put a good maintenance plan into action this will ensure that the business has less downtime and operates efficiently. This in turn will lead to successful business. However, if success is to be achieved then maintenance data tracking and analysis is essential. Therefore the implementation of a good CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) can reap rewards.

CMMS

After a broad internet search, the three CMMS’ to be evaluated are as follows:

Maintenance Connection

Bigfoot CMMS

MaintSmart Enterprise (Free)

All of the above mentioned have the common goals of improving production and profit margins. By reducing downtime, spending less on inventory and expanding machine life through predictive and preventative maintenance these goals are achieved.

The CMMS’ available can be web based or central based working on a network of PC’s throughout a facility. The web based CMMS’ require no installation on the clients PC and can be an an onsite or online solution. For easy integration with other applications they are run on the Internet browser using Microsoft web technologies and are therefore scalable to massive degrees. With the web based sytems, on the go facilities are available through handheld devices and smartphone technology. Critical tasks such as workorders can be done as well as any other critical tasks that can be performed on the Internet browser.

All three of the CMMS’ offer the expected basics such as Work Orders, Preventative Maintenance, Work Scheduling and Inventory options.

Maintenance Connection

Maintenance Connection is a web based application built using Microsoft web technologies, it is massively scaleable and will run entirely on an internet browser allowing for easy integration to other applications. Work Orders are found in the (MRO) Maintenance, Repair & Operations, when the work order is opened, job details of a particular job are shown with important tasks highlighted. The main screen offers options such as an MRO calender, My Matrix which displays work order information, An Asset tree with an intuitive hierarchy view means assets are easily located or added.

Figure Maintenance Connection (Maintenance connection, 2013)

Preventative Maintenance is scheduled maintenance that is performed on a regular basis. Maintenance Connection gives the option to choose a schedule from the library or create one. Work Orders WorkCenter is the heart of Maintenance Connection. Work Orders includes features such as Work Order projections, searches, details, tasks, grouping, costs, status menu, reports and Work Order close. Work Orders WorkCenter covers all aspects of the criteria needed from start to close.

MRO look up allows searches for tools, labor, documents and inventory to be made quickly from the one screen. A selection of maintenance procedures is available from the library if required for maintenance employees. WorkCentre’s inventory control and purchasing screens help to keep track of stock levels and can generate purchase orders as stock falls below a certain level. As stock is received the inventory levels rise accordingly. Maintenance connection is easily integrated with ERP’s such as SAP already in place in a facility.

When a technician signs into the CMMS, all details and data needed for a particular job will be visible on the screen. This WorkCenter for technicians has features such as calendar, assignments, print work orders, close work orders, work order history and a parts section. A service requestor is also available for machine operatives to submit a request where technicians can see it. A dashboard feature highlights KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) such as response times to failures from the maintenance team. The Mobile feature can be used to download and view work orders with full detail while in sync with the main database from a handheld device or smartphone.

Bigfoot Maintenance Software

Bigfoot CMMS covers all aspects of maintenance management such as work orders, predictive maintenance analysis, asset management, inventory and much more in a web-based system. Bigfoot allows control of managing multiple facilities, in different locations from an Internet browser connection via a PC or handheld device. On a Bigfoot homepage a list of Preventative Maintenance tasks that are due to be done, until the acknowledgement and sign off that the job has been completed, Bigfoot will issue reminders with the appropriate documentation needed for that particular job and notice of the work to be done.

Work orders keep track of corrective maintenance and ongoing work in the facility. Work Orders are properly monitored throughout the longevity of the job providing reassurance that the correct work has been done and a historic record of the work is stored for future research and predictive maintenance purposes. Bigfoot Predictive maintenance will ensure that preventative maintenance is more effective, help prolong the life of machinery and overall assess the standards of the process.

Bigfoot includes inventory control software that can help to make inventory duties such as stock counts and purchase orders an easy task. By integrating inventory with work orders parts can be counted as they are used and ordered when a predetermined level is reached. Bigfoot also has an on the go version of the software that can be used to perform critical tasks from a hand held or smartphone device. Bigfoot also has the ability to connect to any standard OPC server via the OPC interface.

MaintSmart Enterprise Free CMMS Software

MaintSmart Enterprise is free CMMS software that can be used to produce an efficient maintenance operation for a facility. The CMMS will help maintain the machinery of the facility by using a military standard reliability analysis. MaintSmart provides reliability data from sources such as runtime and downtime data. The CMMS also has the ability to calculate how much a machine costs to operate and own, by using various conversion factors.

MaintSmart has three different work order formats and can automatically create work orders. Inventory items can also be linked to work orders, with a barcode system making it easy to create work orders and log parts usage. Barcodes also help to speed up inventory audits and locating stock. Statistical data charts can be provided from downtime data. The MaintSmart scheduler can graphically schedule preventative maintenance and work orders. Schedules can be created for and assigned to maintenance employees.

Comparisons & Contrasts

All of the above mentioned Cmms’ have a lot of common features such as work orders, preventative maintenance, work scheduling, and inventory. All the basics needed for CMMS full functionality. The Maintenance Connection and Bigfoot software offer web based systems that can be used on multiple sites from any pc or handheld device used to create, manage and analyze data. The free software from MaintSmart doesn’t have this option available and a Windows based operating system is needed for it to function. As MaintSmart is not web based it also takes up hard disk memory space.

MaintSmart does however offer online analytical processing using military standard reliability analysis. Analysis is available on all three systems for equipment information and history, analysis of work orders to help in the preventative maintenance and reliability analysis. Inventory levels can also be monitored on all three systems with indicators to signal low stock level with MaintSmart also indicating the price of raising stock to minimum levels, while Maintenance Connection will automatically send the information to a purchase order sheet tailor made for a particular Vendor.

The CMMS’ that are not free have all the little add ons such as E mail notices, document editors, integrated report writing and document and procedure writer. The softwares can also help to locate maintenance hot spots that keep arising.

The Maintenance Connection software then goes into even more detail. The software enables employee profiles to be matched to work orders so the most suited employee can be tasked with the job. Then an inventory look up can be used to ensure the stock room has the correct parts for the particular job, while a tool box look up allows quick and easy selection of correct tools needed for the job. If any documents are attached to a work order they can be found in the document look up. Maintenance Connection also integrates easily with the existing ERP solutions used by companies. Small details like the above mentioned might only seem small but they could make big savings on time spent looking around for these details if the software was not installed.

Conclusion

There are comparisons to be made of the basic features with the Maintenance Connection software seemingly having a lot more in depth software to offer the user but although it is a free software MaintSmart does offer a lot in the way of useful analysis tools and could easily live with the the two purchased softwares. Depending on the type of facility and the detail to which the maintenance management is required would depend on selection.