subject: Defining the CMMS Need by:Ashley Combs [print this page] . But if you are in an industry such as food and beverage processing, maintenance is a key component of your operation. Indeed, the health of your customers depends on it.
Gone are the days when your employees simply 'knew' when it was time to sanitize the machines. One false step and your product could be the next to face a drastic recall. Do you want to explain to your customers that someone 'forgot' to sanitize the equipment between runs of products containing allergens like peanuts? We didn't think so.
Whether you are in the food and beverage industry or any other type of large-scale production, or a smaller company with multiple departments, maintenance can be key to your success.
Do you need computerized maintenance management softwareknown in the industry as CMMS? There is only one way to find out. Review your current maintenance schedule, and the ability of your employees to adhere to that schedule. Does it require lots of checklists and oversight by management? Then you might just be a candidate for CMMS maintenance software.
Just like any new aspect of your business, your maintenance employees might initially be resistant. "Why should we track this stuff on a computer? Don't you trust us? We already track this stuff (employee points to battered clipboard)"
Well of course you trust your employees. Otherwise, why are they working for you? But when you explain that you are actually helping them increase their job skills and at the same time, are helping them to work more efficiently, they are likely to see the light. Point out cases where time was wasted tracking down an employee to find out if XYZ duty had been performed. The time when the clipboard went missing and the entire day's work had to be redone, just in case. And the fact that often, humans accomplish a task and move on to the nextwithout checking off the box on the paperwork.
Wouldn't it have been preferable to simply check the software? We thought your employees would see it our way.
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