When it comes to various business maintenance, we are often seeking out the tool that will do it all. While an industry-specific tool would be most helpful, we aren’t always that lucky to have such tools at hand. That’s where CMMS software can come in handy.

What Is It?

CMMS is short for Computerized Maintenance and Management Systems. What it does for you and your business could save you a lot of money. Overall it tracks all your maintenance activities and the equipment that requires maintenance. It keeps an eye on workflow and the costs associated with your maintenance habits. Maintenance is a cost that takes up a significant part of your budget and yet you cannot cut too many corners with it. CMMS can assist with not only managing your maintenance, but also through finding ways to save you money in the long run. So how can CMMS help your steel business?

1. Operating Locations – Many CMMS programs offer an application to track locations where your steel equipment is being used. The benefit here is the ability to track the life cycles and performance of your equipment. Longer lifecycles with strong performance will mean less money spent on replacing equipment that could perform at lower standards.
2. Labor Resources – An application that can track your maintenance employees, their trade, and skill levels can help with assigning appropriate tasks for specific groups. Additionally, this application could help track true labor costs.
3. Inventory – Tracking your maintenance inventory can help you save a lot of money. You will know exactly what resources you have and what you need to order. It can also help control how much time it could take to repair an important piece of machinery. Waiting too long for a spare part to come in could easily turn into money lost as the machine isn’t being used!
4. Preventative Maintenance –One of the best features of a CMMS program is the inclusion of a preventative maintenance application. Staying on top of your equipment and machines will ensure top performance and lengthy lifecycles.
5. Equipment History – An application devoted to equipment history is vital for proper maintenance. Knowing when a piece of machinery was purchased, maintained, and when repairs were performed is incredibly helpful in avoiding a big breakdown or preparing for a purchase when you know the equipment is nearing its end.
6. Purchasing – Utilizing the purchase application against work orders helps the maintenance manager keep up with efficient work planning. Working in conjunction with the inventory, you will always know where you are with managing your maintenance.

Overall, CMMS software is a huge benefit to the maintenance manager of any steel business. Not only can it help simplify tasks, but it can also assign tasks to the appropriate maintenance employee. Additionally, it provides an overall picture of how efficient you are and how the maintenance team is working to save money. A good CMMS is truly the maintenance managers’ best friend.