It's that time of the year again, where we all make resolutions and try and actually make them last for more than a month. This year why not make a maintenance New Year's resolution? Let's start with something simple like conducting a Computerized Maintenance management System (CMMS) audit.

Go look in your work order history. Look for the obvious such as:

• Descriptions of work requested. Are they meaningful, or simply, "something broke"?
• Descriptions of work completed. Are they meaningful, or signed off with "something fixed"?
• Are there Failure or Action codes defined and utilized?
• Do completed work orders have the time required to compete the activity entered?
• Are parts or materials that were utilized entered on the work orders?
• Can a total cost to compete the activity be quickly identified?

All the above are important for sound maintenance decisions and will facilitate future use for maintenance planners to assist with accuracy in estimating time and costing for work. If you cannot quickly identify the above information make another New Year's resolution to require all necessary information for each work order moving forward

Not sure where or how to get started? We can help.

Tip provided by Dave Bertolini
Managing Principal
People and Processes, Inc.
dbertolini@peopleandprocesses.com