Three Big Maintenance Management Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them
Hey, we all make mistakes. The point is not that we make them. It’s what we learned from those mistakes. If you can, however, it’s easier to learn from other people’s mistakes. To help, we’ve shared three of the most common mistakes in maintenance management and offered tips to help you avoid them. 1. Making Decisions Based on Assumptions While there was a time that maintenance managers needed to make assumptions about what worked for their operations, those days are gone. New technology (i.e., CMMS software) and tools make information available for data-driven decision making. Which means your decisions are backed up by hard data, not guesswork. This is particularly helpful when sharing maintenance information with other managers who don’t have hands-on maintenance experience. It’s hard to argue when they can see the facts—and the figures—right in front of them. 2. Skimping on Training No investment pays off as readily as training. Yet many maintenance managers feel they don’t have the time or the budget for training. These days, however, training is available in all kinds of formats that fit all kinds of budgets. While on-site or classroom training may not be realistic for your organization, you have plenty of other options—including online training and mentor programs. Some training programs are just an hour a week. And your investment in training pays off with every work order as your team becomes more efficient. 3. Refusing to Change with the Times Maintenance management has changed rapidly in a short time. And while you might feel like things worked just fine before, staying the course means missed opportunities. Technology has taken the maintenance professional by storm, and it’s not going away. In fact, it’s now a “must have” in maintenance departments. And the type of technology has changed too. Where just 5-10 years ago, you were probably tapping away at a desktop computer or implementing your first CMMS software, now you’ve got a mobile phone or tablet in your hand checking for information while you’re walking around the plant or facility. Take advantage of these technology advances to make your department more productive. Plus, your maintenance team has changed too. Your older employees are retiring. And finding replacements isn’t a simple task. You’ll need to make your maintenance positions appealing to a different generation with a different mindset, particularly because they’ve grown up with technology and are extremely comfortable with it. What maintenance management mistakes have you made? How did you fix them? Contact us.
Is the MPulse 0% Finance Program Right for Your CMMS Software Purchase?
If you’ve been researching your first CMMS software purchase (or an upgrade), you’ve realized most vendors want you to buy software as a service (SaaS) solutions. But here at MPulse, we believe SaaS isn’t for everyone. So if you’re looking for a way to purchase CMMS software outright, take a look at our new MPulse 0% Finance Program. Is SaaS Right for You? First, let’s look at SaaS. Simply stated, SaaS is just another method of paying for CMMS software. When you opt for a SaaS subscription you’re choosing to rent software for a specified period of time instead of buying a license to use it indefinitely. The licensed purchase price for a maintenance management software package is typically equal to two or three years of SaaS payments. If you’re on the fence about a new solution, SaaS may provide you a beneficial trial period to determine if the software meets your needs. You can change vendors at any time without abandoning a large investment—or you can purchase the software you’re using. It also may allow you to pay for software without going through a formal procurement process. If your company divides departmental funding into operational expenses (OPEX) and capital expenses (CAPEX), you may be able to spend OPEX money on your software without making a CAPEX request. SaaS has advantages, which is why MPulse offers our SaaS option to customers. In particular, those lower initial costs are attractive. But the disadvantage is you never really own the software—so you need to keep paying for your subscription. And if you stop paying, you lose access. Is MPulse 0% Finance Program Right for You? Here at MPulse, we believe our customers should have purchase options that fit their needs. So we launched a new program that allows our customers to enjoy the lower upfront costs of SaaS, but to own the software outright in just 36 months. MPulse provides financing through Marlin Business Services Corp.®, a nationwide provider of equipment and software financing. With the MPulse 0% Finance Program, you’ll have better payment terms than most SaaS contracts, and the software will be yours to keep. Benefits include… Finance 100% of your purchase 0% interest rate for 36 months No substantial cash outlay or down payment Finance training and support services too Monthly payments Instant financing approval process Easy electronic application Turns your CAPEX into OPEX for easier management approval in many organizations Significant tax advantages No effect on your bank lines of credit How Long Does It Take? With our expedited approval process, we can get most financing approved in less than one business day. Because our financing is lease-based, inquiries don’t impact your credit rating. We can finance many businesses who may not qualify for traditional bank loans. Contact us to learn more about the MPulse 0% Finance Program. We’re here to help.
Five Signs It’s Time to Buy CMMS Software
Have you reached that point where you know your maintenance department needs to do something different? Every maintenance manager does sooner or later. So, how do you know when to update CMMS software programs? To help, we’ve collected the top five signs it’s time to buy CMMS maintenance software. Whether you’re experiencing just one, or (like most of us) more than one, CMMS maintenance software is the answer. Your Needs Have Changed Many new CMMS maintenance customers start here. Whether they’ve used paper, a home-grown database, or Excel spreadsheets, it’s just not working. They need more. Typically work order management and preventive maintenance scheduling are the two biggest areas where your needs change. But it could be a combination of anything—vendor management, service request tracking, reporting capability, inventory control, software integration, etc. You need the right tool for the right job. And in today’s maintenance environment, the right tool is CMMS maintenance software. You Need More Data Maintenance used to fly under the radar, but not anymore. Expectations are changing, and now you’re getting requests for detailed information about your maintenance operations. To answer those questions, you need data—and you need it quickly. Pulling together reports from spreadsheets or (ugh) paperwork orders is time consuming, tedious, and inaccurate. With CMMS software, you’re collecting maintenance data with every work order. So, when it’s time to answer those questions about asset management or repair/replace decisions, you have what you need at your fingertips. You’re Ready to Go Mobile Whether it’s your younger employees who live with their devices or the availability of better Internet access on the road, it’s time to think about mobile CMMS software. Mobile technology allows your team to access information and record data on the spot—where maintenance happens, instead of in a plant or office. That means they have quick and easy access to critical information, making it easier to get the job done and capture historical data. You Need to Integrate with Other Software You need more maintenance data, but so do other departments. Wasting time re-entering and maintaining information in multiple systems is not only inefficient, it’s prone to problems and errors. Integrating your CMMS software and your financial application or accounting system is easier than ever. Data sharing technology (like MPulse DataLink) simplifies the process of sharing information, so everyone gets the data they need quickly and easily. You’re Growing What worked for a maintenance team of two or three techs doesn’t work as that organization grows to 5, 10, 20 or more maintenance employees. Communication is harder, and the old systems just aren’t efficient. Plus, as your organization grows, you’re likely maintaining larger numbers of assets with the same—or even fewer—resources. Older systems aren’t always scalable to adapt to the increase of the operation. But modern CMMS software can. Scalable CMMS software grows with you, so you can adapt quickly. What’s motivating you to buy CMMS software? Leave a comment or contact us.
How to Create Paperless Maintenance Without Errors
Maintenance teams have relied on paper work orders for decades. But times are changing, so you should learn the benefits of using a web based work order system. It’s already happened in other departments as more organizations have adopted software designed for financial and sales tasks. There’s less paperwork around the office because it’s stored—and shared—digitally. Now, the benefits of going paperless are becoming more common in the maintenance world, thanks to CMMS software and its ability to make digital storage easy and more convenient. It’s safe to say paperless maintenance without errors is the future of work orders. New Work Flows Going paperless wasn’t the main goal of Nancy’s maintenance department. But after integrating MPulse Software, Inc two years ago, she realized it was possible… and she was well on her way. Nancy’s CMMS software kept track of all the things that used to be stored on paper somewhere, like a filing cabinet or a bookshelf. This information included work orders, repair history, user manuals, reports, vendor documents, and other key data. “Our service requests are all submitted electronically now via MPulse,” she explained. “The approval process is done in the software. Our techs keep notes and links to manuals and repair guides in MPulse. That’s just the beginning.” Nancy’s team is also working towards mobile integration, something that’s within reality for other maintenance teams, too. “We’re getting closer,” she explained. “I think we’ll be fully mobile within the next year. It’s so much easier for our techs to access work order information, repair history, vendor details, and other information while they’re in the field. It’s been a natural progression.” New Technology One thing that has made this transition possible is the lower costs of digital storage. “We host our MPulse Software, Inc in the cloud,” Nancy said. “That makes it possible for our techs to access it in the field. Plus, our backups and system updates are automated, thanks to MPulse’s Application Hosting Services. I don’t have to worry about it.” Nancy see the benefits of moving towards a paperless maintenance department, including… Reduced need for storage space Less chance of lost or missing documents Lower printing and admin costs Better sharing capability Quicker access to important information Less time spent searching for documents “It was a very natural process after we implement MPulse,” Nancy explained. “We were able to gradually make changes in our workflows because it was more efficient. And a lot of that increased productivity was the result of storing data in one place—our CMMS software.” Are you thinking of going paperless, or moving in that direction? Have you already done it? Leave a comment below or contact us.
What Are Your CMMS Reports Telling You?
With CMMS software, every work order builds up a treasure trove of maintenance data in your CMMS database. The next step? Turning your maintenance data reports into actionable insight. That’s the real value of CMMS software. Read on for this CMMS solution. Find Out What’s Working… and What’s Not CMMS reports help you see your maintenance operations in a new light. It’s easier to see what’s working… and what needs more attention. That was Miguel’s experience. Once his MPulse Software, Inc was working, it didn’t take long before he saw his operations in a new light. CMMS maintenance data reports helped Miguel understand… What work is getting done. And what’s falling through the cracks. Who’s doing what and how long it takes them to do it. How much that asset really costs, and when it’s more cost effective to replace it. Which parts are overstocked, which parts are understocked, and which parts need longer lead times. What’s the inventory turn rate. How much the department is spending and on what. Which assets are pulling their weight, and which ones aren’t. How much a breakdown really costs. What to do to prevent those breakdowns before they happen. Make Good Decisions Based on Hard Data CMMS reports aren’t just about the numbers, however. It’s what those numbers mean. “I knew MPulse would help us manage work flows and track inventory,” Miguel said. “But the data showed me things I didn’t anticipate, like which asset was costing us more than it’s giving back.” Here’s where the real value lies. Armed with solid data and strong reporting features, CMMS software enables you to make good decisions based on hard evidence. No assumptions. No guesswork. Just data. That means you’ll know what’s working well in your maintenance department—and where you should focus your efforts to make improvements. We call that data-driven decision making. In modern maintenance organizations, it’s this type of maintenance management that helps organizations compete in increasingly complicated and competitive markets. Set Up Your CMMS Software for Success It takes more than just buying software, however. Miguel set up his team for success with our CMMS solutions by defining what he wanted to know from his CMMS software, so the work orders collected the data he needed. For example, “we knew we needed to get our inventory costs under control,” Miguel explained. “So we made sure our work orders including parts and supplies information. That extra effort paid off later when we got deeper into inventory management.” You don’t know what you don’t know. Maintenance data reports can help you see what you’ve been missing. What do you want to know? Contact us to see how CMMS software can help you find the answers.
How to Build a Solid Working Relationship with Your Purchasing Department
Building strong relationships with the purchasing department is essential for streamlining procurement processes and improving collaboration across teams. Most maintenance managers have their purchasing department on speed dial. Your maintenance crew is constantly ordering parts and supplies—not to mention working on large asset acquisitions. This close contact means these two departments can make each other’s lives easier… or much more complicated. So how can you help your team with relationship building with purchasing department? CMMS software can help you—making maintenance teams and companies more efficient while also following purchasing rules. Let’s see how. First, let’s talk about what each department needs—and wants—from the other. Follow the Rules Purchasing has rules. It’s your purchasing team’s job to make sure those rules are followed. The maintenance team needs to understand those rules, so they can follow them correctly. Let’s look at a typical scenario, courtesy of MPulse customer Anne. Anne’s organization follows the following purchasing rules… Purchases under $200 can be made with petty cash or submitted for employee reimbursement. Purchases over $200 require a purchase order or a company credit card via an authorized employee. Major asset repairs via vendors or purchases over $10,000 require an RFP or competitive solicitation process, unless a cooperative contract has already been established. If a contract is established, the terms of that contract should be followed. Knowing—and following—these rules makes your purchasing folks happier because it makes their job easier. And it makes your maintenance team’s job easier too. Because any delay in the purchasing process means there’s a delay in something getting repaired. And let’s face it—when the pressure’s on, the maintenance department feels the heat. Let Your CMMS Software Help with Relationship Building with Purchasing Department Anne uses her MPulse Software, Inc to make her maintenance team more efficient while also following the rules. CMMS software enables Anne’s team to… Identify supplies and parts that need to be restocked Issue purchase requests Identify parts that have long lead times and reorder as necessary Create custom reports Customize work orders to include purchasing department codes Using MPulse DataLink, Anne’s company integrated MPulse with the purchasing department’s financial software. This extra investment automates the exchange of important information, making both departments more efficient. MPulse DataLink enables Anne’s maintenance department to share data with the purchasing department on… Inventory items (parts, supply items, and/or tools) Purchase requisitioning Purchase receiving Vendor management With MPulse DataLink, both software applications contain the most current and accurate data, making it easier for everyone in CMMS companies to do their jobs. Maintenance and finance are mission-critical business functions for organizations of all sizes, from small business to enterprise. Have questions about how CMMS software can help your maintenance team? Contact us or get a free trial of MPulse Software.
What You Need to Know about Total Productive Maintenance
If you haven’t heard about total productive maintenance (TPM maintenance), the definition probably sounds familiar… “A system of maintaining and improving the integrity of production and quality systems through the machines, equipment, processes, and employees that add business value to an organization.” The long-term goals of TPM are to reduce breakdowns, slowdowns, and defects while improving safety. It’s not a coincidence that those are also the benefits of CMMS software. So how does TPM work? The Eight Pillars of Total Productive Maintenance TPM focuses on proactive and preventative techniques for improving equipment reliability. The eight pillars of TPM are… Focused improvement Autonomous maintenance Planned maintenance Quality maintenance Cost deployment Early equipment management Training and education Safety, health, environment The overall goal of TPM maintenance is, of course, to increase productivity. Sound familiar? That’s the biggest benefit of CMMS software too. CMMS Software and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Facilitate TPM If you’ve been using CMMS software, you’re likely already on the road to TPM (whether you call it that or not). CMMS software facilitates TPM. One of the biggest pushes in this direction is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). IIoT devices gather information directly from multiple sources—including computers, vehicles, smartphones, appliances, building automation systems, and production equipment. With the combination of the IIoT and CMMS software, maintenance teams can monitor multiple meters (e.g., revolutions, psi, hours) on a single asset; specify multiple conditions, triggers, and responses; and automate work order generation based on specified triggers. The benefits include faster response times with automated alerts, reduced staffing and overtime, fewer errors due to manual data entry, time-series charting to spot trends, and the ability to grow with changing technologies. All of those benefits fit nicely in the TPM maintenance tenets above. It’s likely your team is already working on similar goals, if not all of them. That’s the biggest reason so many maintenance teams implement CMMS software in the first place. Plus, once you focus on one or two of these goals—like planned maintenance (aka preventive maintenance or predictive maintenance)—the others come easier. TPM may sound familiar because it shares elements of other management philosophies like total productive manufacturing or lean manufacturing. It’s also closely related to one of our favorites around here—data-driven decision making. You’ve likely already experienced TPM in one way or another because modern maintenance organizations are employing the same philosophies in their maintenance strategies. What’s your experience with TPM? How is your organization changing the way it does maintenance? Leave a comment or contact us. We’re all in this together.
Avoid Risky MRO Processes with CMMS
Every business decision involves risks. And while risk is part of change, in today’s global economy, not taking risks is… well, risky. Many companies may not even be aware of how risky MRO maintenance repair and operations processes can be. That’s Han’s story. A brand-new MPulse customer, Han convinced his management team that not using software for work order management or CMMS software was simply a risk they couldn’t afford to take. “Managers want to reduce risk,” Han explained. “And they see risk when you want to change things. But there’s risk in not doing anything as well. When I showed them how we could reduce risk with CMMS software, they could see what was really at stake.” What’s at Risk? Just a few months ago, Han’s company used Excel spreadsheets and an Outlook calendar to manage maintenance tasks. “It wasn’t a reliable system,” he said. “And it put our operations at risk.” These risks included… More breakdowns because of inconsistent or nonexistent preventive maintenance scheduling processes Miscommunication and missing information among team members and internal departments Supply interruptions or delays for parts and inventory Greater potential for losses from theft or vandalism Lack of documentation for regulatory inspections and audits Inability to foresee problems and find ways to prevent them Lost opportunity to find cost savings and other financial benefits to improve productivity and efficiency Increased chance of injuries or accidents for employees and customers (not to mention the related legal issues) How Can CMMS Software Reduce Risk? Here’s a simple example. Han’s company owns heavy construction equipment. Some of these assets are used a lot. Some, not so much. And some assets can make or break a project—because if the mobile crane is down, nothing else can take its place. That means expensive delays happen. CMMS software, including software for work order management, helps maintenance teams prioritize high-use assets so the chance of failure is reduced. And that reduces the risk of failure that affects operations. With their MPulse Software, Han and his managers now have information that reduces risk because they can find trends and see their operations more clearly. By streamlining MRO maintenance repair and operations, MPulse Software helps companies eliminate inefficiencies, improve workflows, and strengthen preventive maintenance programs, all while reducing risks. When you consider what you risk by not doing anything, suddenly the risk of investing in new CMMS software is put into perspective. Ready to see how CMMS software, including software for work order management, can optimize your MRO maintenance repair and operations? Contact us.
MPulse Software Acquired by JDM Technology Group
[related-content] MPulse Software, Inc.,announced today that it has been acquired by JDM Technology Group, a leading provider of software solutions for the global construction industry. As of April 1, 2017, MPulse Software, Inc became MPulse Software, Inc., a JDM Technology Group company. The acquisition will position the companies to lead the maintenance management software industry in providing reliable scheduling, tracking, and reporting tools for equipment and facilities maintenance organizations. The transaction closed on March 31, 2017, after approval by the SpecTech board of directors and stockholders. GT Securities acted as financial advisor to SpecTech on the deal. MPulse will continue to operate under its own brand with its existing headquarters staff based in Eugene, Ore., and additional sales offices in Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The company will also continue to provide products and services through its reseller network in Dubai, Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. MPulse founders Steve Brous and Gil Achterhof will retire, and MPulse President Jason Johnson and CTO Randall Brous will remain in their current roles to lead the organization. “Our new relationship with JDM carries on the legacy of MPulse founders Steve Brous and Gil Achterhof,” Johnson said. “Our choice to partner with JDM was based on a mutual commitment and connection to the industries and customers we both serve. Our strong presence in the maintenance software industry, coupled with JDM’s expertise in the construction industry, will further expand our ability to make maintenance operations more productive and efficient for customers around the world.” “This acquisition strengthens and extends MPulse’s ability to provide industry-leading CMMS software products and services to our customers worldwide,” said Randall Brous. “We look forward to leveraging JDM’s global scale to expand well beyond the 24 countries we currently serve. JDM is a company that shares our commitment to developing the best possible solutions on the most robust technology available, including our emerging Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.” Founded by Steve Brous and Gil Achterhof in 1995 as a division of SpecTech, Inc., MPulse is a provider of maintenance management software developed by experts in maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) and facility management. For the past 22 years, MPulse’s world-class solutions have provided reliable planning, scheduling, tracking, and reporting tools for thousands of equipment and facilities maintenance teams in over 100 industries. Having acquired numerous companies since 2004, JDM Technology Group has established a proven strategy for integrating acquired companies into its existing infrastructure. “Our Buy and Build strategy ensures that customers continue to have access to the best technology globally,” said JDM CEO Jim McFarlane. “And by retaining the MPulse staff and organization, customers will continue to receive service and support from the people they know by name. At JDM, we do not end-of-life any products, allowing customers to continue with their preferred software. This strategy creates strong growth and enables the JDM Group to continue to be an excellent home for leading software companies.”
The Maintenance Maven Reflects on 21+ Years in the Maintenance Field
Back in the late 1990s, we were having a tough financial quarter. It was frustrating and causing me a fair amount of angst. Taking a short break from the stress, my wife and I went to the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. It was August, and the Pacific Northwest was in the middle of a drought. We met an artist there selling posters of majestic Mt. Hood overlooking the Columbia River. And as I studied that image, I realized that even though the water level was much lower than normal, the mighty river was still flowing. I understood profoundly in that moment that the Columbia River had been flowing long before I was there, and it would still be flowing long after I was gone. Just like that great river, well-run companies experience ebbs and flows, but they continue on through times of scarcity and abundance alike. That idea sustained me during my decades in the maintenance software business—especially during some of those tougher times. But the metaphor seems even more meaningful today as MPulse continues a period of exceptional abundance and growth, and I officially announce my retirement. MPulse Will Continue as Usual Even as I step out of the picture, MPulse, like the Columbia River, will continue to thrive and grow and, most importantly, to serve and delight our customers with great software and terrific service. The company we’ve built and grown over the past 22 years was acquired on April 1, 2017, by JDM Technology Group, a leading provider of software solutions for facility, industrial, and construction customers worldwide. MPulse President Jason Johnson and CTO Randall Brous will take the reins from me to guide the company forward. One of my business mantras has always been, “Stick to the long-term plan.” And our acquisition by JDM is part of the long-term plan for MPulse—strengthening it so our customers can continue to rely on us to help them achieve their maintenance goals. The same dedicated MPulse employees will be sitting in the same offices—ready to help you navigate the shifting currents of an increasingly complex and technical maintenance world. The Future of Maintenance The maintenance field has experienced its own ebbs and flows over the years, and much has changed since my early days leading MPulse. Back then, many maintenance techs were none too excited about computers. Often times, our sales reps had to explain why a computer even belonged in the maintenance department. Today, maintenance professionals have fully accepted information technology and the role CMMS software plays in their jobs. Everyone is now looking ahead to understand where technology will take us, as Computerized Maintenance Management Systems transform for into more broadly capable and comprehensive Asset Performance Management (APM) solutions. From mobile devices to cloud-based maintenance software to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the maintenance world has a lot to be excited about. On the Road Again I have some exciting things ahead of me as well. My wife and I plan on heading out on our next adventure—an RV trip that will take us wherever we feel like going, hopefully with little maintenance and repair involved. As I look back, I’m grateful for our customers. Thank you for your business, your passion, your loyalty, your feedback, your wisdom, your friendship, and so much more. And I’m also grateful for our dedicated MPulse employees, who have truly been responsible for our company’s success. I’ve also been lucky to work with our outstanding vendors, who have help us achieve the great things MPulse is known for today. It’s been a fantastic ride, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the journey takes me next. Who knows, maybe we’ll meet again somewhere down the road. Sincerely, Steve Brous, aka “The Maintenance Maven”