Roadmap to Choosing a CMMS in 2022
After nearly two years of COVID-19 related challenges, maintenance professionals are looking to make changes in 2022. Many of their wish lists include buying or upgrading CMMS software. Here’s a roadmap to help you navigate the CMMS selection process. Start researching CMMS management systems by outlining your needs from the product, the price, and the software vendor. The Product To achieve the best results with maintenance/asset management software, your staff should be able to use the software easily, and the software needs to have a comprehensive set of features and functions. Your CMMS software requirements will serve as the basis for your search. Start with realistic expectations about what your organization needs, and what your team will use. Ease of Use You can be the best judge of this one because you know your staff. Ask yourself these five questions to guide your decisions. 1. How computer savvy is my staff? If some of your staff are unlikely to use any computer, make sure the software you’re considering accommodates users who will only be comfortable with paper processes. For instance, you should be able to print out work orders and easily incorporate their use with online usage. 2. How important is mobile usage to my team now and in the future? A growing number of users are at the other end of the spectrum from “paper-only” users. They only want to enter and view data on handheld devices or tablets. Mobile technology is fast becoming the most important interface for maintenance professionals who do most of their work away from the office computer. Make sure your vendor has a mobile app that’s purpose-built for the devices your team will be using. 3. Will I be able to easily configure the software to my custom needs? Be sure to ask your vendor how easy it is to configure the system to match your workflow, terminology, security, and language needs. You should be able to customize these settings yourself, without relying on your IT staff or the vendor, or incurring service fees. 4. Is the software I’m evaluating purpose-built for maintenance and asset management? Employees are generally happier with software that’s written specifically for the jobs they’re doing. Be wary of general-purpose software that has been retrofitted for asset management or maintenance tracking usage. 5. Is the software easy to access from any computer? Today’s leading solutions offer access through a standard web browser. It’s the easiest way to access software and doesn’t require special software installed on your desktop or laptop machine. It’s best to find a vendor that offers both the option to install the software locally on your company servers, or to have it professionally managed on a hosted server. Comprehensive Feature Set When your CMMS implementation process is successful, the last thing you’ll want to learn later is that you don’t have room to grow. Ask yourself these three important questions when you’re evaluating the depth and breadth of an application’s features and functions. 1. Does the software include advanced features—or the option to add them? Advanced features like condition-based maintenance, cost center budgeting, and advanced inventory tracking can become important as your organization matures. You may not use these functions initially—and shouldn’t have to pay for them right out of the gate—but make sure there’s a reasonable upgrade path. You might need to add them later. 2. Will I be able to easily integrate it with other systems? If software becomes an “island,” its usefulness is limited, and staff may be forced to learn and use other systems. Look for software based on industry-standard technologies so it can easily integrate with other standard software applications, like accounting, HR, and building automation. Ideally, you should be able to set up integrations and data exchanges yourself, without calling on your IT staff, the vendor, or expensive consultants. 3. Will the software share data across multiple sites? If your organization has multiple sites, each with their own maintenance manager, you’ll need software that allows each site to operate independently, but still allows easy information sharing across sites. Be sure you can consolidate reporting at the regional or corporate level, if needed. The Price When you’re beginning your evaluation of a software package, it’s fair to expect sales reps to provide price-range estimates. Of course, you’ll have to cooperate by answering questions about your specific needs. The more accurate answers you give, the better price estimate you’ll get. Early quotes that include optional features and “add-ons” may provide more precise estimates, but they can also add complexity early in the discussions. If you decide to include such items in preliminary quotes, be willing to devote some extra effort to understanding the details. If the range of the estimate is in your ballpark, you can feel confident about going forward with evaluating the product and company. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a few favorite vendors, ask each sales rep to refine her pricing. Make sure you calculate the five-year total cost of ownership. Include startup training, integration services, data migration from legacy systems, hosting, and maintenance/support agreements. Pricing Models Typically, there are two ways to purchase software. Subscription Pricing This purchase method is often referred to as Software as a Service, or “SaaS.” When you opt for SaaS, you’re actually renting the software and you pay a monthly or yearly fee. This is a common option with many applications today—but it may not be the best one for you. Advantages Easier on cash flow up front and over the first 2-3 years. May be able to purchase it without a formal procurement process (i.e., you’re just signing up for a service). You get to try out the product and the vendor without fully committing. Disadvantages Higher total cost over the long term. Vulnerability to price increases. You never own the software. Stop paying and you lose access. Licensed Purchase With this option, you will purchase a license to use the software (in practical terms, forever) for a one-time fee.
How to Find the Maintenance Reports You Need
Maintenance reports in CMMS software give you easy access to the numbers you need to make important decisions. You can quickly produce status reports and documents in MPulse, giving details or summaries of your team’s maintenance work. MPulse helps you create simple, easy-to-read graphic reports with just a few clicks. Let’s learn how. How to Prepare a Maintenance Report To prepare a maintenance report in MPulse, start by choosing Report Widgets from the main menu. In the top left corner, you can choose the type of report you need (financial, production, planning, etc.). If you want to, change the type of report in the Report Area field at the top right side. To save your report, simply click the Save button at the top right corner of the screen. Also check the Add to Dashboard box if you want the report to display on your personal dashboard. That’s it! Couldn’t be easier. How to Customize Your Maintenance Report Many customers also want custom maintenance report writing, which is also easy to do in the MPulse Report Builder. Start by selecting the closest report under Report Widgets. That gives you a good starting point to build your report. Edit the report to include the data you need and the time period you want. You also can add custom information to the Description field. Next, you have several choices for customizing a facility maintenance report, equipment maintenance report, financial report, etc. in the Data Area section. Select the Graphic Report Type you want. Choose the Record Area and Field you want for the x-axis of your chart. Pick the Display Range and Display Sort. Enter the Calculated Area and Calculated Field you want for the y-axis of your chart. Choose the Summary of Calculated Field #1 for the type of summary data you want. If you want a second calculated field, click on Add Calculated Field (#2) and follow the same steps to set the parameters. Finally, under Options, you can… Click Show data labels, if you want to display labels. Set the Access Type to control who can access or edit the report. Creating a report on maintenance management gives you the ability to accurately assess how your department is functioning and where you might make changes to improve. CMMS software also can help reduce operational costs by using detailed tracking tools for financial and business metrics. For example, a maintenance audit report can help you run your maintenance team, as well as measure and use key performance indicators (KPIs). Contact us to learn more. Get a Free Demo!
Maintenance Benchmarks for Universities
Colleges and universities are tasked with maintaining the longevity of investments in their institutions. Facility management becomes a huge part of this pursuit by ensuring physical buildings and grounds are operating and functioning properly. Moreover, facility costs are the second largest expense category behind personnel costs for colleges and universities. Additionally, it’s a big job. Maintenance departments at colleges and universities are responsible for maintaining all facilities and infrastructures to their effectiveness for intended activities. That includes HVAC, electrical, fire safety, plumbing, cleaning and sanitation, structural, transportation, groundskeeping, safety, pest control, etc. Higher education maintenance also involves customer satisfaction—with customers that range from students, facility, staff, and administration to board members and members of the public. But how does a university or college determine the effectiveness of its maintenance program? Benchmarks. Common Benchmarks for Colleges and Universities Benchmarking allows managers to assess and evaluate different metrics in their field. For facility management, it’s a process that compares and analyzes data based on the building’s performance. Firstly, you start by using your CMMS data to measure your team’s current key performance indicators (KPIs) and create a baseline. Many maintenance benchmarks common in higher education facilities will look very similar to general facility management. KPIs evaluate your success in the areas you care about, while also giving you a new level of insight about what’s going on in your department. Three main KPIs for facilities management benchmarking are: Maintenance cost for a specific period Units of electrical and other energy consumption Surveillance of building assets and their value to the company Secondly, size, building use, occupancy, time of use, age, building composition, and level of service all affect the cost of running a facility. Some universities and colleges use the Square Foot Rule as a starting point for calculating benchmarks, such as… Building Maintenance and Repair Cost Average per Sq. Ft.: maintenance materials, staff wages, subcontractor management, subcontractor cost Building and Facility Utilities Cost Average per Sq. Ft.: electricity, natural gas, water Janitorial Building Facility Costs Average per Sq. Ft.: cleaning materials, staff wages, equipment Additionally, other common benchmarks include… Planned Maintenance Percentage: The percentage of the total hours spent on PM maintenance activities over a specific period Preventative Maintenance Compliance (PMC): The percentage of scheduled PM tasks that get done in a specific time interval Mean Time to Repair (MTTR): The average time to evaluate and repair failed assets Maintenance Backlog: The percentage of uncompleted tasks Finding Benchmarks You can evaluate your department’s performance by comparing your metrics and processes with those of other organizations. Start by researching your industry’s benchmarks to see how you’re performing and where you should look for improvements. For instance, you can find benchmarks from industry associations, maintenance journals, benchmark databases, and other sources. Additionally, use your professional network to find common benchmarks that your industry uses. When comparing benchmarks to other institutions, it’s also important to take into consideration the location, typical weather, age of the facilities, and condition. Then, based on your team’s performance and the industry standards, use your benchmarks to determine realistic KPI goals for your organization. Also, create a reasonable timeline with goal-based milestones and efficiency goals. Over time, MPulse helps you pinpoint trends and determine what areas need more attention. You also can create benchmarks to measure current performance against historic performance or goals. Whatever you decide to measure, CMMS software gives you the tools you need to determine if your maintenance team is doing the right things to support or improve productivity—and if they’re doing those things correctly. This way you will be able to measure maintenance effectiveness. Need more information on creating maintenance benchmarks? Contact us. We’re here to help. Get a Free Demo! [related-content]
How to Create a PM Tracking Routine
Reducing breakdowns and emergency repairs directly impacts your team’s workdays. But setting up a PM tracking routine might feel challenging if you’re facing a huge backlog of maintenance tasks or feeling the pinch of labor shortages and budget cuts. But here’s where CMMS software can help. How Do I Get Started? It’s important to start small with manageable goals. We recommend creating a list of your organization’s most important assets. Rank them by their impact on production and operations. Next, you can… Pick five of those assets. Enter scheduled maintenance tasks into your CMMS software, based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Choose to schedule each task by time or meter. For example, you might want to schedule safety inspections or tasks for assets like HVAC systems based on time. However, it makes more sense to track miles, hours, or runtime with assets like vehicles or production equipment. If you choose to make a task meter-based, enter the anticipated usage and frequency interval. Include any important details that your technician needs to know, like checklists, links to manuals or websites, and parts and inventory. Next, your CMMS software will generate a schedule of PM tasks, making it simpler to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. These schedules and inspections help spot issues before they occur. Additionally, they enable you to prioritize daily tasks for your teams, making sure the most important jobs get done, while the lower priority work doesn’t slip through the cracks. What’s Next? Next, choose five more assets. Continue until you’ve entered the scheduled maintenance tasks for every asset that you want to track. Okay, Now What? With your maintenance tasks scheduled, you now can collect data with every completed work order. Over time, this information can help you identify repeated issues with assets and give insight on ways to correct them. Helpful Tips When creating your PM schedules, help your team save time when they’re in the field or on the production floor by providing key details for each task like… Manufacturer or vendor’s name, website, and contact details Location of asset Tasklists Documentation, including manuals and warranty details Inventory and parts information and location Benefits of PM Tracking Why bother setting up a PM tracking routine? It helps prevent the need for more costly repairs. Benefits include… Automated PM tasks schedules that make it simpler to follow the manufacturer’s guideline Reduced emergency maintenance issues and unexpected production stoppages Lower overtime costs for emergency repairs and production losses Decrease in more serious problems and more expensive maintenance that arise as a result of neglect Established schedules that ensure equipment is properly calibrated and lubricated Elimination of lost information between shifts, reducing confusion and errors Automated schedules for both employees and contract workers Improved equipment and asset reliability Streamlined compliance reporting Find out how MPulse Software can help you create a preventive maintenance program. Leave a comment or contact us.
10 Most-Asked Questions about CMMS Data Reporting
CMMS data reporting is one of the most important capabilities for maintenance departments. Here are 10 of the most-asked questions about reporting. 1. What’s a CMMS report? A CMMS report enables you to transform your CMMS data into meaningful insights and make data-driven decisions by analyzing historical costs and trends. You can capture a wealth of data with every work order or scheduled preventive maintenance task. Then, track the associated maintenance costs of specific assets, so you know exactly what they’re costing you. This data can be applied directly to purchasing or other important organizational decisions. You’ll be able to purchase, operate, maintain, upgrade, or dispose of assets in the most cost-effective manner. 2. What does a CMMS report tell me? Even simple data from work order records can provide powerful insights. At a glance, you’ll know exactly how much money each work order type is costing your business in maintenance for a specified timeframe. Certain questions can be quickly answered… What type of maintenance do I spend the most on? How does the cost of preventive maintenance compare to repair costs? If I run this report for a different time period, like last year, are there significant changes by category? Beyond general questions, you can ask precise questions that’ll lead to a more informed decision-making process… Why are my machining maintenance costs so high? What new equipment needs to be purchased, if any? How much will the new equipment cost compared to the current maintenance expense? Will I save money over time by purchasing new equipment? How much? 3. What data can I use to create reports? CMMS software allows you to collect and report on data across your entire asset inventory, providing numerous measures to help you make better decisions and answer business-critical questions. That includes data on emergency maintenance, preventive maintenance, labor hours, parts and inventory, employee productivity, and more. Additionally, many contemporary CMMS solutions like MPulse allow you to connect to meters and gauges directly, eliminating the need for meter readings and manual data entry. That information really comes into play when it’s time to make important decisions about the condition of your assets, like whether you should repair or replace it. 4. How long does it take to create a report? With MPulse Software’s CMMS solutions, you can create simple, easy-to-read graphic reports with just a few clicks. Our reporting features enable you to… Select from over 300 pre-configured text and graphical reports Easily build your own reports in the MPulse Report Builder Customize your reports or create graphical views 5. How can I build a custom report? The MPulse Report Builder lets you create custom reports based on the information you need to know. Simply choose the report type you want to create, the time period you want, and the data you need to report on. You can save your custom report, and use it just like any other report. 6. Can I add a report to my MPulse Maintenance Dashboard? Yes! It’s easy to add a report to your MPulse Maintenance Dashboard. Each report has a checkbox that will allow you to add it to your dashboard. Many MPulse customers use their dashboards to monitor CMMS data, so they can see what they need to know in a glance. 7. Can I export CMMS data into an Excel spreadsheet? Yes, MPulse makes it easy to export data into an Excel spreadsheet, as well as import data from Excel. Many maintenance operations use Excel for other business functions, so this feature makes it easy to work with your data. You also can export and import data from other common file types. 8. Can I limit who can see my reports? Yes, you can choose to keep your reports private or you can share with other users. With MPulse Role-Based Access Control, you also can set up user groups who can view or edit reports as you see fit. As a result, the people who need the information—and only the people who need the information—have access to it. 9. What’s a gauge report? MPulse helps you create gauge reports, which show information like it’s on a dial or a speedometer. Many MPulse users will set up gauge reports to show key business indicators in a format that’s easy to see at a glance. 10. Can I email or print reports? Yes! It’s easy to email or print reports from MPulse with just a click. CMMS reports give you easy access to the numbers you need to make important decisions. Contact us with any questions. Get a Free Demo!
Five Ways MPulse Can Help You Reduce Downtime
Reducing equipment downtime—and the corresponding loss of productivity—is one of the biggest benefits our CMMS users find with their MPulse software. The maintenance team is on the frontline when things aren’t working. And, when your organization’s equipment hasn’t been maintained properly, you’re going to experience more downtime. That translates into lost dollars and intense pressure on the maintenance team to get production running again. Here are five ways MPulse can help. #1: Develop or Strengthen a Preventive Maintenance Schedule When you use CMMS to schedule and track PMs, you’ll reduce emergency maintenance issues and unexpected production stoppages. This, in turn, cuts overtime costs for emergency repairs and reduces production losses. You can also schedule maintenance for off hours by tracking equipment use time. CMMS software generates a schedule of preventive maintenance tasks, making it simpler to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Properly maintained assets perform more efficiently, use less energy, and fail less often—extending their usable life. #2: Improve Inventory and Part Management MPulse allows you to control your stock based on need and availability. As a result, the right parts are on the shelf, yet you can minimize other parts that are used less frequently. MPulse can streamline reordering by determining current inventory levels and automatically generating purchase orders based on need. For example, if a critical part has a three-week lead time, you can adjust stocking levels to make sure it is available when your staff needs it. You also can use MPulse to control capital outlays by identifying unused or slow-moving parts to return to the vendor. #3: Determine If It’s Better to Repair or Replace CMMS software helps you capture key data and turn it into reliable information to help make cost-effective choices about asset management. MPulse can not only track the age of the equipment, but the miles, hours, life-to-date repair dollars, and many other metrics—helping you decide when it becomes cheaper to replace an asset instead of repairing it. With a little more information about operations, you can use that information to calculate the opportunity cost due to downtime. Comparing that to the estimated cost (and potential added productivity) of a new asset will tell you if it’s better to repair or replace. Plus, you’ll have the data to back up your decision. #4: Streamline Maintenance Workflows Automated communication tools in MPulse streamline the approval and assignment process with confirmations sent to requesters, managers, and technicians. In turn, status updates are automatically emailed to the appropriate people as the technician updates the work order. MPulse also can automatically filter maintenance requests based on your predetermined criteria, then quickly route them to the appropriate people for review and approval. That saves time and streamlines maintenance workflows for the whole team. #5: Make Information Easily Accessible Each work order in CMMS automatically records labor time, parts and inventory costs, asset history, and other key information. This information eliminates lost information, reducing confusion and errors. Plus, you’ll have detailed records of each vendor’s contact information, rates, and personnel in your CMMS database. You can track which vendors provide which goods and services as well as find out who is available for work. The less downtime you experience, the better. And the shorter duration of that downtime when it does happen, the better. Contact us to learn more about how MPulse can help your organization reduce downtime. Get Pricing!
Three Ways Your MPulse Account Manager Can Streamline Your Business
When it comes to maintenance, experience matters. That’s true with your technicians, and it’s true with managing your department as well. That’s why MPulse created our Dedicated Account Manager service. Our team’s experience and expert advice can save you a lot of time and money. Those two things are in short supply in maintenance departments these days. What’s a Dedicated Account Manager? A Dedicated Account Manager is your personal MPulse consultant. Their goal is to understand your business and your organization. Then they combine that detailed knowledge with their MPulse expertise to ensure your ongoing success. How Can My MPulse Account Manager Help Me? Maintenance professionals need to make the most of their time and budgets. Your MPulse Dedicated Account Manager can help with both. Here’s how. Expert Advice: Your MPulse Dedicated Account Manager can assist you with any MPulse problems, changes, enhancements, and questions. That includes simple things like revising work order fields and data, as well as complicated things like new requests for functionality. They can also help with configuring MPulse tools as your needs change, as well as assist with updates or upgrades to your MPulse CMMS. Scheduled Meetings: Participating customers have recurring, scheduled phone meetings with their MPulse Account Manager, where they can share any challenges and learn about new ways MPulse can support your team. These regular status meetings also monitor your ongoing priorities, making sure you’re on track to achieve your long-term goals. Fast Response Time: Our MPulse Dedicated Account Manager program comes with custom contact and case creation, including a dedicated support email and a direct number (during business hours). You’ll have a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for managed response times, including a 4-hour response upon submission of an open ticket, as well as 24-hour resolution or plan for resolution upon ticket submission. What Does the Service Include? MPulse Dedicated Account Manager services include… Custom contact and case creation Dedicated support email Direct number (during business hours) SLA for managed response times 4-hour response upon submission of open ticket, and 24-hour resolution or plan for resolution upon ticket submission Regular status meetings to monitor ongoing priorities Resolution of post‐implementation issues such as problems, changes, enhancements, and questions Consulting and help with specifications for new functionality requests Communication between your team and MPulse engineers when requests, issues, or questions arise Notification of software enhancements or repair MPulse Dedicated Account Manager can help your maintenance operations work more efficiently, so you’ll keep your team focusing on maintenance tasks—not software. Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve maintenance success!
How to Set Up Customized Calendar Views in MPulse
Calendars are a huge part of the maintenance operations management field—from safety inspections to planned maintenance tasks to staff schedules. MPulse’s Calendar Management tool uses customized and filtered schedules to make sure your team knows what needs to be done, and by when. MPulse lets you create CMMS calendars for anything. There’s no limit to the number or type of calendar views you can have. MPulse Calendars can be customized and filtered. Drag-and-drop capability lets you reschedule in a flash, and you can view calendars by month, week, or day. Plus, MPulse Calendars work seamlessly with our maintenance work order and preventive maintenance tools. Let’s learn how. Step 1: Add a Calendar or Find an Existing Calendar MPulse makes it easy to find your calendars or create new ones. You can find the Calendar tab at the top of the screen on your Dashboard as soon as you log in. Start by choosing the Settings icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen. Step 2: Create or Edit Calendars You have several options to create, edit, manage your calendars. Choose the one you need from the right-hand corner of your screen. They include: Add Delete Edit Preview Information Step 3: Customize Your Calendar MPulse lets you create CMMS calendars for anything—work order due dates, preventive maintenance, warranty expiration, employees or vendors, task type, completion dates, and much more. Customize the fields to reflect what you want your calendar to show. When you’re done, click Save. Then click Preview to view your calendar. Step 4: View Your Calendars On the left-hand side of your screen, you’ll see a list of all your calendars in a collapsible window. Note that you can display one calendar or more than one at a time. View calendars by month, week, or day. Plus, there’s no limit to the number or type of calendar views. Note, you can drag and drop tasks right from your calendar view to reschedule. No need to go find the work order. You also can set up automated scheduling for tasks or meetings, as well as quickly add tasks and other deadlines on the fly. Visualizing your team’s week or month with a maintenance calendar gives you a really good idea about how to get high priority work done quickly, while making sure lower priority work doesn’t slip through the cracks. You’ll always see what’s coming up in your MPulse calendars, so your team is ready to go when the time is right. How could a calendar view in your CMMS software help your maintenance operations? Leave a comment or contact us.
How To Track Equipment History In MPulse
Organizations know that assets can easily cost more than they’re worth, particularly as they age. Your oldest equipment might be costing you the least amount of money in repairs—or the most—but you’ll only know if the data is there. MPulse captures a wealth of data on equipment history with every work order or scheduled preventive maintenance task. Here’s how. Step 1: Create or Edit an Asset In MPulse’s main dropdown menu, choose Capital Assets to either create or edit the asset. Pick the asset type: Equipment, Buildings, Grounds, Rooms, or Vehicles. If you’re creating a new record, click the + button in the top right-hand corner. If you’re editing an existing record, find the correct asset on the left, and then click the pencil icon in the top right-hand corner. Click on the checkmark icon in the top right-hand corner to save any changes or edits. Step 2: Fill Out Asset Details Next, you’ll want to either fill out or edit the general asset details in the asset record. On the General tab, you find all the critical fields. These are available and consistent with every asset. You can find meter readings on the Service tab. You also can link inventory items for the asset ahead of time on the Inventory tab. This information will automatically become part of a work order for this asset. Step 3: Create a Work Order You can create a work order directly from the asset record through the Procedures icon in the top right-hand corner. All the global fields from the asset record will follow through to the work order. The Meter readings and Inventory data will also follow through to the work order. With each work order or preventive maintenance task on an asset, you can capture a wealth of equipment history data that will accumulate over time. You’ll be able to report on that data using MPulse’s custom reports. (Click here for instructions.) MPulse can help your team gather the right data, as well as help your organization get the most out of its investments. As a result, you can make informed decisions about the condition of every asset, and whether it’s better to repair or replace it when the time comes. Have questions? We’re here to help. Contact us. [related-content]
Why You Should Set Maintenance Benchmarks
Maintenance benchmarks help you evaluate your team’s performance. They can help you answer the big questions, like “How effective is my organization’s maintenance strategy?” Using benchmarks, you can identify best practices that drive the metrics. How Do I Start Setting Maintenance Benchmarks? Firstly, you start by measuring your team’s metrics. Use your CMMS data to measure your team’s current key performance indicators (KPIs) and create a baseline. KPIs evaluate your success in the areas you care about, giving you a new level of insight on what’s going on in your department. If you’re not sure where to start, six maintenance KPIs that most MPulse customers find handy include… Planned Maintenance Percentage: The percentage of the total hours spent on PM maintenance activities over a specific period Preventative Maintenance Compliance (PMC): The percentage of scheduled PM tasks that get done in a specific time interval Mean Time to Repair (MTTR): The average time to evaluate and repair failed equipment Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): The predicted time between failures of an asset during normal operation Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE): The percentage of manufacturing time that is truly productive Maintenance Backlog: The percentage of uncompleted tasks Make sure you dig deeper than the numbers—because processes, workflows, and other factors can affect these KPIs. As a result, you should understand how those numbers are calculated to make sure you’re making a fair comparison. Where Do I Find My Industry’s Benchmarks? Secondly, you evaluate your company’s performance by comparing your metrics and processes with those of other organizations. Start by researching your industry’s benchmarks to see how you’re performing and where you should look for improvements. You can find benchmarks from industry associations, maintenance journals, benchmark databases, and other sources. Additionally, use your professional network to find common benchmarks that your industry uses. Then, based on your team’s performance and the industry standards, use your benchmarks to determine realistic KPI goals for your organization. Also, create a reasonable timeline with goal-based milestones and efficiency goals. Over time, MPulse helps you pinpoint trends and determine what areas need more attention. You also can create benchmarks to measure current performance against historic performance or goals. Whatever you decide to measure, CMMS software gives you the tools you need to determine if your maintenance team is doing the right things to support or improve productivity—and if they’re doing those things correctly. This way you will be able to measure maintenance effectiveness. Need more information on creating maintenance benchmarks? Contact us. We’re here to help. [related-content]