How CMMS Supports PFMEA Implementation
CMMS supports PFMEA by centralizing information, including data, real-time monitoring, and efficient maintenance processes. Because CMMS helps track equipment performance, spot patterns, and predict potential failures before they happen, PFMEA can identify and reduce risks more efficiently. CMMS sends real-time alerts when equipment is not performing as expected, allowing maintenance teams to address issues early and prevent larger problems. It also keeps a record of equipment usage, repairs, and inspections, which helps refine PFMEA assessments and prioritize critical maintenance tasks. By using CMMS with PFMEA, organizations can prevent failures, improve equipment reliability, ensure safety, and maintain smooth operations, reducing downtime and repair costs. This combination creates a strong system for managing maintenance and minimizing risks. What is PFMEA? Why Manufacturers Use PFMEA The Role of Maintenance in PFMEA Key Elements of PFMEA How CMMS Supports PFMEA The Benefits of PFMEA What Is PFMEA? Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) looks at each step of a process to determine possible failure points (failure modes), their causes, and their effects on the process or product. Next, manufacturers can assess the risks associated with failures and prioritize actions to reduce or eliminate them. The goal is to minimize the risk of failures and improve process reliability and quality. See how MPulse CMMS helped Siemens Building Technologies Group improve their lean manufacturing philosophy. Back to Top In short, combining CMMS with PFMEA helps manufacturers improve processes, predict and prevent equipment failures, and strengthen preventive maintenance. This approach optimizes resources, supports data-driven decisions, ensures safety, and boosts compliance, leading to a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective operation. Back to Top
6 Ways a CMMS Can Lower Education Operational Costs
Controlling education operational costs with CMMS software goes beyond mere task management; it serves as a safeguard for a community’s investment in education. Yet finances remain a primary concern, as always. With tightening budgets, many educational facilities have resorted to a reactive approach, fixing only what breaks in order to comply with financial constraints. But this approach often leads to significant repercussions, including increased downtime, higher repair costs, safety risks, reduced equipment lifespan, inefficient resource allocation, and decreased stakeholder satisfaction. Implementing CMMS software provides a more effective approach to optimizing education operational costs. Here’s how. CMMS Can Lower Education Operational Costs Preventive Maintenance CMMS software enables schools to implement proactive maintenance practices. By scheduling and tracking preventive maintenance tasks, such as equipment inspections and routine servicing, potential issues can be identified and addressed before they turn into major problems. This approach helps prevent costly breakdowns and repairs, thereby reducing overall maintenance expenses. Efficient Resource Utilization CMMS software allows schools, colleges, and universities to optimize the allocation of maintenance resources. It provides a centralized platform for managing work orders, assigning tasks, and tracking progress. By effectively scheduling and dispatching maintenance staff, schools can minimize downtime and improve productivity, leading to cost savings. Inventory Management Schools and educational facilities often have a wide range of equipment and supplies that require regular maintenance or replacement. CMMS software can help track inventory levels and generate automated alerts when stock levels are low. By having better control over inventory, schools can avoid overstocking or understocking, thereby reducing unnecessary expenses and ensuring that the necessary supplies are available when needed. Warranty and Service Contract Management CMMS software can store and manage warranty and service contract information for school equipment. That allows schools to track warranty periods, schedule maintenance covered under warranties, and ensure that contracted services are utilized effectively. By leveraging warranty coverage and service contracts, schools can avoid unnecessary repair costs and take advantage of services already paid for. Energy Management Some advanced CMMS software solutions integrate with building management systems, allowing schools to monitor and control energy usage. By identifying energy inefficiencies, education facilities can make adjustments to reduce energy consumption and lower utility costs. CMMS software also can provide insights into energy usage patterns, enabling schools to implement energy-saving initiatives and optimize operational expenses. Data-Driven Decision Making CMMS software provides comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities. Schools can generate maintenance cost reports, work order history, and equipment performance data, among other metrics. By analyzing these reports, you can identify trends, assess the effectiveness of maintenance strategies, and make data-driven decisions to optimize maintenance processes and allocate resources more efficiently. The benefits of CMMS software collectively contribute to significant cost savings in the long run. How can CMMS lower your facility’s operational costs? Contact us.
10 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Maintenance Software
If you haven’t researched CMMS software lately, you might be surprised at how much things have changed. Maintenance software consistently gets more powerful—and more flexible—while also often becoming more affordable. So, how do you know when it’s time to upgrade your CMMS software? Look for one of these ten signs. Sign #1: Your Organization Has Grown When your organization grows, maintenance feels the impact. Suddenly you’ve got more equipment to maintain, additional production to support, new staff members to manage, extra inventory to store, and different safety procedures to perform. Software scalability means your CMMS can accommodate changes in size or volume as needs change. Whether it’s a larger staff, better internal efficiency, or better integration, you want software that can fit your needs today—and tomorrow. Sign #2: You Need More or Better Data CMMS software can help reduce operational costs by using detailed tracking tools for financial and business metrics. Some even offer cost center budgeting tools. If your current software is weak in this important area, that alone could justify an upgrade. 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… Labor costs Parts costs Energy costs Purchase price and date Life expectancy Warranty information Replacement costs Other custom data 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. Sign #3: You Need User-Friendly Software Time is money, so if it takes more than a few shifts for someone to learn the ropes on your current software, you’ll save big bucks with a modern, user-friendly CMMS. It’s all about the user interface (UI). With the right UI, all your users can get the job done faster. Look for these features: A simple, intuitive layout that maps data quickly. A “set it and forget it” scheduling feature. Comprehensive compatibility with other data stores. At the very least: Excel, .csv, .txt, SQL Server, and XML Web Services. Sign #4: Your Team Uses Mobile Devices Mobile technology is a natural fit for maintainers. With smartphones and tablets, you can capture information on the spot—instead of jotting it down on paper to be input later. The explosive growth of mobile technology is being matched by growing bandwidth and better access to it. You can now connect to the Internet, and virtually any business application, from almost anywhere, via Wi-Fi or cellular connection. CMMS allows you to access critical information easily without calling back to the office or getting “plugged in.” Imagine your staff being able to do these activities from anywhere: Open, access, and complete work orders Send or upload photographs of failed components View available parts inventory Access historical data on assets Get up-to-the minute alerts and reports Update inventory using barcode scanning and online ordering systems Access maintenance and repair manuals Record locations automatically with a GPS-enabled device. Sign #5: You Need to Keep Data Secure CMMS data is an organizational asset, and it needs to be protected like any other asset. You don’t hand the keys to your office over to just anyone—and you don’t want unauthorized access to your CMMS software either. Modern CMMS software can help you achieve that goal. For example, MPulse’s single sign-on (SSO) option extends an organization’s internal Microsoft Active Directory to the MPulse cloud environment. This feature supports multiple identity providers (including Microsoft ADFS and Okta) as well as user self-provisioning and custom claims for populating user data. MPulse supports SAML SSO, enabling its cloud-based CMMS software to integrate with security directories that determine who gets access to what computers, networks, applications, and services. No other third parties are required. Modern CMMS applications also incorporate easy-to-manage security controls to ensure the right people—and only the right people—have access to the right information. Features like MPulse Role-Based Access Control were designed for this purpose—enabling you to reduce errors in data entry, prevent unauthorized users from viewing or editing data, gain tighter control over data access, and eliminate the “data clutter” of unnecessary information. Sign #6: Your Customers Are Asking for New Features The service request management features in most modern CMMS applications allow requesters to monitor the progress of maintenance requests as you update and complete repairs. Empower them, and their trust and confidence in your team will grow. The approval system automatically filters maintenance requests based on your predetermined criteria. Then the software quickly routes them to the appropriate people for review and approval. It’s easy to configure and provides the powerful features you need: Directs maintenance requests to the approvers you designate Lets approvers take action, append notes, and make comments on requests Provides email notification of approval status Gives easy access to approval status and comments Includes multiple custom filters, fields, and options Saves a permanent record of request approval details. Sign #7: Your Preventive Maintenance Schedules are Complicated Preventive maintenance (PM) scheduling keeps your assets working and prevents expensive downtime. If your current system makes scheduling difficult, you’re missing PMs—count on it. A modern system will make scheduling easier and help you avoid costly failures. Setting up a PM tracking routine 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 Sign #8: You Need to Integrate with Other Business Software While CMMS software holds clear advantages for the maintenance team, other departments can benefit as well. And, expanding software across departments is probably easier than you
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Implementing a New CMMS
Managing your maintenance operations with a CMMS establishes visibility. You can learn what’s going right, when you need to make improvements, and where you’re spending your dollars. However, CMMS success requires careful planning. Here are five common mistakes that we’ve seen organizations make, and how to avoid them. #1: Fail to lead One of the biggest issues we’ve seen with CMMS implementation is a lack of leadership. Technical difficulties, management turnover, employee resistance, and adjustments in company direction are predictable. Managers need to stay on their toes and quickly address changes to maintain momentum. It’s your responsibility to maintain an open dialogue, set and manage expectations, and clearly communicate what you need from stakeholders. We recommend Including members of the production, planning, purchasing, operations, and IT departments on your CMMS implementation team, because these departments are most affected by a new solution. Let them tell you which business processes need improvement. Then hammer out agreeable objectives mapped to new business processes. #2: Choose the wrong vendor Whether you’re considering a large vendor or a small one, there are many ways to assess whether a company will be a good long-term partner. We recommend choosing a company you’re certain you’ll be happy with over the long haul. Shop for a financially secure vendor with proven ability to expand the solution as your company grows. Beware of providers that rely heavily on partners for key functionality. When considering industry-specific software, make sure to find out if it really delivers on its promise. Talk to other corporate users in your field. Try out the software. Choose enough functionality to meet your business needs without sending your IT department on endless quests for the Holy Grail. #3: Budget unrealistically To create a realistic budget for CMMS software, you need to consider more than just the price of the software itself. Typically, you’ll pay for the base software and then the number of user licenses you need. However, to ensure CMMS success, also consider the costs of start-up training, integration services, data migration from legacy systems, hosting, and maintenance/support agreements. CMMS customization and integration with existing software are two big expenses that you should consider carefully. We also recommend calculating exactly how CMMS will benefit your business. Strive to answer this question in terms of measurable ROI (return on investment). What will really improve your bottom line is how your CMMS helps your employees use maintenance data more effectively. That can help with the budget approval process. #4: Implement too quickly Change is never easy. In the case of CMMS, employees especially may fear the accountability involved in posting data that exposes true performance. Start your CMMS initiative in a single department that stands to benefit the most in the short term; then follow with a zealous, company-wide CMMS proponent. When others witness the initial success of the first department, bringing everyone on board will be much easier. Market CMMS to employees and deliver ongoing training. It may sound obvious, but it’s important to remember that employees have to use the solution in order for it to work. Clearly communicate how it will help them succeed, and start CMMS training early on. This way, you’ll chip away faster at the 18 to 24 months it typically takes employees to adopt new business processes. #5: Import inaccurate or unnecessary data If you’ve decided to migrate to new software, it’s usually because key needs aren’t being met by your current system. Now is the time to make decisions about what you really need to keep. Or, another alternative is to simply start fresh. Your legacy data and old work orders can remain where they are for historical reference, and you simply add assets, parts, and preventive maintenance schedules to the new system. Maintenance data is the backbone of CMMS. Most companies store duplicate and outdated data in multiple locations. Putting this data in a unified database, scrubbing it, and making it available to the entire organization before implementation will make for a smooth rollout. If necessary, get help from vendors who offer data-cleansing services. Follow these guidelines to streamline that process and avoid the typical pitfalls that kill new CMMS initiatives. Start by contacting MPulse or try our ROI Calculator to find out how we can help you implement your new CMMS.
When to Use a CMMS App, Part 2
Last time we talked about why many users don’t need a CMMS app. However, sometimes a CMMS app is the best solution. If your job involves working off site or in areas with low connectivity, a CMMS app can make your job a lot easier. With smartphones and tablets, you can capture information on the spot—instead of jotting it down on paper to be input later. Maintenance happens in the field or on the plant floor. If you want to streamline workflows away from the office, a CMMS app works great if your team needs to… Open, access, and complete work orders Send or upload photographs of failed components View available parts inventory Access historical data on assets Get up-to-the minute alerts and reports Update inventory using barcode scanning and online ordering systems Access maintenance and repair manuals Record locations automatically with a GPS-enabled device. What to Look for in a CMMS App A CMMS app should give you everything you need to get the job done, even if you can’t connect to the Internet. That last bit is important, as most maintenance professionals work in environments where connectivity can be an issue. When looking at a CMMS app, consider these key features… Automatic syncing between the app and your CMMS software when online Reporting problems in the field Capturing data when and where it happens Documenting work with pictures and videos Receiving and updating work assigned to you Completing work orders with all required data Tracking hours worked with activity timer Finding and linking inventory using barcodes Working offline with seamless background synchronization Controlling access With any app, security is always a paramount concern. You’ll want to understand the app’s security features to ensure you can confidently control access even when you can’t physically control the location of your devices. Work with your CMMS vendor and IT team to identify the right security tools to keep your data safe. CMMS App Training Mobile device designers have focused heavily on improving ease of use, so it’s likely your employees will need minimal training on a CMMS app. Many will have already used smartphones and tablets in their personal lives, and increasingly standardized application interfaces mean that lessons learned navigating one app are easily transferable to new ones. CMMS apps can offer big benefits for maintenance professionals. Contact us to learn more about how MPulse can help your team get the job done. [related-content]
How to Use Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) to Build Efficiencies
Globalization and economic pressures are forcing companies to build efficiencies wherever possible. As a result, the reliability of assets will become even more important than ever. What is Reliability Centered Maintenance? Reliability centered maintenance (RCM) defines maintenance as the means to maintain an asset’s functions in a defined operating context. Therefore, companies can focus resources on equipment that would cause the most disruption if it failed. Learn more: What is Reliability Centered Maintenance? Building efficiency with RCM can result in cost savings and improved reliability of your assets. However, it takes tracking, monitoring, and auditing your maintenance program to reap the benefits of RCM. What Are the Benefits of CMMS Software for RCM? CMMS software offers the best tools to track and monitor your RCM program. Additionally, as CMMS automatically gathers data with every work order, you can see what’s working, and what needs more attention. As a result, you can quickly produce status reports and documents giving details or summaries of your team’s maintenance work, like… 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 or 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 Evaluation Criteria for Reliability Centered Maintenance Maintenance teams can set up their CMMS software to evaluate their RCM program. The technical standard SAE JA1011, Evaluation Criteria for RCM Processes outlines the evaluation criteria… What is the item supposed to do and its associated performance standards? In what ways can it fail to provide the required functions? What are the events that cause each failure? What happens when each failure occurs? In what way does each failure matter? What systematic task can be performed proactively to prevent, or to diminish to a satisfactory degree, the consequences of the failure? What must be done if a suitable preventive task cannot be found? Setting Up Audits for RCM Maintenance managers know their operations will change over time. Employees come and go. New equipment arrives. Vendors and suppliers change. Therefore, the auditing process for RCM enables organizations to determine how those changes impact operations. It’s also a chance to identify new areas to improve. An audit should analyze assets individually to identify potential issues. Next, identify the appropriate maintenance strategy to ensure the asset can function at its maximum capacity. Scheduled audits should also offer a chance review those decisions to make changes and updates as necessary. RCM and Condition-Based Maintenance Condition-based maintenance (CBM) is one tool that can augment an RCM program. CBM keeps tabs on the actual state of your critical assets by recording the output of any meters and gauges on that asset. For example, sensors attached to equipment will use methods like vibration, viscosity, ultrasound, thermography, and other technologies to determine any changes to the condition of that asset. In combination with CMMS software, maintenance teams can use that data to identify patterns that could lead to machine failure. When an asset’s condition changes outside of specified ranges, your software lets you know immediately with CBM assessments. As a result, you can react to prevent breakdowns before they happen. You also can use CMMS software to… Monitor multiple meters (e.g., revolutions, psi, hours) on a single asset Specify multiple conditions, triggers, and responses Automatically generate work orders based on specified triggers Use data analysis tools to identify potential problems Set up automatic notifications Produce status reports and documents That data goes a long way to set up an effective RCM. Therefore, you can continue to monitor and audit your program to build efficiencies. Data-Driven Decision Making Organizations can use RCM to reduce maintenance costs, minimize downtime, streamline and increase production, maintain safety standards, and improve profitability. CMMS and RCM also can help organizations by providing data-driven decision-making. Data-driven management simply means making management decisions backed by reliable data. Technological advances continue to make more and more detailed, relevant data available. Additionally, with that increased capability comes the opportunity to improve organizational performance at all levels, and in all departments. This type of maintenance management also helps organizations compete in increasingly complicated and competitive markets. Have questions about setting up an RCM program or improving your current one? Contact us to get started.
How to Calculate Downtime
Calculating asset downtime offers new insights into your maintenance operations, and how you can make improvements. But how do you calculate downtime? And what can you do with that information? Here’s what you need to know. What Is Equipment Downtime? Downtime refers to any period when a system fails to perform its primary function. For your maintenance operations, you’ll want to measure unexpected downtime that occurs any time production stops due to asset failure. You also might track planned downtime, which means equipment remains offline while preventive maintenance or other planned tasks occur. Why You Need to Track Equipment Downtime While your managers likely want to track equipment downtime, it holds benefits for the maintenance team too. Maintenance is on the frontline when things aren’t working, and it directly affects our workload. Tracking equipment downtime helps with… Determining which workflows are working and which ones aren’t Evaluating the effectiveness of PM schedules Identifying areas for improvement Lowering maintenance costs How Much Downtime is OK? You can’t avoid downtime, but you can minimize it. Most enterprise organizations aim for 10% or less for unscheduled downtime, which they calculate on the basis of number of operating hours. How to Calculate Asset Downtime To calculate asset downtime, you need data. You’ll find some of this data in your CMMS software, and your accounting department can help with the rest. This data should include: Employee costs per hour: The average employee salary divided by number of hours worked, multiplied by the number of employees. Average revenue per hour: An estimate of how much revenue your company generates in a given hour. Employees affected by downtime: An estimate of the percent of employees who would be unable to work due to shut down machinery. Revenue affected by downtime: An estimate of the percent of revenue lost due to machine downtime. Number of units produced per hour: An estimate of the number of units produced in one hour. Average profit per unit: The amount of profit earned for each unit produced. Number of hours of downtime: The number of hours of downtime expected. Maintenance managers plug in these estimates and generate an average cost of machine downtime per hour. Simple Downtime Calculation Not everyone needs to calculate downtime at the same level. If you need something a little simpler, try this equation that only takes a few numbers: (Hours of downtime / Total period measured) * 100 = percentage of downtime How to Reduce Downtime Once you have the basic calculations, you can identify ways to reduce downtime. MPulse customers have successfully reduced downtime by… Optimizing their MPulse CMMS software to collect more data Improving preventive or predictive maintenance schedules and completion rates Using condition-based maintenance tools Improving documentation of unscheduled downtime for better insight into what can be improved Using mobile CMMS tools to improve response time and provide better access to data Utilize Smart Maintenance Scheduling to Reduce Downtime Smart maintenance scheduling can help reduce equipment downtime and increase asset efficiency, as well as extending their usable life. With the help of CMMS software, maintenance managers can automate preventive maintenance schedules that contribute to the upkeep of assets, balance workloads, reduce confusion and errors, create benchmarks, and track repair times. Ultimately, these proactive measures help sidestep serious problems that arise as a result of neglect and delays in more expensive maintenance, and can cut down the time to respond to emergency repairs. CMMS Features: Smart Maintenance Scheduling Reduces Downtime MPulse CMMS software makes maintenance scheduling easy by collecting information and turning it into actionable data. These features include… Dashboards are highly configurable “command center consoles” that your most important data front and center, where you don’t have to dig for it. In addition to charts and graphs, you can link videos, photos, documents, and websites to Dashboards as well. Asset Status Board provides a single-screen view of the health of your entire production line, facilities footprint, or fleet of vehicles. Square boxes (“cells”) are color-coded according to criteria you’ve defined. Work requests can be processed directly from the ASB. Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) keeps tabs on the actual state of your critical assets by recording the output of any meters and gauges on that asset. When an asset’s condition changes, MPulse lets you know immediately, so you can react before breakdowns happen. DataLink Integration Adapter enables your MPulse administrator or local IT team to quickly and easily move data in and out of MPulse using a familiar, intuitive interface. It also works with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices—collecting data faster and easier than ever before.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Scheduling Software
Service scheduling software always tops the list of essential maintenance management tools. Every major asset has a recommended maintenance schedule. CMMS makes it simple to schedule services based on time or usage, so the maintenance team knows what needs to happen and when. Benefits of Scheduling Software The biggest benefit of service scheduling software is automating preventive maintenance scheduling and work order management. However, you can use it for much more, including… Tracking work orders Viewing progress Automating communication Creating reports Handling service requests Managing inventory/supplies Documenting asset repair history Service scheduling is the first step towards improving productivity for your entire maintenance operations. Here’s how to get the most out of your software. Set Up Scheduled Maintenance Maintenance managers have been scheduling maintenance for decades. Technological advances, however, have automated the service scheduling process, making it more efficient and sustainable. Start by setting up scheduled or preventive maintenance tasks. Your software will generate a schedule of PM tasks, making it simpler to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. As a result, these schedules and inspections help spot issues before they occur. CMMS software enables you to schedule maintenance intervals based on time, operating hours, or part condition—triggering a work order just before the point when system inefficiencies or failures begin to occur. (See our previous blog post for more information on how to do that in MPulse.) Convert Scheduled Task to a Work Order When a task is due, you’ll want the software to convert it to a work order. Luckily MPulse makes this easy. Go to Scheduled Maintenance in the main menu. Click on Open Scheduled Maintenance. Choose the date range you want: Overdue, Today, Tomorrow, This Week, This Month, Next Week, Next Month, or Custom Range. Select the records to convert and click on Convert to Work Order Click Yes to confirm Now you have an open work order ready for your technician. Automate This Process While that process is simple, you can make it even easier by automating it. When a scheduled task is due, MPulse will automatically convert it to a work order. From the main menu, choose Workflow / Scheduled Maintenance Options Click Enable Scheduled Maintenance conversion Note that you can choose to convert scheduled tasks automatically on the due date or any number of days before the due date. These changes will impact all scheduled maintenance records. Print Work Orders If your team members still receive printed copies of work orders, you can also make this process more efficient in MPulse. From the main menu, choose Workflow / Scheduled Maintenance Options Click the box for Enable Automatic Print after Conversion Black Out Dates Most companies close on specific days or major holidays. MPulse makes it easy to set blackout dates that will adjust due dates and work order conversion accordingly. From the main menu, choose Workflow / Scheduled Maintenance Options / Blackout Dates Click the Add icon Enter your preferred date ranges The blackout date has been added to the list. MPulse will use blackout dates to push any scheduled maintenance record that comes due on those days to the next available date. Properly maintained assets perform more efficiently, use less energy, and fail less often, which also extends their usable life. When a maintenance team establishes and regularly performs tasks that contribute to the upkeep of assets, an organization may be able to sidestep serious problems that arise as a result of neglect as well as delay more expensive maintenance. Contact us to learn more.
How Important is Your CMMS Support Team?
MPulse customers have a secret weapon in their journey to CMMS success—our customer support team. These professionals help new users successfully implement their new CMMS software, as well as continue to use it effectively. We’re proud of our MPulse Support Team and their accomplishments. Here’s what we think you should know about them. Three Ways to Contact MPulse Support Team Our MPulse Support Team is there for you when you need them. We want to keep the customers whose business we’ve worked so hard to earn—so expert MPulse employees are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time every workday to support you. They love helping you succeed. Just ask them! Additionally, the MPulse Support Portal provides a searchable knowledge base of helpful articles, a how-to video library, access to software downloads, and forms to submit support requests when you don’t have time for a phone call. As one customer said, “Always a pleasure to talk to the folks at MPulse. All of the MPulse team members that I have communicated with over the course of the last 2 years have been outstanding.” You can reach out to MPulse Support by… Emailing [email protected] Calling Support at (800) 944-1796 Creating or updating a case in the MPulse Support Portal at Support.MPulseSoftware.com Support Team Members The MPulse Support Team helps you keep your MPulse Software optimized, and your organization on track to reach its CMMS goals. One MPulse customer shared why they appreciate MPulse’s software support for their facility maintenance management team: “They are very knowledgeable, very friendly and always ready to help and most important is that they answer all my questions and teach me how to use some of the features.” Here’s more detail about the people on the other end of the phone or the support portal. Evan Newsome, MPulse and TeamWORKS Technical Support Engineer Evan came over to MPulse with TeamWORKs and has been with MPulse since 2020. Our customers say: “Evan has been extremely helpful to me as I navigate using this new program. I am new at my position with the school district. Evan is a great resource!” Matt Miller, MPulse and EPAC Support Service Engineer Matt has been with MPulse since 2021. Our customers say: “Very knowledgeable and fixed our issue quickly. Matt was a great help.” Isac Pederson, MPulse and TeamWORKS Support Service Engineer Isac has been with MPulse since 2021. Our customers say: “Isac was very knowledgeable and was able to walk me right through my issue within about a minute. Highly recommended for a great job.” Wayne Cifelli, MPulse and EPAC Support Service Engineer Wayne came over to MPulse with EPAC and has been with MPulse since 2019. He also provides services with MPulse and EPAC. Our customers say: “Wayne Cifelli is wonderful to work with. Professional and responds quickly.” Elijah Thornton, MPulse Support Service Engineer Elijah has been with MPulse since 2024. Our customers say: “Elijah was super helpful and got me the answer I was looking for!.” Christina Thomas, Director of Support Services Christina joined MPulse in 2017. Our customers say: “Christina was so knowledgeable and courteous in helping me with my MPulse issue. She’s great! Kudos to her for her positive attitude and excellent support!” We’re proud that 9 out of 10 MPulse customers renew their support or SaaS subscription every year. Our employees love working here so much, they almost never leave. Our 5-year employee retention rate is above 95%. That’s why our customers say: “You guys are my BEST VENDOR!!!!!!” Contact us to learn more. Get a Free Custom Quote
How Your Maintenance Team Can Get the Most Out of Your Part Inventory Management Software
Like many maintenance professionals, you’ve decided it’s time to start or expand your part inventory management system. However, you want to get the most out of your investment. So, what should you do to get started? Meet yourself where you’re at. Just Getting Started Maybe your organization doesn’t do any part inventory management for maintenance. Your techs simply order the parts they need when they need them. Maybe they also buy an extra one, which usually sits on the shelf, forgotten and unused. Hey, you aren’t alone. Lots of organizations have worked that way for decades. If this scenario sounds familiar, it’s time to start with the basics. For example, use parts inventory management software to create simple records of inventory items that let you track and report on consumption of those items. That’s it! You’ve just started an internal inventory control management system. Congratulations! Make It Even Easier As easy as that sounds, maintenance parts inventory software can make it even faster with barcodes and scanners. Scan the part. Scan the asset. That’s how long it takes to link inventory to a new or existing work order record. This system also lets you enter inventory items as they arrive and automatically track who is performing work. Even with these simple workflows, your organization will save time and eliminate errors by reducing tedious data entry. Additionally, your team will be able to identify needed parts faster. You’ll also save money by reducing inventory shrinkage and bloat. Take Inventory Management to the Next Level Maybe you already have a system of inventory control management in place. However, you can improve your return on investment by taking your inventory control management to the next level. Parts inventory management best practices outline advanced inventory control features to track stocking levels, reorder points, storage locations, and supplier information. You also can track various units of measure for a single inventory item. For example, you might purchase oil by the barrel, but use it by the quart. Now you are playing in the big leagues. Your inventory management software is helping you prevent time- and money-wasting problems like running out of parts, searching for lost parts, or duplicating inventory you didn’t know you had. With advanced inventory control features, you’ve moved your organization from being reactive (ordering parts as needed) to proactive—where your inventory and parts data help you forecast, manage, and monitor inventory. Inventory Shopping Cart If you want to make inventory management a snap, the MPulse Inventory Shopping Cart allows you to check parts and supplies into and out of inventory using an online shopping cart. Quickly link items and their unit costs to work orders and assets using this intuitive shopping cart system, helping your team track and report on consumption of those items. MPulse Inventory Shopping Cart serves as your virtual stockroom manager by allowing your team to easily scan parts in and out of stockrooms with a mobile device or barcode scanner. Faster inventory check-in/out with the MPulse Inventory Shopping Cart can make your operation more efficient, saving money and time for both your employees and your organization. You’ll always have an accurate count of all the parts coming and going, and you can quickly link them to the associated work orders and assets. MPulse Inventory Shopping Cart can make your operation more efficient, saving money and time for both your employees and your organization. You’ll benefit from… Faster inventory check-in/out Accurate counts of all parts and inventory Ability to quickly link parts to the associated work orders and assets Documented records of inventory items Tracking and reporting capabilities Data-Driven Decision Making Whatever system you use, you now have easy access to the information you need to make important decisions. As a result, your organization can save time and money by improving tracking, stocking, ordering, and inventory processes. When an emergency arises, easy access to part inventory data gives you critical information for making cost-efficient decisions. Additionally, parts inventory management reports give you the high-level picture you need. You can accurately assess how your department is functioning and where you might make changes to improve. With solid data and easy-to-read reports, you can make good decisions based on hard evidence. As a result, you can manage your maintenance department effectively and efficiently. Sometimes maintenance professionals worry about the effort involved in implementing an inventory control management system. However, the gain far outweighs the pain. CMMS software is the best tool you have for gathering, analyzing, and reporting data about your maintenance operations. Let the power of parts maintenance inventory software do the hard work, and you’ll see the rewards. Contact us to learn more or get a free trial!