Those of us who have been around the maintenance profession for a decade or two have seen some interesting changes. Increased competition, new technology, changing expectations… it’s a brave new world for a modern maintenance operation. Breakdowns can impact your production line. Prevent breakdowns with CMMS.
I recently visited a new MPulse customer, Wayne, who is a maintenance manager for a local manufacturing company. He’s worked his way up in his organization and now manages a team of 10 maintenance techs who keep the company’s 24/7 production line running smoothly.
Wayne is on the younger end of middle age, and he’s seen his organization change a lot over the past decade or so. He told me, “Steve, maintenance used to be seen as an expense on balance sheet. But management recently realized that we influence our company’s profitability too.”
What does that mean? Maintenance directly impacts a company’s ability to keep the production line running smoothly—and the income that comes with it. A manufacturer’s maintenance team affects production capacity and product quality, which are two of the most important aspects of a company’s profitability.
The Role of Maintenance on the Production Line
Maintenance can improve the productivity of a manufacturing company in three major ways:
- Minimizing downtime and emergency repairs
- Improving equipment life cycle and replacement forecasting
- Reducing manufacturing scrap and rework.
The key to realizing these benefits? Investing in your maintenance crew and in tools like CMMS software to keep your equipment running smoothly.
“Our maintenance team doesn’t just fix broken equipment,” Wayne explained. “We provide support and service that is the basis for our entire operation.”
The Benefits of CMMS Software for Production Line Maintenance
As Wayne’s managers realized the importance of maintenance, they started focusing on key areas where they could improve. The biggest one was investing in CMMS software. Preventing breakdowns with CMMS saves time and frustration later on.
Today Wayne’s maintenance team uses MPulse CMMS software to generate maintenance and inspection schedules. With this information, technicians can spot issues before they occur. Regular services also ensure equipment is properly calibrated or lubricated.
The benefits don’t stop there. Properly maintained assets perform more efficiently, use less energy, and fail less often—extending their usable life. CMMS software also helps reduce scrap and rework by reducing emergency production breakdowns and avoiding catastrophic material losses.
“Now our managers understand maintenance is essential in our competitive business environment to control production losses, product defects, and equipment downtime,” Wayne explained. “And this attitude has trickled down to my team, who now are feeling a greater sense of pride in their contributions to the company.”
Personally, I’m excited that Wayne’s company—and so many other manufacturers—are realizing how important their maintenance team is. This type of recognition is long overdue.
How has your organization used CMMS software to manage a production line? Leave a comment or contact us.
