2. What is the most popular Operating System for CMMS?

3 a. What are the major capabilities of a CMMS?
   b. Customize outputs...
   c. Automatic purchase order request, generation, and tracking...
   d. Online OSHA, MSDS...

4. What useful features should we look for in a CMMS?

5. What is the most popular Operating System for CMMS?

1. Why is the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) essential to any Facilities or Plant Maintenance Manager?

Acquisition of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is essential to the survival of any Facilities Manager. It helps to optimize the entire maintenance process, and supports decision making by providing more consistent and accurate information to all levels of management.
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2. What is the most popular Operating System for CMMS?

Windows 95, 98, or NT. Generally 32 MB Ram, 233 MHz, and 4 gigabytes is adequate.
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3a. What are the major capabilities of a CMMS?

Online work request and approval.
Work requests can be originated and approved from any work station.
Progress of work requests can usually be tracked by originators from any work station.

Work Order origination.
Work orders can be entered directly by authorized personnel.

Long and short interval scheduling of labor, equipment etc.
Provides flexibility in scheduling of resources.

Priority origination, tracking of work orders etc.
Can assign priority to work orders and track status of jobs, purchases.
This is offered by almost all packages.
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3b. What are the major capabilities of a CMMS?

Customize outputs.
Format of printed reports or forms can be changed. Useful if you need to simplify reports and information forms.

Display report data in graphical format.
Can be useful for overall view of performance. In many cases it may be necessary to export data to a spreadsheet or statistical program for more complex data manipulation.

Export to spreadsheet.
Can download report to spreadsheet for further data manipulation. There is usually a wide choice of download formats.
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3c. What are the major capabilities of a CMMS?

Automatic purchase order request, generation, and tracking
Can generate requisition from any work station and have these approved online by authorized personnel. Can also automatically generate requisitions for inventory items depending on reorder procedure.

EDI(Electronic Data Interchange) interface with suppliers
Can access parts and materials supplier catalogs (eg Grainger) electronically. Some CMMS enable this only to specific suppliers.

Inventory management
Enables control of parts and materials inventory levels through automatic reorder levels etc. Can track movement of parts and overall inventory value.

Bar code reading/printing
Can use a bar code scanner to gather information on equipment, work orders, and inventory. A very useful capability as it ensures data accuracy and consistency.
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3d. What are the major capabilities of a CMMS?

Online OSHA, MSDS
Program contains data files of OSHA, EPA, etc regulations which can be accessed from within the program. Useful reference only for companies which are likely to be audited by OSHA, EPA, or other agencies.

Failure and root cause management etc...
Provides information and reports in a format which supports root cause analysis. Many programs enable users to record codes for failure causes, and corrective action taken. Some programs will provide graphical summary of this information. For more complex analyses it may be necessary to download the information to a spreadsheet or statistical package.

Customize field names
Field names and screen layout can be changed to suit specific requirements. This can be useful to you. It is often necessary to "lighten up" the screens by removing fields which are not used. In many cases you can revert easily to original field names when necessary.
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4. What useful features should we look for in a CMMS?

• Security access/administration.  
• User friendliness and help screen.
• Ease of data entry.
• Bar code reading capability.
• Multi-user capability.
• User customization of reports, screens, and field names etc.
• Ability to import and export data.
• Tables for data entry validation and look-up.
• Parent/child relationships and shadowing.
• Weblink/internet and intranet operations.
• Links to other programs such as cadd, means, parts  suppliers etc.  

5. What is the most popular Operating System for CMMS?

Windows 98, 2000, XP or NT. Generally 64 MB Ram, 233 MHz, and 4 gigabytes is adequate.
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