{"id":54827,"date":"2020-09-02T11:37:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T10:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abl-group.com\/abl\/?p=54827"},"modified":"2024-02-28T15:11:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T15:11:34","slug":"a-step-by-step-guide-to-a-cmms-build-with-abl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abl-group.com\/abl\/all-media\/blog\/a-step-by-step-guide-to-a-cmms-build-with-abl\/","title":{"rendered":"A Step-by-step guide to a CMMS build with ABL"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Having an effective computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) is vital for running a facility successfully, allowing the maintenance of equipment and assets to be more proactive as opposed to reactive.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All decisions should be made based on accurate, reliable data – but for many companies, data within the CMMS is inaccurate or missing altogether. This can cause significant knock-on issues, for example high levels of backlog or conducting more corrective maintenance than preventative, which could be easily avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key is having a solid foundation of data that you have confidence in, and we support companies across the globe with CMMS data build projects to help them achieve this. In this blog post, Chris Laing, Senior Engineer at ABL, explains why this type of work is so important, and takes you through the key steps involved in a typical CMMS build project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is an effective CMMS so crucial?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn accurate and fully-populated CMMS will drive major efficiencies for an asset. Sites tend to be more reactive than proactive, which leads to costly shutdowns and unplanned downtime, and never resolving the causes behind them. When equipment isn\u2019t working, the entire facility then isn\u2019t working as it should be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor instance, staff become demotivated as they\u2019re having to firefight issues instead of doing their actual job. Those in leadership are then spending more time managing that, instead of working towards KPIs and the efficiency and operation of the site. This could largely be avoided if the right maintenance was being done at the right time, and this should all be based on having accurate and reliable data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome teams may also want to extend the life of their facility, and this increases the need to have all the information in the CMMS, so they can carry out the preventative maintenance that\u2019s required to ensure the equipment lasts longer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Equipment identification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the first things we discuss with our clients is what they want to get out of this project, and which equipment they want us to look at. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA CMMS build can focus on high priority systems or areas where you\u2019re facing continual issues, but it can also be used to look at specific equipment types or the asset as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce this is determined, we then go through and review all of the relevant drawings and documentation, and in some cases where information is missing, a physical asset verification (PAV) is required to fully capture every single piece of equipment that\u2019s there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is our starting point, as lots can happen throughout the lifespan of an asset, and it\u2019s very easy for teams to lose track of things over time. Typically we find that there are missing drawings, or discover pieces of kit that were installed but never added to the system. This initial step allows us to identify all of this, plug these gaps and ensure we have the full picture of the system or asset.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Data enrichment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce we have gathered this base data, we need to enrich it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis step of the process involves identifying, organising, categorising and documenting what is important to you as a business. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n