5 Ways to Drive Maintenance Innovation. Through Robust. Inventory Management

Transcription

1 5 Ways to Drive Maintenance Innovation Through Robust Inventory Management

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Looking at the Big Picture: Creating a Culture of Excellence 3. Smart Software as an Enabler 3. Mobile Applications and Barcode/RFID Scanning 4. Mobile-Optimized Interfaces 5. Inventory Data Built Into Work Orders 6. Asset Use Tracking 7. Audit Trail Creation 8. Driving Maintenance Productivity Through Visibility

3 INTRODUCTION Interconnecting inventory management systems with computerized maintenance management software can empower organizations to maximize productivity and uptime. Discussions around inventory management often focus on using emerging technologies to better understand conditions within the warehouse and at partner supplier locations, allowing production teams to quickly evaluate whether or not they have the supplies needed to meet their operational demands. This same functionality can extend out to your maintenance teams, allowing them to go into each work order they complete with more knowledge of which tools and parts they have at their disposal. The visibility offered by integrating inventory and maintenance management software can unlock the full potential of your maintenance teams by giving them the information they need, when they need it and from a single user interface.

4 LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE: CREATING A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE Culture sets the foundation for consistent, meaningful innovation. It s simple to design processes that drive better ways to get the job done getting users to change the way they work to comply with those processes is much more difficult. For example, you may establish the technical capability to show maintenance workers which parts and supplies are available within a work order, but that function will only be possible if employees are updating inventory levels on an ongoing basis. Because of this, a process needs to be established where team workflows include updating inventory usage records. Being able to trust your workers to follow best practices at all times sets the tone for success. This is where a culture of excellence is so key.

5 SMART SOFTWARE AS AN ENABLER Five technologies that can help you achieve this goal are: 1. Mobile Applications and Barcode/RFID Scanning Something as simple as being able to scan barcodes on a smartphone or tablet can transform inventory management. The process is fairly simple: A user completing a work order goes to the warehouse to get a relevant part. Once the item is found, the individual scans it. The inventory management system within the CMMS shows the part's profile and gives the worker options for taking action. The inventory management solution reduces its count for that location. The transaction is logged for historical reporting/analytics. If necessary, the software can automatically order new parts or alert a manager that supplies are low. The employee marks that the part is being used and effectively moves the material or item to the point of work. Mobile functionality in conjunction with data collection technology ensures best practices are followed because all tasks are being completed on one device and within the same UI.

6 2. Mobile-Optimized Interfaces The visibility offered by barcode scanning on mobile devices is only helpful if the applications end users are leveraging are optimized to work well on smartphones and tablets. The goal is to empower workers to update inventory databases, request a part, report problems, acknowledge work order completion and complete similar critical processes with ease. In particular, mobile devices enable employees to handle these tasks without stepping outside of their everyday workflows, allowing for greater productivity and improved adherence to established workflow processes. It is best to avoid application interfaces initially built for desktop views and layouts and then published to mobile devices via third-party middleware. The result may be an awkward or clunky user interface and difficult to navigate on a smartphone or tablet. Driving innovation hinges on using applications designed and developed using all the power, tools, and native navigational functions on modern mobile devices. Innovation and LEAN operations are brought about using tools and systems that move into the background and let users get the job done without strained effort or disruption.

7 3. Inventory Data Built Into Work Orders CMMS technologies can build lists of parts, tools and supplies into work orders, quickly showing managers and technicians what they will need to get the job done at any given time. Integrating this data with inventory management systems lets you view current attributes and status levels on needed supplies and make sure the stockroom or crib has what you need to get the job done. A few implications of this strategy include: Giving managers immediate visibility into when parts needed aren't available, allowing them to order new supplies and reschedule WOs. Letting workers view what parts they'll need for a shift's worth of WOs and having those supplies efficiently issued by the stockroom or partner supplier all in one stop by the warehouse. Enabling preventative maintenance work order schedulers to connect inventories to WOs and streamline part ordering processes accordingly.

8 4. Asset Use Tracking Identifying the value of assets like tools and assembly kits hinges on pinning down precisely how often they are used and what kind of projects they support. Tying WOs, inventory and asset management systems together allows organizations to seamlessly track how often different tools are used. This creates an environment in which leaders can: Identify when tools or instruments have taken enough wear and tear that they should be inspected. Recognize assets that are not being used frequently and could be sold to create value. Pin down assets or lines that are only used on a seasonal basis and create automated WOs that ensure those assets are ready for use when needed and properly shut down or stored when they are no longer active.

9 5. Audit Trail Creation Combining barcode or RFID scanning with WO integration allows users to scan when they have taken a tool from storage at time of work and do so again when they have returned it. If, for some reason, a tool is misplaced, all you have to do is check the last time the unique ID for that tool was scanned, identify the relevant work order or department the item was issued to and view the associated transaction log or activity trail. Having an audit trail detailing who has handled tooling, for what assets, for what reason and with what level of collaboration can play a vital role in loss prevention, but also in maintaining compliance with a host of regulations. This level of visibility greatly adds to efficiencies, lean operations and achieving desired levels of industry excellence while also extending asset lifetime, uptime and ROI.

10 DRIVING MAINTENANCE PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH VISIBILITY Each of the capabilities described can have a marked impact on the way your maintenance teams interact with tools, parts, assets and in fact other departments. Streamlining the tasks that create meaningful visibility into inventory levels, inventory usage, and materials tracking allows for better planning by managers, maintenance workers, production teams and procurement personnel alike. The flexible, agile and transparent operational climate created by integrated inventory and maintenance management ensures that WOs are completed in a timely fashion. It also helps maintenance teams prevent asset downtime and elevates the creation of value across the organization. All of this is only possible when maintenance and inventory management systems are available in a common interface. Creating an excellent end-user experience through robust mobile and web apps ensures your maintenance teams can focus on getting the job done, not managing clerical tasks, freeing them to work at their best at all times.

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