Value of Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) in smart Maintenance and Asset management decisions – cases and best practices

Abstract

Today, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) are widely used across various industries, particularly those with long-lived physical assets like the energy and transportation sectors. However, recent advancements in smart maintenance, especially within technology, have opened new opportunities. With tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, CMMS can extract higher value from assets.

Maximizing the value derived from the CMMS is a multifaceted and challenging task. This challenge comes from among other things the diverse requirements and objectives across organizations and industries, necessitating a flexible, capable, and user-friendly software solution that serves as the centralized database for all maintenance activities. The thesis aims to answer the following research questions:

1. How can an asset owner or operator achieve full benefits of CMMS within recent industrial trends, such as industry 4.0/5.0, IoT, data-driven technologies (AI/ML), etc?

2. How can an asset owner or operator implement CMMS to fulfill expectations from stake- holders both internally in the enterprise and externally?

3. How can an asset owner or operator ensure data integrity, and what strategies can be used to accurately collect data?

To address these questions, a mixed-method approach will be used, including a literature review and qualitative data obtained through interviews with relevant personnel who engage with CMMS on a daily basis. This data forms the foundation for subsequent analysis and answering of the research questions.

The interviews highlighted several key findings, including the widespread use of outdated CMMS software among many organizations. Additionally, there was limited focus on upgrading to newer versions with enhanced features like built-in visualization tools and artificial intelligence capabilities. Moreover, personnel training emerged as a crucial factor in maximizing the potential of CMMS, as the software was considered as challenging to use without extensive knowledge and experience. Similarly, data integrity was identified as a significant challenge, particularly regarding the quality of maintenance completion reports, which could also be attributed to personnel training and other factors. Improvements in these areas could significantly enhance the value generated by the CMMS.