Web-Based CMMS Versus Network Based CMMS

By Stuart Smith

There are basically two different type of scenarios for CMMS and companies must decide which works the best for them as what might be the best option for one company may not be the best choice for another company. So lets briefly introduce the two options and then briefly discuss each one.

For starters, those who are not familiar with CMMS perhaps an introduction is in order. CMMS or Computer Maintenance Management System is in essence a record or database of an organizations maintenance operations. This allows those in charge to have a record of maintenance, spare parts, repairs, etc. Once a company decides to employ CMMS they need to decide will they be taking a web based approach or a network based approach to CMMS.

A web-based approach to CMMS means that the software the runs CMMS is housed on computers that your company typically don't own. It is common for the software to be running off of a server or running on servers that make up what is called a server farm. It is important to point out that when using a web based approach the physical location of the servers running the CMMS software could theoretically be anywhere in the world. However, typically these servers will reside in the United States. You might ask what is the benefit of using a web based solution. One of the biggest advantages to a web-based CMMS is that you can access your CMMS from anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection and you are ready to connect. Another benefit this approach provides is that you don't have to worry about the maintenance and repair of the powerful servers that are required to run the CMMS software. If there is a hardware failure, that is not your problem.

The second CMMS approach is the network approach. This typically means that instead of your software running on a server outside of your company the CMMS software will be running on a server that is running somewhere within your company and your IT staff would be responsible for the upkeep and the maintenance of not only the CMMS software, but also the server hardware. So if there is a failure, your company is responsible for the repair. One popular benefit of this approach is you usually have a faster response due to you not having to contend for traffic over the internet.

That is the two basic methods of implementing CMMS. After weighing the pros and cons you can decide which CMMS solution fits best with your needs.

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The company should decide which CMMS or asset tracking software is suited for their application.

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Web-Based CMMS Versus Network Based CMMS

CMMS Maintenance Software

CMMS which is the abbreviated form of Computerized Maintenance Management Software is a powerful tool used by many industries today as a method of controlling industrial maintenance operations. Initially, CMMS maintenance software was introduced so that the costs involved with the machinery maintenance setting in the manufacturing industry can be controlled. Since then, most of the industries and companies have learned that this software can prove to be really beneficial in almost any type of team industrial maintenance setting.

A large number of maintenance groups in medium as well as large facilities and buildings utilize the CMMS maintenance software. All sorts of maintenance plants find that the CMMS software is helpful when it comes to controlling the costs associated with maintenance which eventually helps increase the overall value of the business. Both materials and labor can be managed with the use of the CMMS software. Together with this CMMS helps controls costs even on machinery that are meant for long term work, vehicles, facilities, buildings and all the other assets associated with the business. The CMMS technique can be learnt easily and used within a short time.

The CMMS software market is vast and quite active because of the fast return on the money spent realized as soon as CMMS is implemented. These packages range greatly in cost as well as breadth. It can be quite challenging to find the best software for your business and this is the reason there are a number of websites set up that can help you make the right decision.

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CMMS Maintenance Software

What is Enterprise Asset Management (EAM)?

Enterprise asset management (EAM) means the whole life optimal management of the physical assets of an organization to maximize value. It covers such things as the design, construction, commissioning, operations, maintenance and decommissioning/replacement of plant, equipment and facilities. "Enterprise" refers to the management of the assets across departments, locations, facilities and, in some cases, business units. By managing assets across the facility, organizations can improve utilization and performance, reduce capital costs, reduce asset-related operating costs, extend asset life and subsequently improve ROA (return on assets).

The functions of asset management are taking a fundamental turn where organizations are moving from historical reactive (run-to-failure) models and beginning to embrace whole life planning, life cycle costing, planned and proactive maintenance and other industry best practices. Some companies still regard physical asset management as just a more business-focused term for maintenance management - until they begin to realize the organization-wide impact and interdependencies with operations, design, asset performance, personnel productivity and lifecycle costs. This shift in focus exemplifies the progression from maintenance management to Enterprise Asset Management and is embodied in the British Standards specification PAS 55 (Requirements specification for the optimal management of physical infrastructure assets).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_asset_management

What is Enterprise Asset Management (EAM)?

What is CMMS?

CMMS is Computerized Maintenance Management System that can be use for a various application s and industries. From Wikipedia, here's the complete definition:

Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is also known as Enterprise Asset Management and Computerized Maintenance Management Information System (CMMIS).

A CMMS software package maintains a computer database of information about an organization’s maintenance operations, i.e. CMMIS - computerized maintenance management information system. This information is intended to help maintenance workers do their jobs more effectively (for example, determining which machines require maintenance and which storerooms contain the spare parts they need) and to help management make informed decisions (for example, calculating the cost of machine breakdown repair versus preventive maintenance for each machine, possibly leading to better allocation of resources). CMMS data may also be used to verify regulatory compliance.

CMMS packages may be used by any organization that must perform maintenance on equipment, assets and property. Some CMMS products focus on particular industry sectors (e.g. the maintenance of vehicle fleets or health care facilities). Other products aim to be more general.

CMMS packages can produce status reports and documents giving details or summaries of maintenance activities. The more sophisticated the package, the more analysis facilities are available.

Many CMMS packages can be either web-based, meaning they are hosted by the company selling the product on an outside server, or LAN based, meaning that the company buying the software hosts the product on their own server.

What is CMMS?