A third step involves proper coding of work. Good codes normally have several dimensions to provide an accurate picture. One dimension is the type of work, such as corrective, preventive, predictive, etc., performed. Another supports failure modes and effects analysis. These codes, such as part, failure, cause and action, are necessary to diagnose equipment conditions and performance accurately. Proper coding can be difficult to implement and may require a real culture change in some organizations. However, when it's combined with accurate time and material data, a more accurate picture of plant operations emerges.
Trustworthy data
Examine the way maintenance data is gathered and the reports generated from this data. Many maintenance organizations use software separate and independent from the rest of the company's enterprise software. In fact, it's common to find different plants within the same company using different EAM software or the same software but in different ways.
Furthermore, maintenance groups or plants may gather data in different ways with different methods of allocating cost, coding and key performance indicators. Even if plants or groups base performance on similar indicators, they may not compile or "roll up" this data in a common method or structure. Additionally, the acceptance of data can come into question if the maintenance software is not well integrated with purchasing, accounting, human resources and other functional areas. Poor integration creates differences in information, which causes upper management to question the validity of maintenance data.
Additional ground rules
To correct some of the foregoing issues, it's important that the EAM have good business rules and addresses integration with the rest of the business. It also should mirror the operations of the entire enterprise.
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The EAM package must be able either to capture data for the full life cycle of an asset or have tight integration with other systems that do. This information is useful for future decisions on procuring new assets, modifying existing assets, and effective retirement and replacement of assets.
Maintenance needs to focus on ways to show its value to the company. Reports that document higher production rates, higher product quality and reduced disruptions can change the view of maintenance as being only a cost center.
More plants are reaping the benefits of improved integration and data exchange among maintenance and other business areas. Your plant should be one of them.
Kahn Ellis is product manager, PLM Assets Life-Cycle Management at SAP America, Inc. He can reached at (973) 316-3619 or [email protected].
Related content
Enterprise Asset Managment/Computerized Maintenance Management System Resource Center
http://www.plantservices.com/resource_centers/management/EAM_CMMS.html
SAP Knowledge Center
http://www.plantservices.com/knowledge_centers/sap/index.html
