Preventive Maintenance Software

Preventive maintenance software--or preventative maintenance software--is one of the core components of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). It helps business maximize their resources, minimize operational downtime, extend asset lifespans and reduce costs of maintenance operations.

What is Preventive Maintenance Software?

Preventive maintenance software--or preventative maintenance software--is an application of CMMS that helps organizations manage preventive maintenance, as opposed to corrective or predictive maintenance, of assets. These assets can include manufacturing equipment, medical equipment, HVAC equipment, furniture and more. Its primary objective is to prolong the life of an asset and, therefore, maximize its value and limit unnecessary spending on replacing assets. It achieves this by scheduling regular maintenance on equipment, reducing downtime by combining routine maintenance when possible, and subsequently reducing repair-based expenditures and losses resulting from delayed or halted production.

Preventive maintenance systems schedule standard maintenance at the necessary intervals for equipment. This could mean scheduling oil changes for vehicles every 3,000 miles, for instance. It prolongs asset life by supporting ongoing maintenance that’s based on hours in use, frequency of use, or other variables. It also creates a schedule for regular maintenance that alerts staff of upcoming tasks, generates work orders, schedules necessary vendors for routine maintenance and arranges the tools and resources necessary to complete a task.

Preventive maintenance tasks are often determined by Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) recommendations, requirements based on codes or legislation, “expert” suggestions as well as the standard maintenance for similar assets based on frequency of use and performance metrics.

Key Features

Common features found in preventive maintenance software include:

Important Considerations

Before purchasing a new preventive maintenance system, organizations should consider the following:

• Compliance Reporting. Do you need support for industry-specific regulatory compliance? Many preventive maintenance systems allow you to track information that is required for government agency reports. For example, this may include filing OSHA reports or scheduling maintenance for medical facilities or water treatment plants. Other industries like pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and food processing facilities also have unique compliance requirements based on national and international regulations.
• Web-Based vs. On-Premise. Preventive maintenance software programs can be deployed over the web as a cloud- or web-based system (also known as Software as a Service or SaaS), or installed on location as a traditional on-premise system. Both options have benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to consider which one is best suited for your situation. For instance, web-based software has lower initial costs and reduces the need for a dedicated IT team because the vendor provides support. However, if your facility is based in a remote location with poor Internet bandwidth, this may not be the best option. Additionally, if you need a highly-flexible system for complex customizations, then web-based may not be the best fit. Meanwhile, on-premise systems generally cost more up-front and may require IT to manage ongoing maintenance and upgrades.
• Mobile Applications. Some CMMS vendors offer mobile computing that provides a more integrated and seamless communication pathway between administration, maintenance personnel and management. Applications provide the ability for maintenance staff to efficiently schedule their days, communicate immediately with management and access tools and resources for maintenance tasks. Over time, these systems can reduce costs and increase personnel efficiency.

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