It is a well-known fact that the construction industry is unlike many other sectors. There are many reasons for this statement. From the number of highly specialized employees required to complete a project to the constant deadlines looming over the project, construction is stressful. Stress can lead to oversights too. However, even a minor mistake on a construction project can have a significant effect. From delays to the project to increased expenses and employees required to work overtime. Oversight is not something that many construction companies can afford, as these oversights can be very costly both financially and for the companies reputation.
Luckily for construction companies, there is a solution, CMMS. CMMS is a Computerized Maintenance Management System that assists in every aspect of asset maintenance, from construction employees assigning work orders to schedule maintenance activities and developing maintenance reports.
It is important to note that maintenance asset maintenance is crucial in ensuring equipment and employees are operating at peak performance while reducing costs and delays in construction. However, with so many responsibilities that require attention during a construction project, maintenance can often get overlooked.
Here are some points on how a CMMS can assist on construction projects and the benefits that will be gained in the process.
Track asset maintenance   
Often cited as the main reason for purchasing a CMMS. CMMS has functions available that allow employees on the construction site to easily equipment breakdowns and alert staff through the system. Since a CMMS enables employees to report possible breakdowns, the construction companies can resolve the problem faster than what was previously possible. All of this is achieved through a CMMS’s ability to streamline work order assignments directly to a relevant employee.
Once an employee has received the work order they can also access the CMMS to get any information they will require when repairing the asset.
Once the work order has been resolved, the employee can upload the information on the maintenance procedures undertaken. With the mobile capabilities of a CMMS, the whole work order process can be conducted through an employee’s mobile devices. The benefit of this process is that construction equipment will receive proper maintenance, and the construction company will not incur extra expenses related to downtime, such as having to pay employees overtime.
Equipment maintenance optimization
Within construction companies, it is vital to note where your equipment may be and what project it is being used for, especially if companies are undertaking several projects at once. Through CMMS, employers have a platform which they can access and track where their equipment may be. This benefit can be leveraged by the fact that CMMS systems now have mobile capabilities and employees do not need to compromise on the functionality of a CMMS as it works just as well through their mobile device. Meaning that construction companies can have their employees upload information on the state of their equipment through their cell phones.
Having the ability to monitor all construction equipment through a single platform decreases the possibility of unforeseen breakdowns, as the equipment can be monitored through the system. This also means that in the event of equipment failure on a specific site, the company can assign a different machine while attending to the broken one. Ensuring that delays due to equipment breakdowns are reduced in the future.
Optimize asset use
With construction equipment being expensive and costly to maintain and store, companies want to get the most out of it. With a CMMS system, companies can ensure that equipment is not increasing maintenance costs while contributing nothing. This can be achieved through the platform’s ability to upload and track equipment data, meaning that companies can easily develop reports on the equipment being circulated and used as well as the equipment that is not. This allows employees to accurately assign equipment and gain a better understanding of when equipment is now redundant.
It is also important to note that this feature gives construction companies a better understanding of which equipment is used the most and requires extra maintenance.
Simplify asset retirement
Construction equipment, like all assets, has a finite life span. If a construction company notices that the intervals between maintenance are becoming shorter, then the equipment is close to retirement and should be decommissioned. This is important as constantly maintaining machinery past its lifecycle increases the cost of maintenance and reduces the return on investment.
The question often posed is, when is it the right time to decommission equipment without having to waste more money on repairs? A CMMS can accurately record the maintenance history of the equipment, with this information construction companies can calculate the rate of depreciation and the cost of conducting maintenance. With this information, companies can accurately gauge when it is the right time to decommission the equipment.
This is an extremely beneficial process to review as retiring equipment at the right time will reduce additional sunk costs while saving money. After all, operating equipment on a construction site that is past its peak is an expensive exercise, as the equipment will require further resources to operate, as the equipment will not be able to run at peak performance.
Another key point to note is that by retiring equipment at the right time, your construction company can ensure that no employee will be operating equipment that is unsafe to use and could possibly violate occupational health and safety standards.
Furthermore, it must be noted that purchasing new equipment to replace the previous asset used will not be a difficult process. With the ease with which information can be uploaded into a CMMS, past information such as vendor details, warranty information, and machinery specifications can all be filed on a CMMS system, allowing for a streamlined replacement process.
From the points stated, it is easy to see how a CMMS is an efficient system for managing construction equipment and the costs associated with these assets. In conclusion, we can see that by implementing a CMMS system, construction companies can easily reduce asset maintenance costs and also reduce downtime and equipment-related delays. All of this will result in increased profits as well as a better reputation for the company.