What Are Trends to Know About Equipment Maintenance?

Every organization understands the value of equipment maintenance, yet many still do not utilize dedicated maintenance software. However, as we emerge from the pandemic, asset management software has evolved, introducing new equipment maintenance trends that are transforming work procedures. This blog will explore these trends and the impact of evolved software on equipment maintenance during and post-pandemic. Let's begin by understanding what equipment maintenance software is and why it is essential.  

What Is Equipment Maintenance Software?  

Equipment maintenance software is designed to monitor and track the health of equipment, ensuring it remains in optimal condition. This software is particularly useful for organizations with a large number of assets, as it becomes challenging to keep track of which assets have received maintenance and which have not. The software not only schedules and tracks maintenance activities but also improves asset performance through calibration adjustments and real-time monitoring.

Main Trends in Equipment Maintenance  

1. Decreasing Downtime

Reducing downtime is crucial for maintaining productivity, especially in asset-intensive industries like construction, manufacturing, and oil & gas. Downtime leads to resource wastage and hinders operations. To minimize downtime, it's essential to understand its causes, often stemming from sudden equipment failures. Scheduled maintenance can prevent these failures and keep downtime to a minimum.

2. Emphasizing Proactive Maintenance

Proactive maintenance helps organizations decrease maintenance expenses, extend asset life, reduce failure chances, and boost production. Despite its benefits, many organizations hesitate to invest in proactive maintenance, fearing it will waste resources. However, proactive maintenance is highly beneficial, as it organizes maintenance work and ensures timely interventions, ultimately saving costs and improving asset reliability.

3. Remote Maintenance  

Remote maintenance involves planning, scheduling, supervising, and controlling maintenance from a remote location using cloud computing technology. This trend has gained significant traction during the pandemic, enabling organizations to maintain operations remotely and collaboratively. Cloud-based equipment maintenance software has proven productive and essential for organizations working in a remote setup.   

4. Increasing Asset Life   

For costly equipment, extending asset life is crucial to avoid expensive repairs and productivity losses. Timely maintenance increases asset lifespan, ensuring more production and maximizing return on investment (ROI). Regular maintenance prevents breakdowns, enhances asset performance, and contributes to overall operational efficiency.   

5. Maintenance Insights   

Gathering maintenance insights is an evergreen trend, crucial for long-term planning. Historical data on asset utilization, frequency of use, and maintenance schedules help organizations predict future maintenance needs. Real-time analytics provided by maintenance software enable quick reactions to any discrepancies in asset performance, facilitating better decision-making and strategic planning.  

6. Inventory Tracking   

Effective maintenance requires having the necessary inventory available. Lack of required inventory during maintenance leads to repeated processes and wasted time and resources. Equipment maintenance software tracks inventory levels, ensuring that out-of-stock issues are avoided and maintenance activities are performed efficiently.   

Conclusion   

Remote asset management and equipment maintenance are becoming increasingly important in today's business environment. According to Markets and Markets, “In Asia Pacific (APAC), the market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 17.3% during the forecast period due to the demand for remote asset management solutions and services in countries, such as China, Japan, India, and Rest of APAC.”   

As organizations continue to adapt to remote work as the new normal, remote asset management and equipment maintenance will remain critical. Cloud-based asset management software has simplified the maintenance process, and other technologies such as IoT, NFC, and RFID are enhancing productivity and accuracy in asset tracking.   

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)   

Which Are the Main Industries Using Equipment Maintenance Software?  

Any organization with a significant number of assets can benefit from equipment maintenance software. Key industries include manufacturing, retail, construction, energy and utilities, transportation and logistics, and oil & gas.   

What Should Be the Main Focus Points While Working on Remote Maintenance?  

- Spot anomalies for asset health monitoring

- Check asset performance criteria

- Identify specific parts not working properly by checking asset history

- Analyze patterns to detect failures and adopt real-time information to avoid equipment breakdowns

- Use asset tracking technology for maintenance tracking   

What Other Technologies Are Used to Boost Productivity?   

Alongside cloud technology, organizations use IoT (Internet of Things), NFC (Near Field Communication), Barcode, QR Code (Quick Response Code), and RFID (Radio-frequency identification). These technologies provide accurate real-time information and are crucial for effective asset tracking. They ensure continuous awareness of asset locations and conditions, contributing to overall productivity and efficiency.   

By embracing these evolving trends and utilizing advanced equipment maintenance software like Infizo Desk, organizations can significantly enhance their maintenance processes, reduce downtime, and maximize ROI.