HEALTH & SAFETY M


aintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) teams, therefore, are the oil keeping these cogs turning. Maintenance needs a human touch, and they are the workers striving to


keep everything running smoothly. In today’s environment, staying competitive means maintaining a tight production schedule, minimising downtime and ensuring that factories run at peak performance. This creates obvious challenges, however, and there can be a temptation to take shortcuts to maintain high productivity with a lack of resources, but falling outside of standard processes can lead to safety requirements not being met, putting staff at risk of injury.


So, how can MRO teams deliver greater


reliability and performance without letting standards slip? Successful maintenance teams are increasingly turning to automation and digital solutions, and a Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is one of the most important tools in the toolkit. Used right, CMMS enables lean, proactive  throughout the operation, while ensuring that high safety standards are adhered to. Before we dive into the safety aspect, it’s


important to understand the how’s and why’s of CMMS software.


HOW CMMS ENABLES DATA-DRIVEN MAINTENANCE Data-driven maintenance strategies, like predictive maintenance, can dramatically extend asset lifespans, reduce downtime and lower overall maintenance costs. However, many organisations haven’t implemented such strategies. This is largely because they lack an experienced labour force or a heavy investment in technologies built to overcome that knowledge gap.


Sifting through piles of condition monitoring


data is a labour-intensive process that requires time and experience. Likewise, accurately analysing that data, contextualising it and deciding exactly how to respond to changes in asset performance all require expertise and time.


This is where CMMS can help. The software


can automate many of the processes that drive a successful predictive maintenance approach. CMMS acts like a central repository of information for all a factory’s activities. When a condition monitoring sensors, issues an alert for high vibration levels, or a shift in performance data, that alert triggers a response through your CMMS.


The CMMS responds to the alert trigger by quickly putting together all the relevant information teams will need to address the problem. That includes asset health history and relevant work order history. It also includes a list of all the spare parts and tools that maintenance  detailed checklist of tasks broken down into steps. CMMS can even check existing employee schedules and make recommendations about how to prioritise and schedule jobs. An effective CMMS immediately makes all of that contextual information available and presents it in an organised, easy-to-read


20


CMMS: THE SOFTWARE KEEPING WORKERS SAFE WHILE BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY


By Michael Mills, Technical Manager, Fluke Reliability


Maintenance is a vital cog in the machines that are the UK’s factories, which operate around the clock to produce everything from vehicles to biscuits


format. This means that decision-makers have all the tools and information they need to plan their next steps, ensuring that safety is built in from step one. It’s like having a huge team of technicians with eyes and ears all over the factory, perfect memories and stellar organisational skills. A CMMS can even generate work orders in


response to data from sensors, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), or Building Management Systems (BMS). This means that no time is lost between the alert and the next maintenance process. The work orders will automatically include all the relevant information and directions so that teams can get  themselves at risk. That’s the power of automation. CMMS carries out the background processes that drive smarter decision-making so that managers have all the  also reinforces business processes, such as escalations and approvals. This frees up time for technicians to work on other, more complex tasks. It also paves the way for a proactive, data- driven maintenance strategy that can increase productivity.


AUTOMATION AND SAFETY GO HAND IN HAND Those are the direct consequences, but safety is a critical indirect consequence of this software. A CMMS can’t perform maintenance tasks or physically protect workers, but the software can automate processes that help keep them safe. 


 work order. This issue comes up frequently in electrical work, where it’s often essential to make sure that electrical units are securely turned off before technicians get to work repairing them. Building that step directly into the work order protects technicians against potentially deadly accidents that could otherwise result from avoidable, careless errors. But of course, safety precautions aren’t limited to electrical work: they’re important in just about


JULY/AUGUST 2025 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS


every sector, from mining to manufacturing. CMMS can analyse the data and recognise when a maintenance task involves potential danger. The software then automatically adds the necessary safety precautions into the work order checklist. This can include everything from reminders to shut down machines, to details  particular worksite. Bringing the right protective equipment, or intrinsically safe tools, can protect workers against danger. A good CMMS will also have a mobile version that workers can access and use even when the internet isn’t available. CMMS can also automatically provide safety directions, manuals and step-by-step guides to processes that can keep employees safe. Beyond safety precautions, that same CMMS functionality can standardise maintenance  always automatically included in work order checklists. The result? Teams stay safe, and jobs get done correctly every time.


MAKING AUTOMATION WORK FOR YOU The choice of latest digital tools and automation solutions can seem overwhelming as new innovations are being produced every day that promise to improve performance. It can be tricky to know which ones will really provide the value you’re looking for, while ensuring that workers will be kept safe in the workplace. But the kind of automation that CMMS delivers isn’t just  A good CMMS delivers meaningful change throughout your entire organisation. By automating the data gathering,


contextualising and planning functions, CMMS  makers across your organisation while helping workers to maintain the highest safety standards at all times. That’s the kind of automation that can make a huge difference to an operation for years to come.


Fluke www.reliability.fluke.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54