Maintenance, Repair & Operations

Is Your CMMS Reducing Maintenance Costs?

March 6, 2018

Implement these measures to help your CMMS reduce maintenance costs.

If you are using your computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) as just a work order system, you’re not tapping its true potential. How many of the following have you implemented with your CMMS? (all are possible)

Eliminate paper PM forms. Use mobile maintenance apps to send maintenance data directly to the CMMS.
Group PMs and work orders that are related. Taking a machine down once to perform all the PMs that are coming due and all the work orders that are still open will save time, money, and lost production compared to taking it down multiple times. You also minimize mobilization and cleanup costs.
End spreadsheet madness. Instead of entering data into spreadsheets and then manipulating them to provide some sort of report, use the reporting tools of your CMMS. Do you want to know which downtime causes cost the most money? Which are most frequent? Which are increasing in frequency? The CMMS gives you an easy way to generate such reports.
End endless repairs. At some point, it’s better to replace than repair a machine. The CMMS can give insight into where that point is.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.