Sometimes, repairs back up and a queue forms. Servicing those on a first-come, first-served basis is a mistake.
In your computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), give each asset a repair priority score on a range of 1 to 100. Items that involve safety or the environment will range from 90 to 100; production assets will range from 1 to 89. When there's a queue, you can rank the order based on the priority score.
How do you determine the score? Ask production to help, considering revenue per hour and utilization. What is utilization? Here are two examples:
- The company can sell enough of Widget X each month to utilize 50% of production.
- The company can sell every Widget Y it makes.
Generally, you would let the Widget X machine sit if you must choose between the two due to resource constriction.
Keep the production team informed when a queue forms. They may tell you to bump something up, regardless of the priority score. For example, an item with low revenue and low utilization is for a potentially lucrative new customer.
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.