What Is Time-Based Maintenance? A Guide for Maintenance Managers

Photo of maintenance manager in electrical room, time-based maintenance
Industrial maintenance is increasingly moving toward higher levels of technological advancement and complexity, with strategies like condition-based, predictive, and prescriptive maintenance leading the way in ensuring equipment reliability. Amidst these evolving changes, however, Time-Based Maintenance (TBM), historically known as periodic-based maintenance, remains a common approach to maintenance management.  This guide will explore TBM, providing insight into its mechanisms, pros and cons, and implementation, as well as context for its evolution and the statistical models that support it. What is Time-Based Maintenance? TBM is a maintenance strategy that involves scheduling maintenance activities at regular, predetermined intervals based on the equipment's estimated...

4 EAM Trends to Watch in 2024

The words asset management on a notebook on a white workspace. The notepad is near dollar bills and a calculator. EAM trends
As we complete another year and head into 2024, it’s important to recognize that Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advances and fast-changing business models. Staying ahead of these trends will be important for organizations that need to retire old paper-based processes and siloed asset management systems. This article will discuss the top EAM trends to watch in the coming year. We will highlight how these cutting-edge trends align with LLumin’s Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS+). We will also explain why LLumin's CMMS+ can improve and optimize your EAM practices. The Top 4 EAM Trends to...

What Is a Work Order? Everything You Need to Know

A maintenance technician using a CMMS on a laptop radioing to his supervisor asking the status of a work order.
What is a maintenance work order? Work orders, whether in paper or digital format, are the foundation of a company’s maintenance operations. A work order contains all of the information required to perform maintenance tasks. This includes where the work is needed, what the reason for the work is, who created the work, and when resolution is needed.  As the work progresses, other important information will be gathered and recorded, such as the date and method by which the tasks were completed and the costs incurred, as well. These documents facilitate proper oversight and management of a company’s maintenance operations,...

Predictive Maintenance Program: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Implementing a predictive maintenance (PdM) program can be a competitive advantage. PdM uses data collected from machine-level sensors and condition-based maintenance to predict equipment failure well before it leads to breakdowns and unexpected downtime.  If you're considering implementing a PdM program and are on the fence, you should know that when done correctly, PdM can save you money and extend the life of your equipment.  In this article, we'll define a PdM program and walk you through the steps necessary to create and implement an effective program. We'll also discuss how LLumin’s advanced CMMS+ (computerized maintenance management system) could help...

Preventive Maintenance in the Food Industry: An Overview

Image of refrigerated storage room, preventive maintenance in food industry.
The food industry is a highly regulated industry in which safety, quality, and equipment reliability are critical. Food manufacturers face numerous challenges daily, and when equipment fails, it can result in significant financial losses. Preventive maintenance (PM) can help food companies overcome challenges and ensure their operations are stable and high-performing. In this article, we'll look at the importance of preventive maintenance in the food industry, talk about common challenges that food manufacturers face, and offer recommendations for implementing preventive maintenance. We'll also highlight the importance of implementing a new PM program with LLumin's CMMS+ (Computerized Maintenance Management System). The...

4 Maintenance Troubleshooting Techniques for Your Toolbox

Maintenance technician performs maintenance troubleshooting
Maintenance troubleshooting in the past relied solely on experience, training, and human intuition. Maintenance technicians were dispatched to investigate mechanical problems, identify issues, and then suggest solutions to get equipment up and running.  This article will discuss the importance of effective troubleshooting and provide valuable tips and techniques for maintenance technicians. Further, we’ll highlight the benefits of using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) like LLumin CMMS+ to improve this business-critical process.  The Importance of Effective Troubleshooting When maintenance is performed manually and relies solely on human troubleshooting, it is necessary to identify the root cause of the mechanical failure,...

How to Implement Predictive Maintenance

Text sign showing predictive maintenance.
Maintenance no longer relies on inefficient manual processes, and it's critical to understand that staying competitive will require staying one step ahead of legacy industry standards and practices. Traditional maintenance strategies based on reactive (run-to-failure) or preventive approaches have helped improve equipment performance. However, to maintain a competitive advantage in today's fast-paced market, newer, cutting-edge maintenance strategies are needed, and this is where predictive maintenance can be a game changer. Predictive maintenance (PdM) is a data-driven approach to maintenance that has gained popularity in recent years. This maintenance strategy uses AI, IoT, and machine-level sensors to collect real-time data and...

Work Order Management Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Office professional discovers the benefits of work order management with LLumin.
Efficient work order management is the cornerstone of successful maintenance operations. This process ensures that maintenance is completed on time, resources are used efficiently, and assets remain in good working condition.  In this mini-guide, we’ll explore the details of the work order management process and provide actionable suggestions to make this process more efficient. Further, we’ll introduce the advantages of using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) with advanced work order management capabilities, like LLumin’s CMMS+. The Work Order Management Process Previously, work orders were mostly paper-based, meaning they were issued on paper and distributed to maintenance personnel, who would...

How to Reduce Equipment Downtime

When mission-critical equipment fails and causes downtime, it can be extremely costly. When machines stop unexpectedly, it disrupts production, reduces profitability, and strains resources. This article will look at the most common causes of equipment downtime and share strategies for reducing it.   We'll also discuss how a comprehensive Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) like LLumin's CMMS+ can help reduce downtime and improve equipment performance. Common Causes of Equipment Downtime Equipment downtime is caused by various factors and challenges. Factors can include delayed or missed maintenance, inefficient or incomplete maintenance, and unexpected breakdowns. Improvements to a company's overall maintenance strategy can...

Main Types of Maintenance Strategies & Which One to Choose

Image of a maintenance manager holding a checklist, evaluating maintenance strategies
Maintenance strategies are essential for ensuring the reliability and longevity of working equipment. Choosing the right strategy can significantly impact a company's efficiency and bottom line. We will look at four types of maintenance strategies in this blog: reactive, preventive, predictive, and prescriptive. We'll review their features, benefits, and disadvantages to help you choose the best one for your organization. Overview of Maintenance Management Strategies Understanding the importance of maintenance strategies and how they relate to business operations is imperative before we delve into specific strategies. Maintenance strategies manage and maintain assets, equipment, and facilities systematically. They can significantly impact...