Stay Compliant and Easily Pass OSHA Inspections With CMMS Software

visualization of how to stay compliant and pass OSHA inspections.
Imagine a production floor in a factory buzzing with activity while safety protocols quietly deteriorated. For example, grinding machines operated without spark guards, electrical panels sat partially uncovered, and forklift operators balanced precariously stacked pallets.  One Tuesday morning, OSHA compliance officers arrived for an unannounced inspection triggered by an anonymous employee complaint. Walking the floor, they identified exposed belts on machinery, missing safety data sheets for chemicals in work orders, and blocked fire exits. Workers revealed they hadn't been trained on new equipment installed six months ago.  The inspection resulted in $243,000 in proposed penalties across 12 serious violations. Production...

What is Mean-Time-To-Acknowledge (MTTA) and Why Should You Reduce it

What is Mean-Time-To-Acknowledge (MTTA) and Why Should You Reduce it
It's 3:15 PM at “X” Manufacturing's main production facility. The automated assembly line produces numerous automotive components and runs at full capacity. A critical bearing sensor on Robot 7 triggers a fault alarm. Red lights flash, and the line stops.  Thirty workers stand idle as unfinished parts pile up. Every minute costs $2,500 in lost production. At 3:15 AM, the maintenance team receives an alert on their phones and tablets.  The night shift supervisor anxiously watches the clock. At 3:32 AM (seventeen minutes later), maintenance acknowledges the alert.  In these seventeen minutes, the company has lost $42,500 in production value....

The Role of Machine Learning in Predictive Maintenance for Manufacturing

Illustrative graphic of machine learning for predictive maintenance.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence have changed the way to go about our daily lives. We’ll hold off calling it the wheel of the modern era, but it certainly is making some major impact on almost every industry. So, it should come as no shocker that they’ve infiltrated the world of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS). And what for? To put it in a nutshell, reduce downtime. The question then becomes, how does it do so? By facilitating predictive minutiae efforts. Let’s explore more about this in detail. What is Predictive Maintenance? Most industries, since...

What is Wrench Time? (And How to Calculate)

Maintenance technicians are busy individuals. They’re constantly assigned tasks, traveling around, procuring equipment, asking for permissions, and waiting for access to particular machines. So many tasks, yet none of them actually constitute Wrench Time, also known as Tool Time. That is perhaps the biggest hurdle in studying Wrench Time: the inability to clearly define it and, from there, analyze it. In this blog post, we’ll clarify what it really is and its relevance. What is Wrench Time? In the clearest of terms, Wrench Time refers to the amount of time a technician actually spends performing maintenance tasks on a specific...

What is Automotive OEE?

automotive OEE
Imagine a bustling automotive parts production line where every second and every component counts. What is considered a near-perfect production? Manufacturing only good parts, at the fastest possible speed, with minimal downtime. Consider a scenario where a transmission component manufacturing cell is running. OEE helps you understand if that cell is truly maximizing its potential. Are machines sitting idle? Are you experiencing frequent small stops?  Are you producing parts that meet quality standards on the first pass? These are the precise questions OEE answers, providing manufacturers with actionable insights to drive continuous improvement. OEE turns the complex coordination of machinery,...

Fleet Lifecycle Management: Strategies to Maximize Vehicle Longevity

An illustration of fleet lifecycle management planning, with icons representing tools, a calendar, and a checklist for repair tasks.
Commercial vehicles are a serious investment. But here’s the thing: they don’t last forever. So, if you’re looking to squeeze the most value out of each one, a solid lifecycle management strategy is key. Why? Because poorly maintained vehicles mean unexpected repairs, unplanned downtime, and a serious dent in your ROI. And that’s something no fleet manager wants. In this guide, we’ll break down proven strategies to extend the life of each vehicle in your fleet, cut down on costs, and keep your operations running smoothly. Let’s dive in. What is Fleet Lifecycle Management? Fleet Lifecycle Management (FLM) is the...

What Is Failure Mode and Effect Analysis?

Learn everything about Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), how it works, its benefits and drawbacks, the different types, and how to perform it, packed with examples and use cases.
You’ll be happy to hear that while product design or manufacturing failures are expensive, they’re also preventable. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) steps in and takes care of the whole process for you. It’s a systematic risk management tool that helps your teams identify potential failure modes, assess their impact, and take proactive measures to prevent issues before they escalate. It’s not only good for some industries and teams. Actually, FMEA empowers teams across industries to identify risks, improve product reliability, and achieve compliance with ease. Once you implement FMEA risk assessment in your operations, you’ll see a positive...

A Guide to Energy & Utilities Asset Management

Cover image saying 'A guide to energy and utilities asset management' with a picture of wind turbines.
From 2024 to 2029, the utility asset management market is expected to grow by up to 7.5%. [1] That's a considerable figure and a clear reflection of just how crucial asset management has become in the energy and utilities sector.  As more and more companies are beginning to have to navigate the challenges of aging infrastructure, increasing demand, and achieving their sustainability goals, effective asset management has evolved from a good idea to an essential part of the energy and utility industry. What Is Energy Asset Management? But what do we mean by energy asset management (EAM)? It might sound...

What is Idle Time?

Illustrative cover image of Idle Time.
Idle time might seem like a harmless pause, but it’s actually a productivity killer that’s not talked about often. Machines sitting idle, employees waiting around, and projects stuck in limbo. That’s idle time in action. But what’s causing it? And why should you care? In this guide, we’ll break down everything about idle time—what it is, the common causes, and the types you need to know. Plus, we’ll share actionable strategies to minimize idle time and keep your operations running smoothly. Let’s jump right in. What is Idle Time?  In simple words, the term idle time refers to when employees...

How to Boost Operational Efficiency with Smart Strategies? 

A business professional in a suit interacts with a digital interface displaying the word "Efficiency" connected to various icons representing business processes and metrics.
A company’s success is surely defined by its driven employees and the quality of the products and services – but more so by how efficiently the company utilizes its resources to deliver exceptional results at reduced costs while maintaining quality.   This is what distinguishes a successful business from the ones struggling to make it to the top.   Competing in the fast-paced and competitive landscape, businesses today strive for agility and operational efficiency to drive growth and maximize sales and revenue.    In fact, statistics suggest that the Business Process Management (BPM) market size, currently valued at $15.4 billion, is expected...