CMMS your ally in maintenance 2.0
In CMMS (Computer Aided Maintenance Management), the quality of the maintenance management tool is essential. Should you choose a standard, Open Source or free solution? What are the best free CMMS software? CMMS comparison in detail.
The CMMS for beginners
Definition
The term CMMS is derived from the English expression Computerized Maintenance Management System, which is roughly used to denote the transition to a computerised company maintenance system. As with ERP and MRP, this tool also saw the light of day in the 1960s. In fact, it is one of the innovations that came with the incorporation of computing systems into production. The areas of operation of this tool are various:
- Statistics: A CMMS system makes it possible to assess performance on maintenance survi
- Management of physical structures: The tool can break down all the physical components of the company into elementary parts and then reclassify them by type of maintenance
- Intervention planning: This functionality is one of the most appreciated advantages because it allows maintenance to be anticipated, managed in an orderly manner and to avoid surprises
- Work on demand: Obviously, however, this tool also manages unplanned and exceptional work well
- Resource management: All the resolutions involved, both physical and human, are effectively coordinated with this tool.
- Technical material logistics
- Relations with external companies: All contractual rules, relations with different service providers
Information system
Often mistakenly confused with the CMMS, this is actually a set of rules and procedures implemented by company technicians in compliance with the UNI 10584 standard. To put this set of procedures into practice, it is therefore necessary to obtain a suitable tool. And this is where the CMMS comes into play. We can often find it already integrated within an ERP software.
What are the advantages of a CMMS system
An essential task
The CMMS is a maintenance planning and management tool. It concerns the maintenance management of your services. It is a management method used in both the private and public sectors.
Transversal challenges
The CMMS covers several sectors and areas. It can cover the management of
- equipment: vehicles, buildings, computers, production machinery;
- stocks: number of items, replenishment;
- human resources: project management, personnel management.
An operational function
A good CMMS allows activities to run smoothly. Its analysis and long-term perspective make it an ally in preventing possible breakdowns and malfunctions.
This avoids surprise stock-outs or failures due to uncontrolled obsolescence that can be time-consuming and costly.
A strategic scope
The CMMS addresses strategic business management issues. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) shed light on the corrective and preventive maintenance actions to be implemented, while providing a more comprehensive decision support view for management.
Better planning
Better maintenance planning means avoiding human errors that can potentially knock out equipment for days
Free CMMS software
Fiix Lite
Fiix is an American CMMS software for organising, tracking and planning different levels of maintenance. The Basic, Professional, Enterprise and Performance offerings are all chargeable, but the publisher has created a free light version: Fiix Lite. The latter, although not as rich as the other paid editions, is relatively complete: professional features, mobile application, order form management.
Advantages
- Quick and easy implementation,
- No credit card required,
- Mobile application.
Disadvantages
- Reduced features compared to paid versions,
- No Italian version.
Fiix
Maintenance Care
Maintenance Care is a Canadian CMMS software that offers a free version for a single user and a single company. This software is certainly the best known in its free version category, but it has one major disadvantage: it is only available in English. MaintenanceCare will allow you to create purchase orders, preventive maintenance services and asset management.
Advantages
- Mobile application,
- Functional coverage.
Disadvantages
- No Italian version,
- Many limitations for the free version: 1 user, 1 company, fewer features and depreciated functionality.
Open Source CMMS Software
If you - or someone in your team - have expertise in computer development, an open source CMMS solution may be of interest to you. By accessing the source code, you are able to customise the programme to meet your expectations.
Software and related training
Many providers offer their products with training. This is the case, for example, with OpenMaint, whose company provides training under subscription. The support also offers the possibility of providing specific developments.
Calculating the investment cost
When making a choice, it is good to consider the situation from all angles. Depending on the degree of competence of your teams, your willingness or unwillingness to take advantage of training, and your budget to allocate, the situation is different.
The Open Source software option may seem less definitive over time. Good CMMS software is essential for the maintenance and performance of your services.
In such a large market, you will have no shortage of choices!
Professional CMMS software: take advantage of free trials
Some CMMS solutions are offered in SaaS (Software as a Service). Their subscription formula helps to control costs. In return, you benefit from the experience of an experienced provider and a successful tool.
CARL Source
CARL Source is the software solution published by CARL Software, the European leader in equipment management and maintenance. The tool is available in four versions to meet the specific needs of four main sectors. There is CARL Source Factory for industry, CARL Facility for real estate, CARL Source Transport and CARL Source Health.
The software is available as a mobile application: CARL Touch. It supports warehouse managers and maintenance and after-sales technicians in the field.
It also serves as a management tool for managers and promotes communication between the company and its customers or service providers.
Yuman
Based on state-of-the-art technology, the Yuman CMMS solution impresses above all with its user-friendliness. Thanks to an optimised user experience and easy data retrieval, the software is quick to learn and use.
Yuman is also perfectly designed to facilitate monitoring and communication through a shared programme that includes the actions of technicians in real time. And to simplify operations during interventions, professionals can take advantage of a mobile application in offline mode with background synchronisation.
Finally, although the tool is very comprehensive in its PRO+ and Advanced versions, it offers many customisation possibilities.
Are you interested in Yuman? Beware that the software is not available in Italian but in French, English, Spanish and Dutch. Good news, you can try it for 60 days with no limitations and totally free.
Yuman
Conclusion
CMMS is an area where there is little room for free software compared to other areas such as CRM, project management tools and task managers. Free CMMS software is poor in functionality and rarely adapted to the challenges of companies wishing to rationalise their use.
In this case, it is preferable to opt for a paid solution that offers quality support and regular evolution of functionalities. These solutions generally offer a free trial period. Take the opportunity to find the tool that best meets your expectations!
Article translated from Italian