SwainSmith Insights
Latest EAM blog postings
Integrating EAM/CMMS with IIoT & Control Systems
Does your control system (e.g., SCADA, BAS, HMI, Historian) and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) devices pass critical asset performance data, such as run-time readings, energy consumption and operating condition, on to your Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system or Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)?
Asset Management Systems & Asset Technology Systems – Best Friends
Asset intensive organizations, organizations that rely on their physical assets for success, require two types of systems in order to optimize enterprise asset management (EAM). Asset Management Systems (AMS) and Asset Technology Systems (ATS).
Lotte Chemical Corporation Chooses OESuite™ & SwainSmith to Elevate EAM Operations In New Facility
Lotte Chemical Corporation (Lotte) was building a new facility in the United States, and recognized challenges in work management, supply chain, and overall asset management strategy were obstacles to reaching their operational goals for the new facility.
Enterprise Asset Management – What does it really mean?
Enterprise asset management (EAM) seeks standardization and consistency. In a multi-plant environment, getting everyone aligned and managing their assets in a similar way can be challenging.
Got high-performance EAM/CMMS codes?
Historically, Maintenance, Repair, Operations (MRO) storerooms are paradoxically both overstocked and understocked at the same time.
Balancing MRO Inventory Cost and Spare Parts Availability
Historically, Maintenance, Repair, Operations (MRO) storerooms are paradoxically both overstocked and understocked at the same time.
BOMs are the BOMB
Being unable to get your hands on the right part, at the right time, is the #1 maintenance productivity killer. You can significantly reduce this problem with a Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Bill of Material (BOM).
MRO Materials Management Policy
Did you know that MRO storeroom operations are the #1 driver of maintenance costs, lost productivity, and extended equipment downtime?
An Asset Management SOP
Does your organization rely on its physical assets for success? If so, consider an asset management standard operating procedure (SOP). An asset management SOP is a detailed, written process on how to best manage the organization’s physical assets...
An EAM Model – What your EAM System might be Missing
The design, implementation, and improvement of an organizational enterprise asset management (EAM) Model is an internationally accepted and recognized approach to enterprise asset management. Both PAS 55 and ISO 55000, global international asset management standards, recommend that multi-site, asset-intensive organizations develop an EAM Model to govern and standardize asset management.
Toxic MRO Materials Data – Toxic for the Operation
Master data is master for a reason. It is the basis for high quality asset management information. Complete, accurate, and up-to-date information helps organizations make informed business decisions that will improve asset performance, reduce health, safety, environmental risks, and lower costs.
Have You Mastered Your MRO Master Data?
Master data is master for a reason. It is the basis for high quality asset management information. Complete, accurate, and up-to-date information helps organizations make informed business decisions that will improve asset performance, reduce health, safety, environmental risks, and lower costs.
SwainSmith, Inc. Unveils Latest Version of Popular Synergy™
SwainSmith, Inc., a leading enterprise asset management (EAM) solutions company, announced today that it has released the third and latest...
Asset Management Operation Best Practices Quiz
When's the last time your asset management operation was assessed against best practices? Take the asset management quiz...
Four Codes That Every EAM/CMMS Should Have
Work Order Group and Work Order Type Codes indicate the nature of the maintenance work. The Work Order Group Code breaks work down into its larger segments.
Visualizing Asset Management Information
Asset-intensive organizations realize that rich and actionable information is key to getting their assets to deliver services and produce products in a safe, reliable and environmentally compliant manner.
Do your assets have class?
Where do you start when developing EAM content? It doesn’t matter if you’re developing PM plans, asset names and descriptions, problem and failure codes, or another type of content.
Bridging the Maintenance and Operations Gap!
Getting Maintenance and Operations working closely together can be tough. Functionally, they have competing objectives. Operations wants to run the equipment while Maintenance wants...
Maintenance Scheduling: What it is and Why it is Important!
Maintenance scheduling is the process of selecting, prioritizing, coordinating, and communicating when work takes place and who is assigned to do it. Developing maintenance work schedules is...
Solving Your EAM challenges with data!
One way to attack your asset management challenges is to come at them from a data perspective. There are two types of data that drive great EAM system information. Master data and Transactional data.
Standardizing Enterprise Asset Management Across the Organization
In a multi-plant environment, getting everyone aligned and managing their assets in a similar way can be challenging. Geographical separation, lack of documentation, limited corporate assistance, and absence of standards are some factors that inhibit teamwork and encourage individuals to do things their way.
The Importance of EAM Master Data
Good information is the holy grail of asset management. Everyone is looking for complete, accurate and up-to-date information to make informed business decisions that will improve asset performance, reduce risk and lower costs.
Do you have an ISO 55000 asset management operating model?
An asset management operating model is a framework of organizational, business process and data standards that an organization establishes ... Read More
Cleansed MRO data means savings
In an asset intensive world, timely reactions to every aspect of overall operations are key. When there is something that needs to be done in order to continue...
Utilizing Equipment Failure Codes to Better Understand Your Assets
Do you know the true costs and causes of reliability issues? Learn how to use equipment failure codes to get accurate information about your assets.
Enterprise Asset Management : What Does it Really Mean?
Enterprise asset management (EAM) is a strategy for managing physical
Management Systems: Asset Management’s Best Friend
ISO 55001 management systems are asset management’s best friend. See how this approach standardizes practices and optimizes EAM systems so you can get more ROI.
EAM Pitfall #9: Not Auditing
If you don't audit your EAM/CMMS implementation, it's hard to ensure ROI. Here are some best practices for EAM auditing.
EAM Pitfall #8: Inadequate Reporting Tools
Do you have the CMMS and EAM reports you need? Learn about the tools that turn raw data into asset management insights.
EAM Pitfall #7: Not Measuring Performance
If you're not measuring success, you're guessing. Find out how to use performance measures to drive improvement with your CMMS or EAM system.
EAM Pitfall #6: Wrong Software Configuration
Like tailoring a suit, you should configure your CMMS or EAM system environment to ensure that it's a good fit for your business. Learn how to configure your software to improve buy-in and increase ROI.
Management Systems: A Maintenance Best Practice
How do you drive maintenance improvement? You get systematic with your asset management. Learn why management systems are a best practice for maintenance.
The 5 Stages of Asset Management Excellence
Going from reactive maintenance to enterprise asset management doesn't happen overnight. Explore the journey with this infographic from SwainSmith.
4 WO Code Sets to Transform Your Maintenance Reporting
Work order codes organize maintenance data so you can monitor how the asset management operation is performing. Keep reading to learn about four key coding sets that will give your maintenance reporting a boost.
Standardization and Customization
Standardization is an essential part of enterprise asset management (EAM). A business that has thousands of physical assets spread across multiple sites needs standardized processes, data, and technology for managing those assets.
EAM Codes: The Building Blocks of Maintenance Reporting
If you want to improve your maintenance reporting, start with the building blocks. Implement a structured system of EAM codes. Read more...
Achieving MRO supply chain savings
How to Cut Maintenance Costs by Better Managing Your MRO Parts and Supplies. Read to learn more.
Five Reasons You Need an Asset Management Policy
Do you have a corporate policy for physical asset management? If not, now's the time to develop one. Keep reading to learn why.
Why an Asset Management Model is right for your maintenance operation
Technology can deliver the goods only when it is partnered with effective underlying practices, processes, and procedures. Learn more.
When EAM Technology Gets in Front of Business Process
Technology can deliver the goods only when it is partnered with effective underlying practices, processes, and procedures. Learn more.
Use problem and failure codes to boost asset reliability
Problem and failure codes are key to solving reliability issues. Failure analysis starts with failure codes. Learn more.
Give Maintenance a Boost with Documented Processes
Every asset-intensive operation needs documented maintenance business processes. Learn more.
Want Better Data? Commit to Processes.
Fix your business processes and get better EAM/CMMS data with seven simple steps. Learn how today!
Developing a Comprehensive Preventative and Predictive Maintenance Program
Good job plans are the first step to developing a world-class PM/PdM program. Learn how to develop a great PM/PdM routine today.
EAM Pitfall #5 – Informal or Inefficient Practices
Documented practices are critical to standardizing physical asset management and achieving success with EAM/CMMS software.
EAM Pitfall #4 – Corrupt Data Foundation
If you want to produce rich and reliable information with your EAM/CMMS software, you have to start with a foundation of good data. This means that...
EAM Pitfall #3 – Lack of Organizational Alignment
Lack of alignment is guaranteed to derail your EAM software implementation. Find out how to develop a plan for enterprise asset management—and how to get everyone on board.
EAM Pitfall #2 – Using the Wrong Software for the Job
You wouldn’t use a wrench to drive a nail. So why manage your assets with a software system that's not right for the job? This week, we're comparing CMMS, EAM, and ERP to find the right solution for asset management.
EAM Pitfall #1 – Putting Software before Strategy
When it comes to implementing EAM and CMMS software systems, the prevailing school of thought is centered on the software. You buy it, model your asset management operation around what the software can or can’t do, load master data, train, and go live.
EAM Implementations: When They Struggle (And How to Fix Them)
Why do so many CMMS and EAM software implementations fail to deliver useful information?
Infor EAM Wins 3 Product of the Year Awards
Infor EAM won Product of the Year in three categories in the Product of the Year Awards, hosted by Plant Engineering magazine.
EAM vs. CMMS: Don’t Get Fooled
Today’s market is crowded with hundreds of software systems, each trying to position itself as the perfect maintenance and asset management solution.
Asset Management Systems Explained
SwainSmith helps clients get the most out of their EAM [...]
Going Enterprise with EAM
Going enterprise with EAM is about more than just software. [...]
ERP vs. EAM: Which Is Right for My Organization?
When your assets are on the line, it's important to [...]
A Better Approach to Enterprise Asset Management
The standard playbook for asset management is broken. SwainSmith takes [...]
Using EAM Codes to Improve Asset Information
EAM system coding structures are the most overlooked and underappreciated data elements in the maintenance management software system. This is unfortunate. If developed and applied
Implementing a World-Class Storeroom
Did you know that inefficient storeroom operations are the number one cause of maintenance delay? When technicians can’t find the parts they need, or when a part
Optimize Your EAM Equipment Master
A complete, accurate, structured equipment master (i.e., asset registry) is the starting point for collecting good work order transaction data and generating insightful performance
EAM Master Data: The Missing Ingredient
Accurate, actionable information is the holy grail of asset management. We all want it. We are all trying to get our hands on it. Work order data, equipment histories, inventory lists
Systematizing Your Asset Management Operation
In the movie Deliverance, Burt Reynolds’s character says "Sometimes you have to lose yourself before you can find anything." That statement is never more true than in
It Takes Two to Tango
In asset management it takes two to tango. Practices and technology have to work together to get the job done. Practices create information; software delivers it. Both are responsible