Best Systems Are Capable of ‘Predictive Maintenance’
Our own Shannon Roche and Jim Henderson, writing for Health Management Technology about what it means to implement and optimize an enterprise asset management (EAM) system:
The value of a successful maintenance-management program supported by an integrated software solution is profound. This combination can be the foundation for healthcare organizations to achieve full visibility to the entire lifecycle of invaluable assets. But what do healthcare organizations need to do – and understand – in order to implement that kind of next-generation system?
Visualize and design: First and foremost, identify operational priorities. The best EAM systems operate with a large amount of flexibility and can be adapted to suit the individual practices and professional goals of an organization. Once the healthcare organization establishes what it needs from the system – from big-picture goals down to the smallest details – the next step is to determine how you actually want it to work. A professional consultant can walk you through that process, helping to define the maintenance program and strategy.
Lay the groundwork: Identifying specific maintenance standards and metrics can be a challenge. But in order to fully utilize the power of an EAM system – with its ability to track those disparate variables – those standards should be clarified ahead of time. It is also important to identify, evaluate and mitigate or resolve any post-implementation risks/liabilities. For example, centralizing all replacement parts can actually create a surprisingly difficult inventory problem. Finally, the requirements for an effective software solution that will support your program, processes and procedures should be identified and carefully noted.
Train and deploy: Educate the team responsible for transforming your maintenance practices and implementing your system. Even the best system is only as good as its users, and helping users achieve technical and operational fluency is a must. Once thorough training is complete, implement your maintenance practices and deploy the system to support said applications.
Stay on track: Deployment is just the beginning. The up-front investment is where most energy is expended, but it is also important to conduct regular follow-ups and periodic formal evaluations to ensure that the new maintenance management program and supporting system are working as intended and delivering the anticipated results. Reinforce the program through ongoing training and support.
Once clients begin to realize the true value of an integrated approach to EAM, a whole dimension of operational efficiency opens for them. Getting past the datasheet level takes some digging — especially in terms of making EAM right for your organization — but once you see the value it offers, there’s no going back. It’s like Morpheus offering Neo the blue pill or the red pill in The Matrix: the blue offers an ignorant bliss, whereas red a vibrant view of reality that once seen can never be unseen.
Digging into EAM and what it can do for your organization is, in many ways, its own red pill.
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