| You have been given the responsibility of | | | | make adjustments on a timely basis. Adoption |
| purchasing a Computerized Maintenance | | | | chances fall as employees and management |
| Management Software (CMMS) or Enterprise | | | | become uneasy about success. |
| Asset Management (EAM) system AND making | | | | 7. You expect instant results. Defining your assets |
| sure the software is installed and implemented | | | | (locations, naming and organizing) requires time. |
| correctly. If you proceed without "Buy-In" from | | | | Good CMMS and EAM also systems require |
| senior management, your peers and staff, the | | | | training, and a scheduled for roll out if you have in |
| probability of a successful change falls like a rock. | | | | multiple locations or are of a certain size. |
| For some people it seems knowing what to do is | | | | Implementation may take from 6 weeks to 18 |
| not always enough. Perhaps if we look at what | | | | months or more. Although some results maybe |
| NOT to do it will help. | | | | almost immediate, insisting on results immediately |
| Ten Mistakes: | | | | after purchase is not realistic. In addition, morale |
| 1. You don't know how the details of how your | | | | and buy-in may suffer as staff have a tendency |
| assets are currently being managed. If you don't | | | | to be more resistant to change if expectations |
| understand the work-flow how will you be able to | | | | cannot be met. |
| identify the opportunity for savings? A lack of | | | | 8. Don't plan enough time for training. You can self |
| understanding of the opportunity will not convince | | | | teach yourself a lot of things, but a qualified and |
| the key people needed to support the decision? | | | | knowledgeable trainer will shorten the learning |
| 2. Seek out the cheapest product you can find. | | | | curve and increase the speed at which ROI is |
| Being too cheap is an indication that you like to | | | | obtained. The time until ROI is achieved is |
| cut corners. Buy-in will be hesitant as the idea is | | | | decreased if the appropriate levels of the |
| to find the tool enabling maximum maximum | | | | company all learn all the to use the system to its |
| savings. "You get what you pay for" and buying | | | | fullest extent. See how training impacts EAM |
| the cheapest product will not integrate with hand | | | | CMMS. |
| held devices. | | | | 9. You fail to clearly define your assets. From |
| 3. Don't integrate hand held devices and other | | | | location to naming conventions it is important that |
| technologies. You must change the paradigm from | | | | you follow the same guidelines for naming the |
| a paper based system into an automated wireless | | | | assets through out your company. Asset tracking |
| system system capable of being as mobile as | | | | and maintenance is the core of a CMMS. The |
| your staff. | | | | output you expect is only as good as the input |
| 4. Don't ask anyone if they will use it until after | | | | you provide. |
| you buy the SaaS. Forcing change on staff will | | | | 10. You fail to recognize that the installation of an |
| always meet with great resistance. Better if they | | | | EAM/CMMS is a function of change management. |
| tell you what they need and would like and | | | | "Buy-In" is easiest to achieve when you involve |
| purchase with their input. | | | | other people in the decision making process right |
| 5. Don't do your due diligence on the product and | | | | from the beginning. Allowing others to provide |
| the company that supports it. Will the company | | | | input and sharing control empowers authorship |
| be in existence in 3-5 years, are they stable, how | | | | and a pride for see the project through to fruition. |
| good is there tech support and training? What | | | | Read "Change Management with EAM Systems" |
| happens if they go out of business? Is the | | | | for additional insight. |
| product scalable? Will the product interface with | | | | It does not matter if you are a government |
| our other systems? Is the EAM system hosted? | | | | organization, hospital or a utility company seeking |
| 6. Don't establish benchmarks and other | | | | a hosted maintenance solution. Avoiding these |
| measurements of success during the planning | | | | mistakes will help you make the right decisions |
| stages. If you can not measure your success or | | | | regardless of the industry you are in. |
| failure as you progress, you will not be able to | | | | |