Downtimes in the automotive industry can be expensive. With so many automated processes involving large machinery continuously running, it is possible for a piece of equipment to malfunction or breaks down if they are not properly maintained.
Many automotive manufacturers rely on computerized maintenance management systems, otherwise known as CMMS, to streamline the maintenance process as they seek to develop cleaner, safe, smarter, and more energy-efficient manufacturing processes. With a CMMS, automotive manufacturers not only can meet their maintenance objectives but also get more visibility into their supply chain and the production process.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of utilizing a CMMS in the automotive industry.
Simplified Work Order Tracking
Supply chain inefficiencies can be extremely damaging for automotive manufacturers. For automotive manufacturers, time is of the essence, and hence, minimizing costly downtime can be critical to their productivity.
A CMMS helps automotive manufacturers to streamline their operations and track work order status. With worldwide supply chain involvement, it can be extremely hectic for car manufacturers to oversee operations and maintain safe, efficient environments across multiple sites.
What’s more, there might be hundreds of work orders piling up for thousands of assets across multiple plant locations, making it difficult for maintenance teams to keep track of maintenance activities, thus increasing downtimes and delayed response times.
With a robust maintenance management tool in place, it becomes easier for automotive manufacturers to communicate with operators, suppliers, inspectors, and maintenance technicians while they fulfil work requests both onsite and offsite.
Also, with CMMS any work requests on the floor can be updated which keeps teams better informed and facilitates detailed and robust documentation. With this information, manufacturers are able to know what assets will be up and running for scheduled production.
Data-Driven Key Metrics
Producing a single vehicle may require 20,000 to 30,000 parts. With that type of volume, there remains a possibility of an error during the production process. Progressive automotive manufacturers already utilize CMMS to organize their assets and set the standard for machine performance across all locations to improve productivity.
Besides, a CMMS can function as a maintenance database and provide the automotive manufacturer company-wide visibility. A CMMS also facilitates auto-generation of reports with which maintenance teams can spot key performance trends and make better-informed decisions.
As a result, top-performing machines can be reported, allowing maintenance teams to inspect the assets that may need to be replaced or repaired.
Utilizing The Maintenance Database To Prove Compliance
Automotive manufacturers must follow strict guidelines and regulations as there are multiple tiers of suppliers with various global players involved. One such standard is IATF 16949:2016.
This standard is an ISO technical specification that aims to develop the quality of management systems that provides for continual improvement, defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain of the automotive industry.
CMMS makes it easier for automotive manufacturers to maintain an internal database for proving compliance with various environmental, safety, and import and export standards.
Streamlines Preventative Maintenance
Manufacturers worldwide, regardless of the sector they operate in, know the importance of preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance (PM) is a proactive approach to maintenance that involves routine and regular inspections and maintenance of equipment so that problems can be identified and resolved before they become major issues.
Preventative maintenance helps automotive manufacturers to minimize downtime and improve the lifespan of their equipment. Mitigating machine and equipment problems early on also lessens replacement costs. Not only that but the number of emergency work orders can also be cut down with preventative maintenance.
Large-scale costly repairs can be avoided and ultimately automotive manufacturers can ensure a safe and efficient working environment for all the workers involved in the production process.
Author Bio: Riyan N. Alam is a digital marketing analyst at CloudApper, a supplier of mobile ERP solutions, including CMMS software, facility management software, and many more. Combining his passion for reading books, he writes about subjects valuable to people and their daily lives. Riyan loves travelling and trading in his free time.
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