Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) for years have been demonstrating their value to maintenance and engineering managers, from tracking the organization’s assets to scheduling and tracking maintenance tasks. But managers can use a CMMS to benefit other areas, including inventory management, according to an article from Facility Maintenance Decisions on the FacilitiesNet website.

For maintenance technicians to be able to perform maintenance tasks in a timely manner, they must have ready access to the replacement parts when they are needed. Knowing the needed parts and the number of each to stock can be a major headache for managers.

Too much inventory ties up too much capital and too much warehouse space. Too little inventory or the wrong inventory slows the completion of maintenance work orders. The challenge for managers is ensuring that technicians have the parts and materials they need when they need them without breaking the budget.

In a typical year, organizations spend more than $100 billion on operating and maintenance parts and materials, from replacement components to cleaning supplies. Studies have shown that organizations that do not have a CMMS with an inventory management component end up stockpiling 10 percent or more of the materials ordered on a warehouse shelf somewhere, never to be used. Much of it eventually becomes obsolete. And when the warehouse runs out of space, much of this unused inventory gets trashed.

A successful inventory system balances inventory levels against costs while forecasting technician needs, taking into account replenishment lead times and the time during the year technicians need the part. A CMMS-based inventory management system can accomplish this by giving managers the information they need at the time they need it.

Read the article.