Specifying the most appropriate computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) for an institutional or commercial facility depends on many factors that are specific to a maintenance and engineering department, according to a Facility Maintenance Decisions article on the FacilitiesNet website.

Among the factors managers need to consider in making a selection are these:

• A cloud-based system generally provides greater scalability, disaster recovery, and data security.

• The software provider should be able to provide a test program so managers and technicians can see what the platform looks like, as well as the functions it offers

• The purchase should include training. Most CMMS are robust and, as a result, potentially confusing. Training is an essential feature of the system, and should be thoroughly completed prior to implementation. Errors that occur during set up can linger and haunt users for months or even years until they master the system.

Read the full Facility Maintenance Decisions article.