Easy to use. Powerful software. Priced right.

The Maintenance Management Blog

February 28, 2017

Why Your Ethanol Plant Should Use a CMMS

Environmental CMMS

These days more and more people are choosing to be environmentally friendly when filling up their tank, by using gasoline with ethanol. As a result, ethanol plants are in higher demand than ever. Due to the high demand for ethanol, it is critical that plants produce as much of it as possible. A Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), such as MAPCON, is a great addition to any ethanol plant that is looking to increase production and decrease downtime.

A good CMMS will decrease spending and therefore also increase a plant’s profit margin. The software decreases spending in a few different ways. First of all, a CMMS can decrease machine downtime. When machines are down, part of production time is lost, which results in a plant losing money. The software tracks machine downtime which can help predict and prevent future downtime by displaying patterns. For example, a report might show that belts on certain machines are more likely to break when it is cold outside. Knowing that the plant can stock up on belts during that time of year, or try and prevent them from breaking by increasing the temperature around the machine.

Preventive maintenance routes within a CMMS can also be a huge money and time saver. By scheduling regular preventive maintenance tasks, such as an oil change or machine lubrication, the lifetime of the equipment can be extended. Also, catching a potential issue before it manifests will undoubtedly save money on both repairs and machine downtime.

Additionally, with MAPCON Advanced Inventory and Advanced Purchasing modules, a plant can ensure they will never run out of parts needed for repairs. Our CMMS has something called automatic reorder. The maintenance manager can put a minimum in for each part. Once that minimum is reached, a purchase requisition is automatically set up and emailed to the user. From there, the part can be ordered directly from the vendor. This helps make sure that parts are available as needed, so any necessary repairs can be completed without delay.

A mobile CMMS can be another huge advantage. With a mobile app, workers can access their CMMS software right from their smartphone or tablet, which can save time. When a worker is on the floor and sees a piece of equipment that needs to be repaired, they can simply take out their smartphone and create a work request, right then and there instead of having to trek back to their PC and try to remember all of the needed information. Additionally, attachments (such as photos) can be added to the work requests, which can help clarify the issue and save time.

Still not convinced? Go ahead and give MAPCON a try, FREE for 30 days! Begin your Evaluation of MAPCON CMMS today!

 

Lisa Richards

About the Author – Lisa Richards

Lisa Richards is an experienced professional in the field of industrial management and is an avid blogger about maintenance management systems and productivity innovation. Richards' undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering opened the door for her initial career path with a Midwest-based agricultural implement manufacturer with global market reach. Over a span of 10 years, Lisa worked her way through various staff leadership positions in the manufacturing process until reaching the operations manager level at a construction and forestry equipment facility. Lisa excelled at increasing productivity while maintaining or lowering operating budgets for her plant sites.

An Illinois native, Lisa recently returned to her suburban Chicago North Shore hometown to raise her family. Lisa has chosen to be active in her community and schools while her two young girls begin their own journey through life. Richards has now joined the MAPCON team as an educational outreach writer in support of their efforts to inform maintenance management specialists about the advantages in marrying advanced maintenance software with cutting-edge facility and industrial management strategies.

Filed under: CMMS, Environmental CMMS, MAPCON CMMS — Lisa Richards on February 28, 2017