August 12, 2015
Why the Ghostbusters Should Use a CMMS
Right now, you can't turn on a TV, browse a social media site, or read a magazine without hearing about the new "Ghostbusters" movie. With all the buzz surrounding the remake, I couldn't help but wonder – how could the Ghostbusters have benefitted from having a reliable CMMS system in place? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that a CMMS really could have prevented some huge disasters in the original movie, and saved our heroes some anguish.
In the 1980s when the movie was made, companies were just beginning to use CMMS software exclusively on computers. Most facilities still used the old punch card system. Technicians would punch failure codes and other important information into punch cards, and then fed the cards into computers. Even though it may have been slightly inconvenient, I still think that the gang should have used one. Just think of how much easier their jobs would have been if they did.
They"d know how to use their equipment.
Throughout the movie, Peter keeps on asking Ray and Egon questions about how their equipment works. He especially has trouble getting the hang of his proton pack in the beginning. When they are in the hotel, Peter sees the green ghost staring at him, and he freezes. Instead of confidently using his proton pack to blast the ghost, he uses a walkie-talkie to ask Ray what to do. So, how would a CMMS have changed this? Easy. If the CMMS had a mobile app (like MAPCON mobile), he would have the proton pack owner"s manual and instructions right at his fingertips! Instead of relying on Ray and Egon for help, he could just look up how to use the equipment on his phone, which probably would have prevented him from being slimed.
Additionally, Egon probably wouldn't have to constantly remind them not to cross the streams. Having the owner's manual and equipment instructions in their mobile device mean they can review all important safety information prior to vaporizing ghosts.
Walter Peck, who?
With the addition of a CMMS, I believe that Walter Peck (the guy from the EPA), would be completely cut out of the movie. Why? Because our heroes would know all of the EPA rules and regulations by looking them up in their mobile CMMS. And, they would be able to make sure all equipment meets those standards consistently by setting up preventive maintenance schedules on all equipment.
A preventive maintenance schedule would not only keep the machines compliant with EPA standards, but it would also help prevent those important machines from breaking down, thus making the Ghostbusters able to bust even more ghosts.
Repairs, repairs, repairs.
Let's face it – capturing ghosts and saving the city of New York from destruction can be a dirty job. Most of the time, our heroes are on location so they don't really have to worry about making repairs. However, at the beginning of the movie, they have to put a lot of elbow grease into fixing up the fire station and ECTO-1. Being able to create work requests in a CMMS could have streamlined their repair processes and gotten them up and running even faster.
And, perhaps even more importantly, a CMMS could definitely provide some assistance in repairing the large hole in their roof from all of the ghosts escaping.
We'll have to wait and see if the women in the remake use a CMMS!