Published: January 28, 2016  Updated: April 21, 2025

Insights from Industry Leaders: Maintenance Strategies in Famous Facilities

The world of facility maintenance presents a diverse landscape. While the fundamental principles of keeping equipment running smoothly appear straightforward, the specific application varies significantly across different industries. Let's examine insights from industry leaders and look at maintenance strategies in these famous facilities. By understanding how these leading organizations approach maintenance, we can gain insights applicable to our own unique challenges.

Examining Maintenance Practices of Renowned Companies

Across the globe, countless facilities strive for operational excellence, with maintenance departments playing a crucial role. These teams aim to minimize disruptions, ensure safety, and ultimately contribute to the company's bottom line. The consequences of neglecting maintenance can be severe, leading to production halts, safety incidents, and financial losses. Fortunately, we can look to industry giants for examples of the potential of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) for effective maintenance.

Hershey: Maintaining Sweet Production

Hershey, a global leader in chocolate and confectionery, exemplifies the importance of consistent production. Their facilities handle intricate processes involving precise temperature controls and numerous specialized molds. Any breakdown in their assembly lines can lead to significant waste and lost revenue. A CMMS would play a vital role in Hershey's operations. They could use a CMMS to schedule preventative maintenance on critical equipment like cooling tunnels, molding machines, and packaging lines. The system would track maintenance history, generate work orders, and manage inventory of spare parts, ensuring timely repairs and minimizing downtime. Furthermore, a CMMS could help Hershey adhere to strict food safety regulations by documenting cleaning schedules and maintenance performed on equipment that comes into contact with food products.

Cadbury: Preventing Cross-Contamination

Another major player in the chocolate industry, Cadbury, with its primary production site in Bournville, England, highlights the critical need for quality control, especially concerning allergens. Preventing cross-contamination, such as peanut dust in plain chocolate, is paramount for consumer safety. Cadbury would employ a CMMS to enforce stringent cleaning protocols and track the maintenance of equipment used for different product lines. The CMMS can schedule regular deep cleaning tasks, record the completion of these tasks, and flag potential risks based on maintenance history. This meticulous record-keeping helps ensure compliance with food safety standards and protects consumers with allergies.

Boeing: Rapid Response in Aerospace

Boeing, a leading aerospace manufacturer, operates in an industry where downtime carries enormous financial implications. Delays in aircraft departures can cost airlines thousands of dollars per minute. Boeing's maintenance operations extend beyond their own production facilities to include a vast network supporting aircraft already in service.

A CMMS for Boeing would mean better efficiency in the maintenance of their manufacturing equipment, ensuring the timely production of aircraft parts. Moreover, their support network could use a CMMS to track the availability of spare parts and manage the logistics of rapid delivery in emergency situations. This system allows for better communication between vendors, maintenance crews, and airlines, minimizing the time aircraft spend out of service.

Dow Chemical: Prioritizing Safety with Hazardous Materials

Dow Chemical, a producer of numerous everyday products, deals with potentially hazardous chemicals, making safety a top priority. Spill prevention and proper handling procedures are critical to protect employees and the environment. How would Dow likely use a CMMS to manage the maintenance of equipment involved in chemical processing and storage, such as pumps, valves, and storage tanks? The system can schedule regular inspections, track the condition of safety equipment, and store safety data sheets (SDS) for employees handling hazardous materials. In the event of a spill, the CMMS can provide quick access to maintenance history and safety protocols, facilitating a rapid and effective response.

Ready to revolutionize your maintenance department? Schedule a live demo today.

Expanding the Scope: CMMS in Diverse Industries

The principles of effective maintenance management, supported by a CMMS, extend far beyond these examples. Let's consider how a CMMS might function in other prominent industries.

Hospitals: Ensuring Patient Care Through Equipment Uptime

In a hospital setting, the uptime of medical equipment directly impacts patient care. From MRI machines to ventilators, these machines must remain reliable. A CMMS in a hospital would manage the maintenance schedules for all medical equipment, track repair history, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations. It would also manage the maintenance of the facility itself, including HVAC systems, electrical infrastructure, and plumbing, all of which contribute to a safe and comfortable environment for patients and staff.

Data Centers: Maintaining Uninterrupted Operations

Data centers require constant uptime to support the digital infrastructure of modern society. Any interruption can have widespread consequences. A CMMS in a data center would focus on the preventative maintenance of critical systems like cooling units, power generators, and network hardware. The system would monitor equipment performance, predict potential failures, and schedule maintenance to avoid disruptions. Efficient management of these assets ensures the continuous flow of data and services.

Power Plants: Guaranteeing Energy Supply

Power plants, whether they utilize fossil fuels, nuclear energy, or renewable sources, must operate reliably to meet energy demands. A CMMS in a power plant would manage the complex maintenance schedules for turbines, generators, and transmission equipment. It would track inspections, repairs, and regulatory compliance, ensuring the safe and efficient generation of electricity. The ability to anticipate and prevent equipment failures is crucial for maintaining a stable energy supply.

Amusement Parks: Prioritizing Guest Safety

Amusement parks prioritize the safety and enjoyment of their guests. A CMMS in an amusement park would manage the rigorous inspection and maintenance schedules for all rides, ensuring they meet safety standards. It would track maintenance logs, schedule repairs, and manage the inventory of specialized parts. This meticulous approach to maintenance helps prevent accidents and ensures a positive experience for visitors.

Visiting other facilities and learning about their maintenance practices can indeed provide valuable insights. Understanding how different organizations leverage tools like a CMMS to address their unique challenges can inspire improvements in your own maintenance department. The key takeaway is that while the specific applications may vary, the underlying principles of proactive maintenance, safety, and efficiency remain universal.

For further information about how a CMMS brings efficiency and organization to other industries, visit Mapcon's Case Studies..

Mapcon / 800-922-4336