Published: April 28, 2017 Updated: December 31, 2024
Why Your CMMS Should Include Barcoding
Inventory control is an important part of any operation, but keeping track of your assets and tools can be a time consuming and difficult feat. That’s why many computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), such as MAPCON, offer barcoding as an optional add-on feature.
How can a CMMS with barcoding help you?
You can create barcode labels. MAPCON’s barcode module allows users to create their own custom labels, which can be used for employees, equipment, and tools. The labels can include a few different things, such as the employee or equipment name, a description, and a QR code. They can even be created to include the company logo.
It can save you time. The main way barcodes are used within an ethanol plant is for inventory control. When a work order is created against a piece of equipment, a worker can simply scan the barcode on the equipment with their mobile device and the equipment will be brought up, instead of having to enter the ID number manually. Additionally, during inventory counts, items can simply be scanned instead of having to actually be counted, which can be a huge time saver. Additionally, when parts ordered are received, the module allows users to print barcodes right from the receiving screen, and they can print many of them at a time instead of having to create a label for each item.
It can save your company money. We’ve all heard the saying – "time is money" haven’t we? Well, this is definitely true in the maintenance world. Anything that is a time saver is generally a money saver as well, and that is true of the barcode module. Think about it this way, if people are spending less time manually inputting data, that means they have more time to complete necessary repairs or preventive maintenance. That, in turn, is sure to decrease machine downtime, thus saving the company money. Also, during inventory counts, since the parts can be scanned instead of counted manually, fewer workers and fewer hours will be needed in order to complete the count.
It will cut down on errors. We’ve all also heard the saying "to err is human". The truth is, errors are inevitable. Especially when data is input manually. A simple typo or switching of numbers can have a huge impact. When a barcode on a piece of equipment is scanned, the information on that piece comes up automatically, and a work order can be created from there. Since a human isn’t actually putting in the equipment number but is instead scanning a barcode, the risk of errors severely decreases.
These days, companies all across the globe are looking for ways to save both time and money. Having a barcoding module integrated within your CMMS system is one of the easiest ways to do this. This module can allow you to create your own custom labels, as well as save you time and money, and help cut down on errors.
For more information on MAPCON’s barcode module, click here.