Published: November 11, 2024  Updated: December 31, 2024

Understanding Wrench Time

In the maintenance world, we often hear the term “wrench time.” How do we understand what wrench time entails? How can you improve the efficiency of maintenance technicians? How does a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS> benefit technicians and supervisors?

Let’s explore and answer all of those questions.

What is it?

Wrench time measures the actual time maintenance technicians spend on work assignments. Remember, however, that while the technician may be “on shift” it does not mean you count all those hours for wrench time. You shouldn’t include-

• the time needed to gather the required inventory.
• discussions with a supervisor or coworkers about the job.
• travel time to the location.
• breaks.

The goal of this measurement? To improve productivity.

This means both effectiveness and efficiency. Effective: Quality control. First-time right. Efficiency: How long it takes the worker to complete the job.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Evaluation

As with any operational strategy, you have to understand the assets and liabilities. Measuring wrench time must take into account certain factors.

Advantages

1. Matching Skills to Work Orders: One of the best ways to have better numbers entails putting the right people in the right jobs. As a supervisor, you should know the skills of your team members. Therefore, you assign the person or crew that possesses the best experience.
2. Productivity: As mentioned, you want the best out of your technicians. Analyzing percentages offers opportunities for feedback and further discussions.
3. Budgeting: Costs play a huge role in all operations. Better wrench time productivity means a better use of time and money.
4. Time Management: Some jobs require more time. Estimations on completion times don’t always pan out. By measuring the work time, you make adjustments for future work.
5. Skill Enhancement: The Catch-22 of this shows that more experience should teach more or new skills. However, you need those skills to get the job in the first place. You walk that thin line. However, wrench time figures out ways of improving skills for everyone.

Disadvantages

1. Minimizing Other Activities: You cannot overlook the essential work time. However, don’t dismiss the importance of prep work. This includes problem diagnosis and inventory gathering. Example: A worker finishes the job in ten minutes. However, he spent fifteen minutes analyzing the problem and developing the correct solution.
2. Low Morale: Don’t let low wrench times cause tension between coworkers. Investigate the reasons behind the situation.
3. False Productivity: Joe has great numbers. Bob has lower wrench time percentages. However, Bob completed complex projects. Joe had “easy” work, which led to better attainment numbers.

Once again, investigate each case independently on its own merit. Keep the team spirit positive. Offer positive feedback to both parties.

CMMS and Wrench Time

How does a CMMS benefit workers’ wrench time? The largest value, of course, comes in the form of organization.

1. Asset Management: Better tracking of assets and equipment means more knowledge about each. Supervisors pass along that information to workers. In time, the technicians learn about the “habits” of equipment.
2. Inventory Management: An organized stockroom and a better overview of parts means less search time.
3. Preventive Maintenance: The maintenance team has better oversight over PMs. With frequency and prioritization, efficiency improves over time.
4. Work Order Management: With a standard work order template, supervisors add as much data as needed. You can attach images, documents, and safety protocols.

You have plenty of room to detail the job. The technician doesn’t spend time wondering what to do. He has it in front of him.

A robust CMMS system offers several advantages in measuring and improving wrench time.

Tips to Improve Wrench Time

1. Standardization: You’ll always want to look for improvement changes. However, if you develop a routine operational strategy, you have better chances of success. One job needs completed in specific steps A, B, and C. You do that every time. Another needs another set of instructions time after time.
2. Communication: Improve everyone’s communication skills for better wrench time numbers. Clarity is key. Less confusion means fewer questions.
3. Know Your Facility: The maintenance team should know the property and the layout of buildings. Knowing the location of assets saves wandering around trying to find the piece of equipment. The CMMS helps with this. If you have the location of the job within the work order, technicians know where to go.
4. Inventory Management: I mentioned this before. Never have a shortage or stockout of parts. A CMMS can auto-generate a purchase request if quantities get too low. Wrench time doesn’t suffer if parts stay available.
5. Optimize Travel Routes: Does your CMMS allow for routes? This means a technician completes similar jobs in various locations. Instead of a work order for each, you have one work order for all. That way, the worker moves from job to job without having to call up a separate work order for the same job elsewhere.
6. Review Safety Protocols: This includes lockout/tagout, hazardous chemicals, and equipment protection devices. The more detailed safety instructions a worker knows, the better the wrench time.
7. Continuous Training and Skill Development: Never stop learning. Never stop improving your skills. Leadership, communications, and mechanical. Regularly review strategy, operations, and procedures.
8. Reports: Use numerous reports, including key performance indicator reports (KPI) for better oversight into assets. Use labor reports for assessing wrench time.

Conclusion

As a supervisor, you want the best from your team. You don’t want to overwhelm the technicians with work. Instead, you expect better quality in the jobs they do.

Understanding wrench time for better numbers doesn't necessarily mean technicians spend more time on the job. Instead, you’re looking at the quality plus the amount of time used.

Using a CMMS helps a maintenance supervisor and team members with better organization and clarity. Communication is key. Without it, you see the deleterious effect on wrench time and other operations.

Call Mapcon Technologies for a superior CMMS. Up your wrench time and get on the path to maintenance management success. 800-922-4336