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The Maintenance Management Blog

June 30, 2025

Why Exterior Building Maintenance Matters for Long-Term Building Care


A maintenance technician inspects and repairs a commercial building’s exterior as part of a proactive building planThe initial impression of a commercial property, whether an office complex or a manufacturing plant, rests significantly on its external appearance. Understanding the undeniable importance of exterior building maintenance extends far beyond mere aesthetics. This proactive approach forms a vital defense against environmental stressors and the natural course of time, representing a strategic allocation of resources toward the building's durability, security, and overall worth.

The Importance of Proactive Exterior Maintenance

While a building’s exterior might currently present a satisfactory appearance, neglecting consistent preventative maintenance invites future complications. Consider the analogy of a minor plumbing leak. Initially, it may seem insignificant, yet over time, the resulting damage accumulates, eventually leading to substantial repair expenses or even catastrophic structural failures. This principle directly applies to the various systems and surfaces that comprise a building's exterior envelope.


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Filed under: exterior building maintenance, exterior maintenance, building care — Stephen Brayton on Monday, June 30, 2025

June 26, 2025

Proactive Management: Moving Beyond Reactive Habits


Side-by-side image of a technician making a last-minute repair and another conducting preventative maintenance as part of proactive management.The concept of a proactive personality garners significant attention across various fields. Inspired by a discussion on proactive maintenance from Maintenance World, this exploration delves deeper into the nuances of adopting a forward-thinking approach. While the initial article presented a valuable perspective, this discussion aims to broaden the understanding and address specific points, particularly the notion of a shift in perspective from reactive habits. A thoughtful examination reveals that transitioning to a proactive stance involves more than just speed; it requires a fundamental change in mindset and consistent application across different aspects of life.


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Filed under: proactive management, proactivity in management — Stephen Brayton on Thursday, June 26, 2025

June 25, 2025

Decoding Distribution: The Roles of Distributors and Wholesalers in Commerce


Split-screen image comparing the roles of distributors and wholesalers in the product supply chain.Within the intricate landscape of commerce, numerous entities fulfill specialized roles to ensure the seamless flow of goods. Among these crucial players are the roles of distributors and wholesalers. While often conflated, these two entities perform distinct functions that are vital to the efficacy of the supply network. To fully appreciate their significance, an examination of the supply chain, their individual roles, the criticality of discerning their differences, illustrative industry examples, and the advantages presented by a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) proves beneficial.

How Distributors and Wholesalers Fit into the Modern Supply Chain

Before examining the specific characteristics of distributors and wholesalers, understanding the overarching system in which they operate—the supply chain—is essential. This term frequently appears in business discussions and news reports, yet its fundamental nature warrants clarification. A supply chain represents a comprehensive network encompassing organizations, individuals, activities, information, and resources engaged in the movement of a product or service from its initial supplier to the ultimate consumer. This intricate system spans the entire journey, commencing with the extraction of raw materials and culminating in the final sale of the finished product.


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Filed under: distributors and wholesalers, supply chain, distribution insights — Stephen Brayton on Wednesday, June 25, 2025

June 24, 2025

Why CMMS Scalability Matters for Your Growing Business


 A maintenance technician is pleased with the CMMS scalability on his mobile device as a representation of an efficient maintenance management software.The frustration of buying software often surfaces when you realize you've paid for features gathering digital dust. You acquire a comprehensive package, yet only a fraction addresses your immediate requirements. Moreover, future needs might necessitate purchasing entirely new programs. This rigid structure highlights why CMMS scalability matters for your growing business.

Understanding the Value of Scalable CMMS

When your team contemplates a CMMS investment, initial discussions will pinpoint current operational challenges. These might range from escalating downtime and costs to insufficient inventory control. From these pain points emerge short-term and long-term objectives. Once you identify areas needing improvement, the search for CMMS providers begins. Engage with company representatives to articulate your specific needs. Which modules and functionalities align with your operational goals? A quality CMMS allows you to invest solely in features that directly benefit your organization.


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Filed under: CMMS, scalability, maintenance management software — Stephen Brayton on Tuesday, June 24, 2025

June 23, 2025

Why CMMS Customization Matters in Maintenance Management Software


A CMMS developer adds custom features to maintenance management software to support industry-specific workflowsCustomization refers to the ability to modify and adapt a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to align with an organization's specific maintenance workflows, processes, and requirements. A customizable CMMS allows companies to configure features, interfaces, reports, and workflows, ensuring it integrates seamlessly with their existing operations.

Unlike open-source software, CMMS customization typically requires the expertise of the CMMS provider and its developers. When considering a CMMS investment, it's crucial to discuss customization options, timelines, and costs with potential providers.

Why CMMS Customization Benefits Providers and End Users

While a standard CMMS offers broad functionality, business evolution often necessitates tailoring the system to maintain optimal performance. Here are several compelling reasons to explore CMMS customization:


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Filed under: CMMS customization, maintenance management software — Stephen Brayton on Monday, June 23, 2025

June 19, 2025

Mastering Maintenance Management: Concepts for Effective Maintenance


A maintenance supervisor leads a team meeting focused on effective maintenance management strategies.This piece explores the vital elements for achieving mastery in maintenance management. Proper oversight in this area forms the foundation for efficient and dependable operations across diverse industries, from manufacturing to energy. It includes several categories, such as asset, inventory, preventive maintenance, and work order management. This also demands skills in planning and scheduling these areas. Maintenance supervisors might purchase materials or oversee barcoding. The strategies, techniques, and principles applied ensure equipment lasts longer and minimizes downtime.

Core Principles of Effective Maintenance Management

Leadership and Communication in Maintenance

For a team to succeed, a supervisor must cultivate leadership and communication abilities. Developing these skills through experience helps find optimal ways to guide a maintenance team. To begin, strong leadership skills and well-developed communication skills prove essential. While communication falls under leadership, both matter from the outset for effective maintenance management.


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Filed under: maintenance management, preventive maintenance, CMMS — Stephen Brayton on Thursday, June 19, 2025

June 18, 2025

Effective Purchase Order Management for Business Success


Two warehouse employees use CMMS software to streamline purchase order management and improve purchasing efficiency.Every company engages in purchasing, from acquiring inventory for sale to securing equipment for operations and maintaining necessary supplies. To maintain fiscal responsibility, businesses establish a purchasing process or management system. Given the variations across industries and companies, the central question becomes: how does one have effective purchase order management for business success? Let's delve into this process and explore valuable recommendations.

Understanding the Purchase Order Process

Individual companies develop unique versions and procedures for each step in their purchasing. Often, purchasing involves multiple stages, including an approval workflow we'll discuss later.

Initiating Purchase Requests

Many acquisitions start with a request. Employees might submit these requests verbally or in writing. Subsequently, evaluating the urgency of these requests demands specific skills. Prioritization hinges on factors like necessity and budget.

A request might gain verbal or written consent, yet maintaining documentation benefits both records and the accounting department. For numerous organizations, a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) serves as a central hub for both requests and the subsequent purchase order phase. For example, the system administrator can configure an approval sequence where a supervisor or manager must authorize the request or order. Upon managerial approval, the process advances.


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Filed under: purchase order management, procurement, CMMS — Stephen Brayton on Wednesday, June 18, 2025

June 17, 2025

Why Warehouse Logistics Are Essential for Streamlined Order Fulfillment


A disorganized warehouse, showing inefficiencies that warehouse logistics can solve.Businesses need products to move. Maintenance departments need inventory. In either case, each needs to understand the importance of warehouse logistics. Unless supervisors monitor and review organization, chaos tends to sap efficiency.

In this article, we'll discuss the following topics:

  • What Is Warehouse Logistics and Why It Matters.
  • How Organization Reduces Costs in Warehouse Logistics.
  • Common Warehouse Logistics Challenges and How to Overcome Them.
  • 6 Actionable Steps to Improve Warehouse Order and Flow.
  • Using CMMS Software to Support Warehouse Logistics.

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Filed under: warehouse logistics, warehouse order — Stephen Brayton on Tuesday, June 17, 2025

June 16, 2025

7 Common Asset Management Challenges and How to Solve Them


Illustration of a maintenance worker facing asset management challengesIndustries and companies have assets. Equipment, vehicles, structures, etc. To properly care for them, you have to overcome at least seven asset management challenges. This article will discuss those challenges, suggest solutions, and we'll see how a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) can help.

Remember the adage of identifying the problem before you can solve it. With a full understanding, you have more options for solutions.

Enhancing Asset Visibility for Smarter Asset Management

A fundamental challenge—knowing precisely what assets an organization owns, where they are located, and their current condition. This may sound unbelievable, but some companies don't have a full understanding of what they have. And maybe they don't know the location of everything.


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Filed under: asset management, asset lifecycle, asset performance — Stephen Brayton on Monday, June 16, 2025

June 12, 2025

The Ultimate Guide to Hospital Facility Maintenance & PM


Hospital technician performing preventative maintenance on MRI equipment.When discussing industries that need maintenance, one may overlook hospitals. A well-maintained hospital environment contributes to patient safety, staff efficiency, and overall operational success.

This guide to hospital facility maintenance will highlight:

⮚ Key Areas That Require Hospital Maintenance/p>

⮚ Managing Hospital Assets to Improve Facility Efficiency

⮚ Preventative Maintenance (PM) for Hospitals: Why It Matters

⮚ Examples of Preventative Maintenance Tasks in Hospitals

⮚ How CMMS Software Enhances Hospital Facility Maintenance


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Filed under: hospital facility maintenance, preventative maintenance for hospitals — Stephen Brayton on Thursday, June 12, 2025