Try FacilitiesDesk

How easy to get a evaluation copy of a CMMS/CAFM software ? How often you feel, why it is difficult to get a evaluation copy or access to a online demo of a CMMS or CAFM software ?

Most of the time you end up making a decision based on the limited resources available on the net. Thats why, we at FacilitiesDesk have all the options open

You can play with online demo or you can download a evaluation copy. No form registration, we have a strong belief that if you like the product you will comeback. You download the product, evaluate it against your requirements or play with the online demo. If it meets the requirements the next step is to look at the pricing. Again you have the complete information on pricing in our website with the option to buy online.
Forgot to mention, you have free support during your evaluation.

CAFM Pricing

From whatever we read on internet its all about six figure investment to implement a CAFM System. If the cost of the software itself is huge added to that you have annual maintenance cost for the software that will be in four to five figure range then how to justify the selection of software. For any organization (small, medium or large ), it will be impossible to afford a CAFM system with that pricing.

ManageEngine FacilitiesDesk takes a different tack. We have a one user free version and we have published our pricing starting from 995 $. No hidden costs, Come on, I hear you say, how can a product that costs 80-90% below the competition be just as good? Actually we say our product is better, but don't take my word for it. Try it out yourself . You have the following options to try

Product Demo link
http://demo.facilitiesdesk.com

Product Download link
http://www.manageengine.com/products/facilities-desk/download.html

Product Pricing
http://www.manageengine.com/products/facilities-desk/store.html

Maintenance - Planning & Scheduling

From David Berger's article on Planning versus Scheduling

Maintenance planning: Maintenance planning ensures the most cost-effective use of capital and operating budgets to meet your performance targets. This includes the following elements:

• Ensuring the most cost-effective policy for each asset and component, encompassing failure-based, use-based or condition-based maintenance
• Establishing efficient and effective job plans for planned or repetitive maintenance work
• Determining resource requirements to implement year’s maintenance program, including identifying any training needs
• Ensuring adequate spare parts availability to meet this year’s demand, balanced with a healthy turnover rate and low obsolescence
• Optimizing processes and making full use of supporting technology such as your CMMS, mobile devices and analytical tools
• Tracking results and modifying plans in order to meet or exceed priority performance targets

Maintenance scheduling

Despite the clever plans that might be drafted as described above, nothing really happens unless work is actually scheduled. Maintenance scheduling is the process of matching the work backlog that results from the planning cycle with available staff, contractors, materials, equipment and other resources. This includes committing to a calendar date.

The CMMS is an excellent tool for both maintenance planning and scheduling. Sophisticated features abound such as:

• Ability to sort and filter a schedule by type of work, craft, time period, priority, required date, percent completion, etc.
• Drag and drop capability on a graphical schedule, for more easily balancing workload by moving work orders from one day or crew to another
• “What-if” analysis to play with various schedules in simulation mode, and select a schedule only if optimal
• Tools to assist with turnarounds and major overhauls

To maximize resource utilization and efficiency, there always should be more work in backlog than resources available to accomplish it. Schedules need constant revision as work is completed, new work requests are received, and priorities change. As well, CMMS analysis tools allow maintenance planners to detect trends and anomalies so longer-term maintenance plans can be updated, such as switching from a policy of failure-based to condition-based maintenance for a given asset to avoid a costly recurring failure.

Get More from your CAFM Implementation

Steven from iwmsnews.com done a wonderful series of posts highlighting the ways to improve your IWMS or CAFM implementation. It gives you very good insight, starting from information gathering to contract evaluation to training needs to vendor scorecard to everything that need to be given consideration while selecting or implementing a CAFM software.

We recommend to have a look at the series of post available here. And also look forward to more articles from Steven. Thanks Steven for you time and effort in bringing this out.

CMMS Benefits

Most of us will have this common question,

Why I need a CMMS/CAFM Software, What benefits it gives over our current manual process.

The following will be the outcome or benefits of using a CMMS/CAFM Software

• Improved Maintenance Productivity
• Improved Machine Quality
• Reduce Down Time
• Improved Employee Productivity
• Minimal or Reduced Outside Contract Work
• Better Service to Other Departments
• Reduced Maintenance Costs
• Reduce Clerical Costs
• Increase Overall Productivity & Profits

The above benefits are all dependent on the

• Effectiveness of CMMS / CAFM software implementation
• Commitment of all involved

Asbestos Management

Asbestos must be properly managed to prevent people dying from asbestos diseases in the future. Workers who carry out building maintenance and repair are particularly at risk. Half a million commercial buildings still contain asbestos.

If you are responsible for managing the maintenance and repair of a building, you must manage any asbestos in it. As well as protecting people from exposure to asbestos fibres.

You can browse through the following links for more information

• Managing asbestos - a PDF guide to managing asbestos and the law.
• HSE asbestos - Health and safety guide to asbestos.
• Asbestos Law - Information on the law and asbestos.