Ok, we admit that “Transform Your Maintenance Reporting” may sound hyperbolic. But when it comes to CMMS or EAM software reporting and analysis, nothing is more important than codes.
Codes are abbreviated data fields that are keyed to EAM system records and used to capture and roll up different types of information in the EAM system. The EAM system’s ability to produce useful information is partially but crucially dependent on the development of codes and their usage as part of system transactions.
Keep reading to learn about four key coding sets that you can use to improve your work management and give your maintenance reporting a boost.
How Work Order Codes Improve CMMS and EAM Software Performance
Work order codes help you organize maintenance data into informational summaries so you can monitor how the asset management operation is performing. For example, the proper use of work order priority codes will tell you the percentage of unplanned maintenance to planned maintenance (an important KPI for any maintenance organization).
Codes are also needed to explore data and reports in order to extract insights that can be used to understand and improve business performance. For example, the proper use of work order closing codes (such as problem and failure codes) will provide granularity into equipment failures. This is key to building a great PM program and improving asset reliability.
The four types of work order codes below are essential for improving equipment uptime and maintenance performance. The definitions we’ve provided are based on industry-proven practices. (For more proven practices like these, check out our SynergyTM series of best practice models.)
Work Order Type Codes
Work Order Type Codes indicate the nature of the work. These codes are applied to a work order when it is approved. These codes are important for sorting work orders when planning and scheduling, and then again later for management reporting of historical information.
Work Order Priority Codes
Work Order Priority Codes define when a work order should be addressed relative to other work orders. Work Order Priority Codes are used to prioritize work, sort work orders in the EAM system, and facilitate development of Weekly and Daily Work Schedules. The work priority may be set when the work request is created or approved, or when developing the Daily or Weekly Work Schedule.
Equipment Problem Codes
Problem Codes are closing codes used by technicians to record the problem with a piece of equipment. These codes are tied to a specific class of equipment, such as Pump or Motor. Below are examples of Problem Codes associated with the Pump equipment class:
Equipment Failure Codes
Equipment Failure Codes are closing codes entered by technicians that identify “what” failed on a piece of equipment. These codes allow further analysis to be conducted on the part or component of the equipment that failed. Like Problem Codes, Failure Codes are specific to each class of equipment. For example, Failure Codes for the Pump equipment class could include:
Developing Work Order Codes for Your CMMS or EAM System
Work order codes enable you to effectively and efficiently report on key asset management activities, equipment issues, and performance measures. They show you what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what you can do about it.
The work order codes described above are some of the most critical for maintenance organizations. Develop those four coding sets, and you’ll be off to a good start with your EAM or CMMS reporting. But many other types of codes can help you to gather information about your asset management. Some others to explore include work status codes, work delay codes, and how found codes.
Used properly, good coding structures translate raw maintenance data into information and information into insights. You might be thinking, “Isn’t that what an EAM software system is supposed to do anyway?” Yes ‐ but it needs codes to do it!
If you need help developing rich and actionable EAM or CMMS codes, let us know. We have the industry’s most comprehensive EAM coding library coupled with 20 years of EAM system implementation experience.