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In the first post of our series, How data fuels greatness in maintenance, we looked at why data is so important for today’s maintenance teams. The follow-up post, Harnessing the benefits of data and AI powered maintenance, broke down the different levels of data usage.Today let’s get specific and take a look at one key tool you can use to unlock the benefits of your data: Fiix Foresight. But first, we need to understand the technology behind it: artificial intelligence. What is AI?When it comes to using data to improve maintenance, one term comes up again and again—artificial intelligence. What is AI (without the jargon), why is it important, and how can it help in your day-to-day work? I spoke with Fiix Product Manager James Binckly to find out.“You’re probably already familiar with two AI-powered tools: Google’s autocomplete search feature and Netflix’s movie recommendation engine,” says James. “Both systems work the same way.”“You’ve got an artificial intelligence chewing on your da

Following up on our last post on the value of tacit knowledge and the three common culprits behind knowledge loss, let’s look at four key strategies for fighting back and preserving your team’s hard-won knowledge. Knowledge sharingSince knowledge retention is first and foremost knowledge sharing, we need to figure out how to ease fears around job security and foster a culture of openness. Kathir Haran, a Solutions Engineer at Fiix, offers this piece of advice: “When you’re building a maintenance program out, make sure you have every single stakeholder, including the person turning the wrench, in on that decision.”  Knowledge retention is first and foremost knowledge sharing. When maintenance professionals of every seniority level are looped into the process of building out a maintenance program, they see information sharing as a gain instead of a loss. Their contribution is more visible to senior personnel, which turns their knowledge into an asset.The same concept also applies to expe

You spend a lot of time maintaining your plant. What about your knowledge? A key team member leaves. A log is filled out incorrectly.A helpful tip is never recorded.  In any of these scenarios, the end result is the same—valuable knowledge is lost. Tacit knowledge is particularly vulnerable to being lost. It’s the often unspoken and undocumented know-how gained from doing the same work in the same place for a long time. It can’t be bought and it can’t be faked. Tacit knowledge is the mechanic who can tell when the oil in a lube pump needs changing just from the smell, or the feel of it between their fingers. It’s the technician who can tell you what’s happening inside a machine just by listening to the vibrations. Or that one team member who knows where every odd part is stored. Maybe you recognize yourself in one of these examples.Tacit knowledge takes years, even decades, to build up–but it can be lost in an instant. With record-breaking rates of employee turnover, cybersecurity thre

Following up on our post on how data fuels greatness in maintenance, let’s dive into how you can begin combining your data with the power of AI to accelerate your maintenance maturity journey from preventive to predictive maintenance.   Understanding the maintenance maturity journeyWhile every journey will differ in timeline and complexity, here’s how a typical maintenance maturity journey progresses: Reactive: You’re starting to record data (typically break-fix operations)​ Preventive: Now you’re planning maintenance based on time and usage   Condition-based: With sensors connected to your assets, you can collect and use equipment condition to plan maintenance activities ​  Predictive: Now modern AI algorithms can identify trends and anomalies without specifying conditions or thresholds​ (using the data you started recording in the reactive and preventive stages)  Prescriptive: At this point, you’ve got an almost fully automated maintenance process. Clear action plans are auto

Maintenance triggers aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Matching the right triggers to the right assets takes time and effort, but the end result is a more efficient and reliable facility.In this post, we’ll explore the five most common types of maintenance triggers and share when and how to use each of them to improve your maintenance program.  #1 Breakdown triggerThis occurs when a piece of equipment breaks down and can’t be used anymore. When this happens, an alert is triggered and maintenance is scheduled to fix the problem and return the equipment to operation.Breakdown maintenance triggers are a clear sign that a run-to-failure maintenance strategy is being used for an asset. They are also often put in place on non-critical assets that can be replaced or fixed quickly with little cost or effect on production with planned stock availability.For example, a light bulb is allowed to operate until it goes out, which triggers a maintenance order that can be fulfilled quickly because

If you look at the top businesses in almost any industry they all have one thing in common: data is a key part of what fuels their greatness. It makes good teams great and great teams the best. One of the best examples of this is in sportsThe conversation around data in sports was almost non-existent 20 years ago,  as illustrated in these examples:but we can look at a few key examples to see how this has evolved over time:   The MLB’s Oakland Athletics used data to pinpoint the right metric to maximize their offensive outputs (and win more games)  F1 teams used data to run over 2 billion simulations of every race to figure out everything from the best tires to use to when to pit stop College football teams like the University of Virginia used data to recruit players they think are most likely to make it to the NFL So how does this apply to the maintenance world? In this article we’ll explore the three ways data fuels greatness and how you can apply these learnings to your maintenan

While many projects can take months or years to complete, getting quick wins is crucial for building momentum and proving value for your maintenance team.In this article, you’ll learn five processes that your maintenance team can put in place quickly to help increase production efficiency.1. Optimize the frequency of your PMsGoing overboard on preventive maintenance can affect production efficiency in a few ways. It can either waste valuable time preventing non-existent failure or increase your risk of failure by meddling with a perfectly fine component.There are a few guidelines to consider when trying to find the right balance between too many and too few PMs:Use equipment maintenance logs to track the found failure rate on preventive maintenance tasks (Tip: start with PMs that take the longest to do or cost the most)  If a PM leads to regular corrective maintenance, keep it at the same frequency If a PM rarely identifies failure, try increasing the time between inspections If the fo

You want your maintenance team to feel supported in all the work they do. Providing resources and best practices helps them work more effectively, so you can achieve goals quicker, with less downtime. In this article, we’ll explore a few ways you can help support your team's routine maintenance program: 1. Provide other visual reference materials 📚Having things like diagrams, photos and manuals will help guide operators during routine work.  2. Film a video of technicians doing the work 📹Documenting it as a video in addition to any written guides/notes ensures that work is done well without extra training or job shadowing.  3. Create a maintenance type for operator work ⚙️This can help you quickly spot work that operators might be struggling with and from there you can decide whether to transfer the work to technicians or invest in more training (or both).  4. Make sure all measurements are specific 📏Remember: what you think is obvious may not be obvious to your operators. Don’t mak

In this article we’ll cover how to set clear roles that bring clarity and confidence to your next maintenance project by following the RACI framework. The benefit of this framework is that everyone knows exactly what they are doing and what is expected of them.ResponsibleThese are the people who are doing the work Make sure they know exactly what they need to do, why it needs to be done, what success looks like, what resources are available to them, and what to do in case of roadblocksAccountableThis is the person who is making decisions, charting the course for the project, and ultimately in charge of the results There should only be one person accountable to create focus, streamline approvals and make it clear who to go with for questions or problemsConsultedThese are the people who will be part of the decision-making, quality assurance and execution process. They are impacted by the project and need to have a say in it. They are also experts in their area of business and can give cr

In our last article, we explored the key benefits of having an asset management policy (spoiler: there are many). To build off of this, read on to learn how to develop an asset management policy, what should be included, and how to implement it at your company.How to develop an asset management policy and strategyAn asset management policy typically includes four larger sections: Intent: clearly communicates the intended purpose of the policy Scope: describes the assets and services covered by the policy Statement of Principles: provides direction on how to apply it within the organization Responsibilities: identify who’s responsible for approving the asset management policy, providing resources to implement the policy, setting priorities, and leading the implementation of the asset management policyRemember, the best policy documents are straightforward, concise, and easy to understand. What should be included in an asset management policy?The following are the most important elements

A facility’s assets are the lifeblood of any company, as its health determines how strong and productive the company will be. In the same vein, people are the heart of any company and can impact equipment with their decisions. Since decision-making and asset efficiency are so intertwined, companies need guidelines connecting them. And that’s where an asset management policy comes in.In this article, we’ll explore what is an asset management policy, why it’s important, and the key benefits it provides. What is an asset management policy?An asset management policy is one of the core requirements of ISO 55001:2014 certification and is a cornerstone of a solid and complete asset management strategy. It's like a compass pointing everyone in your organization in the right direction when making decisions about assets. An asset management policy provides a set of guiding principles, intentions, goals, and methods for asset management.It also provides a template so people can achieve the best p

When it comes to work order planning, no one wants to constantly take two steps forward and one step back. In this post we’ll explore the best practices and simple frameworks for strong maintenance planning and work order scheduling. PlanningThere are two ingredients you need to be really good at planning work orders:Clear goals for maintenance that align with the goals of the organization A way to prioritize maintenance activities based on your goalsAll of your work processes, schedules, training, and SOPs flow from your goals and priorities.“You really need to go back to the fundamentals of the organization and find out what their objectives are for maintenance,” says Charles Rogers, a Senior Implementation Consultant at Fiix with over 33 years of experience in maintenance and reliability. Four steps for aligning maintenance goals with business goals 🧭Follow this 4-step process to align your organization’s goals with your maintenance plans:Confirm the goals of your organization. Thi

For facilities looking to break out of a reactive maintenance rut a preventive maintenance plan can do wonders, but where do you begin? While this may sound easier said than done, this article will break down the 8 steps you should take to build a solid foundation for your preventative maintenance program (and set it up for success).   But first: what is a preventive maintenance program? 🗒️It’s a series of processes, guidelines, and tools for conducting regular and routine maintenance on equipment and assets to keep them in good condition to avoid failure and costly unplanned downtime.A preventative maintenance plan makes everything clearer, so the path to reliability is obstacle-free. Goals and responsibilities are defined, timelines are understood, and all necessary resources are accounted for. Everyone knows what success looks like and how to sustain it. A preventive maintenance plan should include eight steps at its foundation:Remember, Each facility has different goals, assets, a

People don't invest in projects; they invest in problems, solutions, and outcomes. This includes your maintenance team and as a team leader, you need to stand out from the crowd and get business leaders to buy into your vision for your maintenance project.In this post, we’ll explore the six steps for building the perfect pitch for your next maintenance project, along with storytelling tips and advice on what data points to include.   Step #1: Present a problemYour project is a change, and change is sometimes hard to accept. Find a problem that your project will solve and run with it. How to tell the story:Describe the problem Show what the problem looks like Explain the impact of the problem Examples of data to include: Cost: How much is the problem costing your team? Time: Are you spending more time than you should on a task? Health and safety: Are audit compliance tasks not getting done, or are near misses getting higher? Employee retention: Is it hard to hang on to good team members

Very few modern processes don’t benefit from a good checklist—and that goes for preventative maintenance programs. A preventive maintenance checklist takes all the steps and information out of a manual and puts it into the hands of your experienced technicians. In this post, learn the benefits of having a preventative maintenance checklist and the key elements every checklist should have.  Three benefits of having a preventative maintenance checklist 📝These checklists ensure preventive maintenance tasks are done correctly and in the same sequence of steps, regardless of which maintenance team member completes them, which:Helps standardize tasks and outcomes, eliminating guesswork or miscommunication, and reduces the chances of error and the need for costly repairs.   Makes work more efficient and maximizes labour, which reduces downtime and allows technicians to move on to more skilled tasks in less time. It can also free up a technician’s time by allowing other facility members, like

While many things in maintenance are not predictable, equipment maintenance logs are. They help you perform preventative maintenance to ensure equipment is in good condition, runs as efficiently as possible, and provide a useful reference point for discovering failure patterns, expenditure, and repair. This post will explore how you can create and maintain a top-notch equipment maintenance log and the 6 ways you can make the most of the data you’re collecting within them.  How to create an equipment maintenance logThis will all depend on a variety of factors that are specific to your team and facility, but any log should keep these 3 questions in mind: What asset and maintenance information do you need most? How detailed does that information need to be? Who will be using this information and how will they use it?Your log will include two sections: Asset Information Maintenance Work Information Equipment name Serial number Location within your facility Manufacturer detai

Following up on our last post on the benefits of starting small with any maintenance project, we’ll now walk you through our step-by-step guide for creating a maintenance analytics program by starting small and growing it piece-by-piece 🧱.  Step #1: Ask the right questions You need to be clear on the reason/purpose of why you’re collecting data in the first place, so consider questions like: What are your business’s biggest goals and how can maintenance impact them? What challenges is your company facing and how can maintenance solve them? What opportunities can your organization pursue and how can maintenance help?Answering these questions will give you a clear view of where your team can make the biggest impact with the fewest obstacles. To help you get started, here are a few examples of how you may answer these questions: What are your business’s biggest goals? Ex. Reduce waste across all business units How can maintenance impact those goals? Ex. Increase preventive

It can be tempting to go all-in on a project and get big results as fast as possible. Unfortunately, that rarely happens. In fact, 70% of all projects fail. So what can you do to avoid a similar fate? Start small! Starting small means implementing an idea or project in small steps instead of all at once. In this post, learn the benefits of starting small, how you can start small in your next maintenance project, and when to take them from small to big.  Three benefits of starting small? ➕Starting small eliminates a lot of the problems that plague larger projects, which helps you:Catch problems while they’re small and reduce risk: If something goes wrong or isn’t working, the consequences are contained. You can also identify and plan for risks when expanding the project. Get adoption and buy-in faster: Change is always hard, but is easier to navigate when it’s smaller. This gets people on board quicker, which gets you results faster. Implement projects with fewer delays: Starting small

Fiix’s analytics tool allows you to access valuable data about your organization’s maintenance activities. In this training video, Gail Mowatt (@gmowatt), Fiix's Senior Manager of Training and Education, will help you get acquainted with the Fiix analytics tool and key features like dashboards and looks 📊. Watch this ~7-minute video to learn how to:  Access analytics  Navigate dashboard and looks Apply filters Drill-down on a look If you have any questions or feedback for Gail please post in the thread below👇.

Maintenance involves many moving parts, which means more chances for something to go wrong. And when problems arise, you want to tackle them with as much information as possible. In other words, you want problem-solving to be predictable 🔮.🚨 Data is key to achieving this goal 🚨.Our most recent blog is all about using your maintenance data to answer your big questions and how Fiix analytics can make the whole process a lot easier. In it, we look at the 5 ways you can use data to solve common maintenance issues and lead your team to success: How do I make sure the right maintenance is being done at the right time? ⏰ How is maintenance affecting the performance of equipment? 🔧 How can my facility organize our storeroom so parts are easily accessible? 🏬 Where should I be allocating my maintenance budget? 💰 What obstacles are our technicians facing? ⚠️ Wanna learn more? Grab a cup of ☕️ and head over to our blog to check it out.

Hey Fiixers! I’m Chris, and I’m an Implementation Consultant at Fiix based in the UK. Before joining Fiix I ran my own software and training consultancy for 13 years helping people build both Facilities and Asset Maintenance Systems. As businesses are driven towards compliance and improved working efficiencies, people are starting to look towards mobile solutions to help in these areas. During the process of rolling out these applications to customers, I have identified some considerations that I feel may be important ahead of implementing a mobile solution and this article may just provide you with some answers to your questions or prevent you from making a costly mistake. First we need to consider the hardware Mobile maintenance applications are quite often written for the popular Android platform, with some companies also offering an Apple equivalent. There is a wide variety of Android products available to select from, including commercially available devices from companies such