Supercharge your maintenance strategy

Hello again 👋Today, we’re launching a new three-part video series on the basics of Fiix CMMS.First up, check out this short crash course on assets--what they are, why they matter, and how they’re managed in Fiix. In the next two parts of our series, we’ll explore work orders and scheduled maintenance.These videos provide a quick crash course for CMMS newbies, but they’re equally good as refreshers for seasoned maintenance pros. Let us know if you’d like more of this type of content in the comments below!  One final note: Did you know this video and more are all available within Fiix CMMS itself? That’s right, no more navigating to the Help Center for answers to your basic questions. We’re bringing help content straight into your CMMS through our new “Getting Started” module. Simply click Help & Resources > Getting Started in the bottom-left corner of your CMMS and get instant access to short videos and texts explaining the core and advanced features of Fiix. “Getting Started” i

We’re excited to announce the release of a new Fiix Asset Risk Predictor course over at the Fiix Learning Center. Designed to help you get the most from Fiix ARP, this course will show you: How to navigate Fiix ARP dashboards to guide maintenance decisions and prioritization  How to set up Fiix Prescriptive Maintenance to automatically get AI-generated work orders when risks are detected  How to use the Fiix Maintenance Copilot chatbot to quickly and easily get answers to your maintenance and asset history questions  And much more! Start learningBe sure to share this essential Fiix ARP learning resource with your team and drop your questions for our Fiix Learning Center team in the comments down below. P.S. You can stay up to date on all the latest Fiix ARP releases here. 

Hi Fiixers 👋, I’m Gail, Senior Manager of Training and Education here at Fiix.  I am also the go-to person for change management and our new Fiix CMMS Certification program. The Fiix Learning Center has been updated with new content so that you and your team can now become Fiix CMMS certified users. There is a custom learning path for administrators, technicians and managers to train all types of users on how to get the most out of Fiix.       The length for each learning path varies and there is an estimated time provided for each course. Once you and your team complete all the courses and knowledge check quizzes successfully, you will automatically receive your Fiix CMMS Certification along with badges for each completed course🎖️.And, did I mention there is no cost of becoming Fiix certified 🙌.Plus, this is a great training resource for onboarding new team members as well as a refresh for all users. It’s easy to get started:  Create a Fiix Learning Center account – OR login to you

In industries like manufacturing, construction, and transportation, where the delivery of spare parts is crucial for uninterrupted operations, adopting new technology is vital. These technologies are critical for the maintenance and repair of industrial equipment and machinery to keep these assets in good condition and prevent unplanned downtime.In this article, we will explore five emerging MRO spare parts trends that will impact maintenance. It’s important to keep current with these trends because they increase efficiency, improve quality, reduce costs, and keep machines running. Trend one: Increased use of predictive analyticsAnalytics removes any unpredictability or guessing games when it comes to maintenance. That’s because the data used in analytics programs is based on real-time information, so you aren’t basing things like inventory levels on arbitrary quantities and numbers. It uses data and analytics tools to forecast equipment failure and determine when maintenance is requir

We made it!Today, we’re sharing the third and final installment of our Fiix 101 series: Introduction to Scheduled Maintenance.But first, ICYMI:  As I mentioned previously, all three of these Fiix 101 videos can provide a crash course for CMMS newbies, but they’re also good refreshers for seasoned maintenance pros--so be sure to share them with your team!  💡 Reminder 💡 This video (and more) is available right from your Fiix CMMS tenant--there’s no need for navigating to the Help Center to get answers to your basic questions! Simply click Help & Resources > Getting Started in the bottom-left corner of your CMMS and get instant access to short videos and texts explaining the core and advanced features of Fiix. This panel is especially valuable for those new and onboarding to Fiix. “Getting Started” in Help & Resources, bottom-left of your tenantWhat should we cover next? If you like this type of content and have specific how-to requests, please let me know down in the comment

We know there’s a hunger for helpful video content here in The Fiixers community, so today I’m happy to bring you the second in our three-part Fiix 101 video series. But first, catch up on part one here:In today’s class, let’s take a look at how work orders function within Fiix CMMS: what they are, the different types, why they matter, and how you can get started creating your own:  These Fiix 101 videos provide the perfect crash course for CMMS newbies, but they’re also good as refreshers for seasoned maintenance pros.Next time, in the third and final installment of our series, we’ll take a look at the basics of scheduled maintenance in Fiix CMMS. Please let me know if you’d like this type of content in the comments below!  💡 Reminder 💡 This video (and more) is available right from your Fiix CMMS tenant--there’s no need for navigating to the Help Center to get answers to your basic questions! Simply click Help & Resources > Getting Started in the bottom-left corner of your CM

For busy maintenance teams, finding the time for training and upskilling can be a challenge. Fortunately, we’ve got your solution. The Fiix Maintenance Academy is a new one-stop shop for free, expert-led maintenance training—delivered at your own pace. Its curated learning paths are designed to cover all your bases: CMMS skills, maintenance strategies, and industry trends. In 101: Foundations of Modern Maintenance, our first learning path, you’ll learn how to:  Effectively lead change management in your organization using the “why” and “what's in it for me” approach;  Elevate your maintenance strategy with reliability centered maintenance (RCM); and  Utilize cutting edge GenAI technologies to automate tasks and drive more accurate failure detection.  The Fiix Maintenance Academy is simply the easiest way to upgrade your skills and train your team—so join today! Enroll BTW: We’re always looking for your feedback on Fiix courses, webinars, and products. Leave your thoughts in the comme

Hello Fiixers Community, We are thrilled to announce the launch of two brand-new eLearning courses on the Fiix LMS.  These courses are designed to help you harness the power of Fiix AI tools: 1. Fiix ForesightExplore the capabilities of Fiix Foresight with detailed lessons on:Asset Insights Dashboards Parts Forecaster Dashboard Work Order Insights Dashboards  2. Fiix Asset Risk PredictorGain expertise in Asset Risk Predictor through comprehensive modules on:Asset Risk Predictor Dashboards Fiix Prescriptive Maintenance Fiix Maintenance CopilotThese courses will equip you with the knowledge to optimize your maintenance operations and drive efficiency using our cutting edge AI tools. If you have an account in the Fiix Learning Center you can access the courses using the following links:Fiix Foresight DashboardsFiix Asset Risk Predictor If you don’t have an account in the Fiix Learning Center (LMS) click here to set it up!Sincerely,Fiix Training and Education Team

In recent years manufacturers and by extension, maintenance teams, have faced a series of challenges from pandemics, supply chain slowdowns, and now a demand for skills in the workforce that are difficult to come by. At the same time Industry 4.0 technologies—such as automation, IoT, AI, and advanced robotics have streamlined many production processes, and the demand for skilled workers who can operate, maintain, and optimize these systems has subsequently increased.It’s become clear that there’s a widening gap in skills for manufacturers aiming to remain competitive. But without a workforce that’s knowledgeable in digital tools and systems, operational efficiency, productivity, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) are at risk.In this blog we will address the current skills gap facing manufacturers and maintenance teams and provide solutions to upskill the current workforce, and strategies to address skill gap challenges. What is the skills gap and why has it become critical?The s

With the maintenance & reliability industry constantly evolving, it can be hard to stay on top of following recent trends, adopting new technologies, and even refreshing your fundamentals. Fortunately, there are plenty of podcasts, websites, and video channels that make it easy to get your maintenance news & education anywhere, anytime.So, without further ado, here are 6 resources we think can help you and your team stay on top of that oh-so-important professional development. 💻 Websites 💻 Maintenance WorldHosted by a management & reliability consulting firm, Maintenance World is one of the web’s top destinations for the articles, videos, news, trainings, and conferences that matter to your team. For those of you on LinkedIn, they also have an excellent maintenance-themed newsletter, released every Wednesday: Midweek with Maintenance World. MaintworldAs the first and only Pan-European publication of EFNMS (European Federation of National Maintenance Societies), Maint Worl

This article outlines everything you need to know about planned maintenance percentage (PMP), including what it is, how to calculate it, and how to use PMP to improve your maintenance planning. What is PMP?It’s never a good idea to walk into a supermarket without a grocery list and twice as dangerous if you’re hungry. Without a plan, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, forget items, and spend too much on unnecessary ingredients. PMP calculates the amount of planned vs. unplanned maintenance at your facility. In other words, it tells you if you’re controlling maintenance or if maintenance is controlling you.– Tanya Goncalves All these problems are magnified when it comes to maintenance. Unplanned maintenance wastes a lot of time and money while setting production back several steps. That’s why planned maintenance percentage is a crucial maintenance metric. PMP calculates the amount of planned vs. unplanned maintenance at your facility. In other words, it tells you if you’re controlling mainte

In my last post, we defined predictive maintenance (PdM) and looked at how it stacks up against other strategies, such as condition-based maintenance. It’s a clear winner when it comes to preventing failure on critical assets, but buyer beware: Not all PdM solutions are created equally. There are actually several methodologies grouped under the name “predictive maintenance,” and each has its pros and cons. Today, let’s double-click on this elusive term to break down the different methodologies behind it—and find out which could be right for you.  The four approaches to predictive maintenance First, let’s recap:  Predictive maintenance (PdM) is a technique that uses data analysis tools and techniques to detect anomalies in your operation and possible defects in equipment and processes so you can fix them before they result in failure.  Or, as I put it in the previous post, PdM attempts to see into the future so you can act to prevent failures before they happen. With this in mind, here

Hello fellow Fiixers! I’m Chris, and I’m an Implementation Consultant at Fiix. You can learn more about me and my CMMS experience here in our Welcome & intros thread. The Fiix Professional Services team often gets asked about the best way to set up asset categories. So, I thought I’d take a moment to share some key recommendations from our team. Focusing on asset categories when considering the structure of your data ahead of data inputting/importing is critical to maximize the searching, reporting and custom field usage capability of your Fiix CMMS system. It’s also beneficial if you are looking at doing some housekeeping on your existing system.  Simply put, asset categories define, identify, or classify assets of a similar type. How many layers are required for good searching or reporting?In most cases, one or two levels are sufficient to satisfy most requirements. Categories can also be set up for Locations/Facilities, Parts/Supplies, or Tools. Hierarchical tables can be create

With the recent release of Fiix Asset Risk Predictor (ARP) I thought it would be a good time to talk a bit more about predictive maintenance (PdM). What is it? How is it different from other maintenance strategies, like condition-based maintenance? And when is predictive maintenance right for you? Let’s take a closer look at this often-misunderstood topic.  What is predictive maintenance? Predictive maintenance (PdM) is a technique that uses data analysis tools and techniques to detect anomalies in your operation and possible defects in equipment and processes so you can fix them before they result in failure.In other words, PdM attempts to see into the future so you can act to prevent failures before they happen. This proactive approach (the opposite of reactive!) is the essence of PdM. And the result isn’t just less downtime, it’s less waste in general. To see why, let’s place PdM in the context of other maintenance strategies using the simple example of a conveyor belt.  Reactive

We’ve discussed reliability culture in the past, and in this article we will explore reliability vs. availability and why it’s important to differentiate between reliability and other maintenance-related concepts. To put it simply, if something is reliable, it does what it’s supposed to every time you use it. In maintenance, that means that the systems, equipment, and processes you use will work as intended for a given time and under specific conditions. The better things work, the less downtime you experience.  Reliability vs. availabilityPeople often confuse reliability and availability or use the two terms interchangeably. Availability measures the operational ability of an asset, meaning the duration of time that a particular piece of equipment can perform its intended tasks. Reliability is the dependability of equipment operating without disruptions or downtime. A piece of equipment is reliable when it avoids unplanned downtime. That same piece of equipment could be 80% available

This article was written by Tanya Goncalves. There are very few modern processes that don’t benefit from a good checklist— basic car maintenance? Yep. Packing for a trip? For sure! Boiling an egg? Yes, even that. And the same goes for your preventive maintenance program.A preventive maintenance checklist gets all the steps and information out of a manual and into the hands of experienced technicians by standardizing preventive maintenance (PMs) in your CMMS.This guide will lead you through how to create a preventive maintenance checklists to make your maintenance team more efficient, cost-effective, and safe. What is a preventive maintenance checklist?A preventive maintenance checklist is a set of tasks that the technician needs to complete in order to close a preventive maintenance work order. A checklist gets all the steps and information out of a manual and into the hands of experienced technicians by standardizing PMs in your CMMS. The purpose of a preventive maintenance checklist

At its core, maintenance and sustainability go hand in hand. It’s all about keeping the same equipment, materials, and assets in use while producing the least amount of scrap and waste possible.Better-maintained equipment leads to less waste, and more efficient production lines, resulting in less energy being consumed. But that’s not the only way maintenance can become more sustainable. Read on for our top tips for becoming a certified carbon-neutral organization. What does it mean to be carbon neutral?For years, we’ve run our lives on fuels that put carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If we stay on this path, greenhouse gases will skyrocket, amplifying the heat trapped in our atmosphere and causing a whirlwind of global environmental change.We need to change the way we do business.Percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere[Source: BBC Bitesize]Going carbon neutral is one way to help fight these changes and do your part to create a sustainable future. Being carbon neutral can be defined in on

This article was written by Marc Castel, who has decades of experience in maintenance, the plastics industry, and digital transformation.Parts will always need to be ordered and equipment will always need to be repaired. That’s just the reality. Without a good parts vendor, those orders and repairs can get expensive really quickly. That’s why getting the best deal on parts and pairing that with service you can trust is important to not only your bottom line, but ensuring production isn’t affected by breakdowns. The key to getting the best value for your money is through the art of negotiating.In this article, we discuss eight tips to help you negotiate the best deal with your vendors – including knowing what to ask for, building a relationship with your vendor, and doing your homework. What to ask for and what not to share 1. Don’t volunteer or initiate pricing with the supplierIt might seem counterproductive not to discuss your budget with a vendor, but it’s actually a very powerful n

Let’s take a look at three ways you can use Fiix Foresight tools to solve real-world problems.First, a quick reminder about Fiix Foresight. Fiix Foresight is the AI brains behind your CMMS. It powers three tools at your disposal: work order insights, parts forecaster, and asset insights. Let’s explore each tool and the common problems they solve for your maintenance team.   Work order insights Here’s a common scenario: It’s the busy holiday season and a lot of technicians are taking time off. Perhaps some are also missing work due to an illness going around. This means that open work orders are left hanging, and it can be difficult to identify each one that requires reassignment (especially at hectic times like the year end). It’s likely that at least some work orders will slip through the cracks, delaying maintenance and possibly even resulting in equipment failure. The solution: With work order insights, work orders at risk of delay are automatically flagged so you can act quickly to

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 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