In the maintenance world, we all know the importance of workforce scheduling in order to properly service assets. Increasing productivity while reducing operating costs can be really challenging even to the most skilled staff. Maintenance managers across all industries are finding that going paperless and moving to digital solutions greatly improves their task management, productivity and all-around efficiency.
Running a dedicated cloud application in your maintenance organization is better than keeping up with paper sheets for your scheduling. But is that enough to stay ahead of competitors in the 21st century? Are you truly getting the most out of all your available resources? Utilizing all that cloud has to offer opens the opportunity for businesses to take advantage of newer and more efficient technologies. Cloud-based solutions or SaaS (software as a service) offer businesses the ability to reduce their IT overhead costs and return those savings back to their core business goals.
Key Benefits of Cloud-Based Scheduling for Maintenance
In addition to IT cost savings, cloud-based solutions typically provide optimized workflows as users can always run the latest version of the application. This can be a game-changer for maintenance schedulers working for enterprise organizations, especially when managing complex workforce schedules and tasks. Since the cloud allows users to have real-time visibility to business-related information, you can expect to improve communication between schedulers and technicians.
​Increased Technicians Wrench-Time
Proper scheduling increases wrench-time by cutting waste on travel, resource allocation, and common communication issues. The U.S. average for wrench time is 25-30 percent of total available time and with cloud maintenance scheduling this number improves to an average of 40%.
- Average Wrench-Time Increase
- Time Used on Other Tasks
Lower Unexpected Asset Breakdowns Â
Reducing unexpected breakdowns is a bi-product of efficient preventive and condition-based maintenance. As you begin to reduce your work order backlog for maintenance scheduling you will also increase efficiency and reliability.
Cut Down Asset DowntimesÂ
There are many factors that can affect asset downtime. One of the ways to address this issue is by reducing the time that technicians spend on locating parts and tools as well as completing asset repair paperwork. Cloud-based scheduling ensures technicians are completely knowledgeable of what parts and tools they need for every task.
Perform Work Scheduling AnywhereÂ
With a cloud solution, information is easily accessed from anywhere. Schedulers and technicians can use a mobile device while on the go, increasing efficiency and productivity.
Reporting, KPIs & Reduce Scheduling Errors Â
With cloud-based scheduling software, a maintenance scheduler can use analytical data to measure how well or how poorly the current schedule is working. Cloud-based software enables a single source of truth for all of the gathered data showing trends and in turn, helps the maintenance scheduler reduce the number of errors.
Average Improvements with Cloud-Based Scheduling
Work Order Backlog ReductionÂ
One of the most challenging jobs is reducing the backlog of work orders. This can be achieved by creating tiers of prioritization and resource allocation for different technicians with different skill sets. Sending experienced technicians to solve maintenance issues while still prioritizing daily needs can reduce the backlog.
Enhanced Resource AllocationÂ
Working along-side the supply chain department, schedulers can eliminate the misplacement of necessary resources. This becomes critical when an unexpected breakdown occurs, and technicians must scramble to locate what they need. Maintenance managers are using scheduling software in order to quickly distribute the tools and materials needed for their technicians.
Improved Communication
A proper cloud-based maintenance scheduling app will have an intuitive set of icons and forms giving schedulers a simple means of creating schedules. Unlike paper forms, cloud-based applications allow a maintenance scheduler the opportunity to easily communicate their schedules to technicians. This is incredibly valuable as the management of the schedule can be done from virtually any location, as well as changes can be made in real-time.
Why it’s Important to Optimize Scheduling
From IT costs savings to optimized workflow, a cloud-based scheduling software provides the latest in technology while not only improving efficiency but giving your company the ability to make scheduling changes in real-time. Cloud-based software is changing the game when it comes to improving productivity for enterprise businesses and enhancing the capabilities of the modern maintenance scheduler.
