According to a 2021 Plant Engineering survey, over 50% of manufacturing plants use preventive maintenancesoftware tools. This makes sense due to how important operational efficiency is, when companies with inefficient processes spend as much as four times more on preventive maintenance.  A 2021 study found that over 50% of industrial plants use Computerized Maintenance Management System (or CMMS) as the preventive maintenance software tool. But is this the right tool for the job? Should you choose a CMMS or a Front Line Worker Platform to improve preventive maintenance for your business?

As compared to corrective or reactive maintenance, the preventive maintenance (PM) software tool can be effective at prolonging the working life of any manufacturing asset like machinery or HVAC equipment. PM software help in:

• Detecting and fixing small problems before they escalate into major issues.
• Reducing machine downtime, thus improving cost savings and productivity.
• Extending the overall lifecycle of existing manufacturing assets.
• Reducing losses and expenditures caused due to halted (or extended) production.

But they are mainly scheduling tools. They don't help improve the quality and speed of PM training, they don't use digital workflows to standardize job execution and don't connect technicians to experts who can improve problem resolution time when things go wrong.

A Front Line Worker Platform can elevate preventive maintenance to the next level by providing an end-to-end integrated experience that covers all aspects of maintenance operations.

We are going to look at 5 reasons why a Front Line Worker platform is better than a PM software tool and will elevate your maintenance work by providing your front line teams with the support they need every step of the way.

5 reasons to choose a Front Line Worker Platform over PM Software

1. Intuitive workflows

‍Connected Worker platforms provide an intuitive and visual workflow that is easier to follow for maintenance operators and helps technicians complete their tasks on time and without errors. This, in turn, improves the quality of machine inspection, along with providing real-time data for predictive maintenance.

2. AR-Enabled remote assistance

‍Preventive maintenance can further be elevated using remote assistance enabled by Augmented Reality (AR) technology. Using AR, remote experts get a real-time view of the maintenance work and can help guide the frontline operator. This type of assistance isn't available through preventive maintenance software.

3. Operational visibility

‍Using Connected Worker platforms, PM engineers have improved visibility over  maintenance operations, thus improving efficiency and productivity. They can capture data about completed work and the performed steps during preventive maintenance. Further, they can improve the existing SOPs to reduce human errors and future problems. This allows manufacturers to implement data driven iterations and improve their processes.

4. Self-assist learning

‍With Front Line Worker platforms, maintenance personnel now have access to a vast repository of best practices, self-assist resources, and training material. This ensures a process of continuous learning for front line workers, which improves their job efficiency and helps them to become better problem solvers. Additionally, connected platforms encourage better communication and collaboration among front line operators, which can aid in their PM-related activities.

5. A dynamic approach to preventive maintenance

‍While popular Preventive Maintenance software tools provide a static response to front line problems, a Connected Worker platform adopts a flexible and dynamic approach that can be modified based on real-time operational data and insights. Front Line Worker platforms integrate every part of your manufacturing business  – thus ensuring an elevated end-to-end experience.

Preventive Maintenance Software vs Connected Worker Platform Conclusion

While preventive maintenance software has its share of benefits in the manufacturing domain, a Front Line Worker platform helps you stay ahead by fixing small problems before they can lead to bigger failures and machine breakdowns.

The Atheer Front Line Worker Platform has been instrumental in solving multiple pain points that manufacturers face in their day-to-day operations. Powered by AR technology, our Front Line platform deploys the best of digital tools and technologies to support your front line workers.

Atheer's Connected Worker Platform is specifically designed to improve OEE by elevating the quality of machine monitoring to prevent breakdowns, speed changeovers and carefully monitor quality across the supply chain. Discover how we can help improve Availability,Performance and Quality for your company.

Atheer's contextually rich training speeds training and up skilling to help manufacturers face the emerging skills gap and connect manufacturers to the next generation of digitally connected new employees.  Atheer is currently being used by some of the biggest names in aviation, energy, mining, automotive and manufacturing to increase operational transparency and make sure everyone  in their organizations have the support they need to do their best work.