1.  It all begins in the Start Center.

Whether you’re managing a distribution center or a house full of kids, the Start Center will prepare you for the rest of your day.  At home, that means setting out backpacks and shoes before the day begins.  It means a (usually) healthy breakfast before school and a quick talk about manners.

In EAM that means making sure your inboxes and KPIs are aligned with your organization’s objectives.  Inbox entries can quickly alert users of action items they may need to address such as past due work orders or open purchase orders.  Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can track organizational trends and compare performance to your company’s targets.

2.  Preventive maintenance is key.

Have you ever stepped on a lego?  It is a well-known fact that stepping on legos is one of the top five most painful experiences.  To prevent myself from living through this again, we try to stay on top of the kids rooms by having them pick up a little each day.  It’s much easier to keep a room clean than it is to pick it up after it looks like a tornado hit it.

In much the same way, it is easier to practice a preventive maintenance program to keep machinery up and running than it is to troubleshoot and repair equipment after it’s broken.

3.  Scheduling is a must.

Just like schedules and routines keep my sanity with a house full of kids, scheduling your maintenance activities is necessary to maximize efficiency and reduce costs throughout your organization.  Having the right maintenance worker (or right child) where they need to be with the correct supplies doesn’t happen by accident.  A maintenance scheduler (or mom, in my case) makes sure the personnel and resources are in the right place at the right time.

4.  A strong materials management program keeps everything running like a well oiled machine.

Sometimes your child comes home from school and tells you about the big project that’s due tomorrow.  And just like that you are pulling out your best Pinterest-inspired tricks to help him or her put together a Star Wars-themed Kentucky Derby float.

And other times you just need a few spare parts for an intense lego project that your child has been looking forward to for months.

Whether it’s a last minute project or simply the need for a few spare parts, a materials management program keeps the household and the maintenance shop working its best.

5.  Unscheduled downtime can cause a meltdown.

And finally, when things don’t go quite as planned, an unprepared toddler can have a tantrum.  And while parents can step back and laugh at this type of meltdown, it isn’t very funny when it happens on the shop floor.  Fortunately, a strong EAM system can ensure you have the right personnel, materials, and processes in place to address your maintenance needs.  And then everyone can look like this.