Monday, November 28, 2011

Desktop Based CMMS Today

By Twanda Cruice


CMMS or Computerized Maintenance Management System is a software that allows the companies to keep track of maintenance that has been done, or can schedule work needing to be done in the future. The companies through this software can track the cost of repairs as well as to integrate a variety of preventive maintenance techniques. There are two different ways to implement the CMMS software in your company.

The first way that a CMMS solution can be implemented is by utilizing a web-based approach. What this means is that, the servers that house the software that runs CMMS is typically not the property of the actual company using the CMMS. Hence, they are outsourcing the task to others. This allows those who need to have access to the CMMS database to have 24/7/365 access from anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection, and this is one reason why this is done.

CMMS software can be implemented using the second way which is the desktop or network approach. Allowing the company that requires the use of the CMMS software to have all the control over the hardware and software, is typically the way to implement the desktop approach. The company's IT department will implement and maintain this system. The disadvantages of a desktop based approach seem to outweigh the advantages, as though there are some advantages and disadvantages to each approach.

For desktop implementation, its access is one of a major disadvantage of it. Remember, a web-based CMMS allows you to access the servers from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection. This is not applicable with a desktop configuration. You can only access when you are on your companies network, and this is in the case of having a desktop. In a desktop configuration, another major disadvantage is the high initial costs associated with making this work.

Take note, with a hosted CMMS approach, a third party maintains the server hardware that is required to run the CMMS software. If something goes wrong, and it eventually will, you are not responsible and entitled to fix the server hardware. Not so with having a desktop configuration. With a desktop approach, if anything happens to the hardware or software that runs on your company servers, your company pays to have it fixed, not to mention the higher start up costs that associated with the desktop approach as you have to buy the hardware and software yourself.




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