Every day, Fleet Managers are faced with decisions that can impact equipment maintenance, productivity, safety, and finances. In 2020, with an evolving set of COVID-19 social distancing rules that vary between provinces, states, and countries, the decisions are more difficult and complex.
Challenge 1 - Cost Management
Fleet Managers often tend to overspend due to a lack of understanding of the true cost of their equipment’s maintenance.
And as the fleet ages, the maintenance costs for each unit requires more careful monitoring. Knowing the right time to unload equipment that is costing too much time and money can avoid undermining the maintenance budget, and in turn, the bottom line.
Sometimes, expensive and chronic repairs go unnoticed because technicians are left to make maintenance decisions with no oversight.
Good reporting and the ability to quickly track maintenance trends is the key. Unfortunately, once your fleet size exceeds 20 pieces, without a good asset management or fleet maintenance software system in place, it becomes difficult to keep everything up to date with pen, paper, and fleet maintenance spreadsheets.
Challenge 2 - Scheduled Maintenance
Avoiding unscheduled equipment repairs is a top priority for Fleet Managers.
A good scheduled maintenance program helps to avoid surprises, minimizes down time, maximizes shop time, and enables minor repairs to be dealt with in a timely matter.
However, finding the interval sweet spot to schedule inspections and preventative maintenance isn’t always easy. A good place to start is with manufacturer recommended guidelines.
Some Fleet Managers plan scheduled maintenance based on risk and need. While a savvy, and sometimes lucky, Fleet Manager can be successful with this approach, it is important that management is on side as equipment warranty can be affected.
Scheduled maintenance does not have to cost a lot of money. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) certainly applies.
Challenge 3 - COVID-19
It is anticipated by the World Health Organization that COVID-19 will persist for another 2 years, therefore shaping the work environment and shop floor for the immediate future.
Organizations that continually seek opportunities to save time will have the greatest success at minimizing the extra administration time and money Covid-19 represents to equipment maintenance.
Fleet Harmony Cloud Maintenance Management software is COVID-19 friendly by enabling fleet managers and their staff to manage equipment maintenance and repairs remotely while still managing equipment maintenance and repairs.
Solution - Maximize with Technology
When an organization invests in an easy-to-use fleet maintenance software system, along with proper controls, it can help ensure successful maintenance management.
Fleet maintenance software can:
save time and streamline the maintenance process including scheduled maintenance,
provide comprehensive management reporting,
eliminate missing and incomplete information,
eliminate the reliance on filing cabinets and fleet maintenance spreadsheets,
save money on parts,
track warranty, and
Interface with your legacy software applications and devices.
Sadly, most Fleet Managers see fleet maintenance software as a cost as opposed to an investment. The perception is that it takes a lot of time and money to implement and maintain.
However, fleet maintenance software options are available that are worth serious consideration if you are not using fleet maintenance software or your current fleet maintenance software system is not working for you.
Fleet Harmony is not only easy-to-use with lots of features and reports, but also very attractively priced for organizations with small to mid-sized fleets.
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