Whether it’s to meet customer preferences or regulatory/contractual requirements, a growing number of organizations seek International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. ISO develops international management system standards to ensure that products and services are safe, reliable, and of good quality. Reduced costs, minimized waste and errors and access to new markets are all achievable when organizations meet ISO standards. However, ISO is not involved in the certification of the standards it develops. Private, external certification bodies perform ISO certification.
ISO 9000 standards address various aspects of quality management and provide organizations with guidance and tools to ensure that their products and services meet customers’ requirements and that their quality is consistently improved. Years ago, ISO standards were revised to require computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) programs in place of older manual systems, which were prone to error. CMMS programs help organizations modernize their maintenance management processes and meet ISO standards.
Comply with Stringent ISO Documentation and Recordkeeping Requirements
Simply put, the philosophy behind ISO certification is to document standard operating procedures, adhere to them, and be able to prove compliance. Implementing CMMS programs doesn’t guarantee that a company will meet ISO standards, but having a full-featured maintenance management system will certainly aid you in your quest to gain certification by showing auditors that you keep precise equipment maintenance records.
The management of ISO standards for maintenance of software related functions can easily be accomplished in your CMMS with minimal work on your part. CMMS programs keep data in a centralized system and prevent the possibility of accessing outdated information. Users have the ability to create and edit standard operating procedures, and real-time information is available for plant-wide, on-screen viewing.
In order to meet ISO standards, equipment having a direct impact on the quality of the product must be identified. CMMS users can identify equipment as ISO-critical or non-ISO critical. Users can also identify which employees have the skills required to maintain ISO-critical equipment. Additionally, you can tag procedures in your CMMS as ISO or non-ISO related so that users can easily sort records and find the appropriate procedures during an audit.
Safety procedures, which outline the steps required to do a job safely and correctly, are the basis of many ISO equipment maintenance procedures. Maintenance management software attaches safety procedures to preventive maintenance routines, equipment records, and work orders. CMMS software also includes a complete reporting system. A variety of reports can be generated to demonstrate compliance with ISO standards.
Monitor and Manage Preventive Maintenance Activities
The most important role that CMMS programs play in a maintenance organization is giving users the ability to monitor and manage preventive maintenance activities. Every hour you spend maintaining equipment affects your profitability. CMMS features that support preventive maintenance activities include the monitoring of equipment criticality, equipment data entry, and the tracking of spare parts inventory. The spare parts inventory management feature of a CMMS allows you to track essential inventory to ensure that the right parts are available when equipment breaks down.
Preparing for ISO certification might seem complex, but it actually streamlines the maintenance management process and increases efficiency across the board. A CMMS can be used to track and set due dates for preventive maintenance tasks as well as generate work orders and assign them to the appropriate technicians based on their skills. Implementing a CMMS is likely to enhance your maintenance department’s productivity by increasing equipment up time, reducing unforeseen repairs, and enabling you to distribute preventive maintenance tasks more evenly.
Achieve ISO Certification with the Aid of DPSI’s CMMS Programs
Founded in 1986, DPSI is a leading maintenance management software vendor for the manufacturing, facilities, and fleet industries. Our CMMS programs can be tailored to meet the specifications of virtually any company. Using DPSI’s preventive maintenance software results in less equipment downtime and improves efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Our client base consists of over 50,000 satisfied users in 50 countries. To set up a free trial, contact one of our customer service representatives today.
