If you are considering installing an Asset Management System, a Computerized Maintenance Management System, or a similar software system, this figure might scare you off: 60-80% of asset management systems fail on implementation. But here are four essential points of focus we recommend to help ensure that your implementation is successful:

1. Start by defining success: We all know that scope is critical for project success and an implementation of an asset management system is no different. The goals of the system need to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SMART goals don’t support the attitude that buying a piece of software will suddenly fix issues with a business process—rather they provide clear path to successful implementation.

2. Business First: Whatever business you are in—whether it is customer service, water treatment, mining, or aviation—you have to make your business efficient before you can automate the processes. This means having a solid plan for collecting asset data, defining your service levels, understanding and managing risk, and making optimized decisions about the assets that you care for.

3. Project Management: There are two sides to the project management perspective:  1) The system should be managed like a project until the go live date, taking advantage of all the typical project management techniques; then 2) the system should be managed like any other asset, with maintenance and continuous improvement front and centre.

4. People: People are your most important asset, you need to select the right team to work on your implementation. These are people who know the assets, will benefit from the system, and have the ability to allocate resources to the cause. This means you need input from all levels—an implementation team with all senior managers and no operators is unbalanced, likewise a team of operators with no support from senior management. And remember that people will need training not only on the system, but also on the changing business processes.

These points can help guide you to a successful implementation of an asset management system. But notice that none of these were about software—asset management is a business process system, and the software is there to support it. We’re here to help you implement asset management from that perspective—the successful perspective. Let us know if we can help.

When you increase your efficiency, everyone prospers.