CMMS vs EAM, what do I need?

In today’s market, we can find multiple CMMS software systems, each trying to position itself as the ideal maintenance and asset management solution. However, not all are created equal.

Among them, there are functional differences and customization, visualization, ease of use, connectivity with other systems, etc. capabilities.

Understanding the difference between an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) System and a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and learning to distinguish them is key in order to find the ideal asset management system for your business, its positioning as a company, and its future strategy as a company.

EAM systems were designed to be unified platforms for managing an organization’s assets throughout their lifecycle and with a more global approach to their management. Therefore, EAMs have taken advantage of the latest technological advantages and are more evolved solutions than CMMSs, given that they are products with a 360º vision in maintenance management and their functionalities are very similar to those of an ERP, but with an orientation to asset management and optimizing their performance.

A CMMS focuses on maintenance in a more vertical way, while an EAM system adopts a comprehensive approach, adaptable to the client’s needs and incorporating/integrating several business functions in its management (Maintenance – Inventory and stocks – purchases) and all this managed proactively and helping the complex management that exists in the maintenance departments.

Given the number of market products and their functionalities, today it is difficult to draw a line of separation between these two tools, what is clear is that Industry 4.0 and the IoT mark a clear trend towards EAM solutions. In turn, not all products that claim to be an EAM system have real EAM functionality.

Differences between EAM and CMMS

Among the main differences between EAM and CMMS, we find that EAMs have connectivity capabilities at various levels:

• Connectivity with business ERPs (upstream connectivity).
• Connectivity with the equipment and facilities of our plant / infrastructure (downstream connectivity) in order to know the status of the assets with real data from these and be able to act proactively and automatically. (SCADA – MES/MON – ERP).
• The most evolved EAMs have their own mobility tool (Tablets / Mobile) with all the functionalities and situations that our technicians need and with the ability to connect field technicians with the work orders that our EAM manages automatically, and in this way close the circle between Equipment – Technology – People.

Functionalities

Regarding its functionalities, EAMs, in addition to integrating all the functionalities of CMMSs, have, among many others, the following capabilities:

• Lifecycle management of assets.
• Reliability analysis.
• Automatic management of work orders through workflow and approvals.
• Stock Management and inventory management.
• Management of human resources.
• Management of contracts and Suppliers/subcontracts.
• Validation of security requirements OSH and operational safety.
• Attach information to our assets (Videos, photos, plans, diagrams, procedures, etc.)
• Financial management and costs throughout its life cycle. Budget control.
• Mapping of the asset lifecycle.
• Purchasing management.
• Management of calibrations and guarantees.
• Integrated GIS functionalities.

Finally, EAMs allow you to get the most out of your assets, and that is why their return on investment is much higher than that of CMMSs. In turn, EAMs are aimed at companies of a certain size (or with demanding requirements), with more complex and advanced needs, where the production or management of services requires a tool that helps them improve their performance and operational efficiency.

If you want to know a state-of-the-art EAM that allows you to optimally manage your assets and strategically position yourself with a 4.0 maintenance management, consult this page and contact us:

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