Introduction

What is a CMMS

Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), also known as computerized maintenance management information system (CMMIS), or these days Enterprise Asset Management(EAM) is a software package that maintains a computer database of information about an organization's maintenance operations. This information is intended to help maintenance engineers and technicians do their jobs more effectively (for example, determining which machines require maintenance and which storerooms contain the spare parts they need) and to help management make informed decisions (for example, calculating the cost of machine breakdown repair versus preventive maintenance for each machine, possibly leading to better allocation of resources), and ultimately leading to cutting overall maintenance costs and reducing critical equipment downtime. Enterprsie Asset Management Software used to be slightly different focusing on the optimal life cycle management of an organization’s physical assets. But advances in technology have closed the gap more and more.

Before the emergence of CMMS solution, maintenace management used to be fully paper-based. But CMMS solutions have replaced that. CMMS solutions have seen decades of evolution owing to improvement in computer processing power, network connectivity, etc.

Brief History of CMMS

The evolution of CMMS started in the 1960s, with some math-based systems which were designed to help verify manufacturing processes, documenting and standardizing them. This involved entering punchcard readings, and later paper forms readings into mainframe computers. The use of CMMS Software at this stage could only be afforded by very big companies.

The 1980s, saw the introduction of the mini-computer. Software became more affordable to medium-sized businesses. The CMMS software was also affected by the revolution. This resulted into monochrome monitor terminals at the plants where data is entered on completion of a Work Order.

Microsoft-Access based CMMS applications showed up in the 1990s. This was very successful as it were then due to the advances in networking and improved hardware. It also had it's limitations - everything was still printed, Microsoft Access was needed on every one of the terminals, lack of work order history, etc.

Towards the end of the 1990s, CMMS evolved again. This time around, it became browser based. They were accessed through a standard web browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox. They were on Premise solutions running on Local Area Networks initially. And later on, web-based solutions emerged. At this point, users can access their CMMS with any internet connected device - laptop, tablet, smartphone,etc. You can log in from anywhere at anytime. You can go through a checklist with your phone at home after dinner.

Next is cloud based solutions. With cloud computing came multi-tenancy solutions hosted in the cloud, etc. This is usually obtaining your solution from a Software as a service Provider (SAAS Provider).

Why Julio CMMS

State-of-the-art is server based solutions with browser clients. A solution could either be hosted on Premise, or on the Internet. You may use Provider hosted subscription service (SAAS), or use your company hosted solution. If you are using a provider's solution, you are no longer in control. All your data is stored somewhere in somebody else's server (or servers). You are usually expected to pay per user per month. You could be cut off anytime your subscription expires no matter the state of your business. In the event of network or connectivity issue, you don't have an alternative; no alternative way of running the software. When you add up your annual costs for say 3 years, you will be shocked by how much it is greater than a one off payment solution like Julio CMMS. One other ugly thing about SAAS solutions is that you may already have an IT staff who could deliver a suitable CMMS for you if they have the software to deploy.

Julio CMMS is server side program written in PHP. It can be hosted in your premise if you so choose. It can be hosted on the internet; anywhere Joomla could be hosted. It takes less than 10 minutes to install it. You don't need to be an IT guru to deploy it. If you can setup a web page, then you can install Julio CMMS without contacting us - many people had done that. If you already have a website, then you can easily drop Julio CMMS on a subdomain and run. The power is handed over to you. If you want it in premise, it's up to you. If you want it on the internet, you decide that.

We market Julio CMMS with the "Double Advantage" tag because it adds another level of functionality which no other CMMS has - it integrates with a Content Management System - Joomla.

Besides being a full blown CMMS, Julio CMMS allows you to exploit the power of a world popular content management system without any limits. So an engineer or a technician could create an article of no limits and attach it to a Work Order, link it to a menu item or publish his CMMS table item on the Local Intranet module. We took a lot of time to get it right. The result is the accolades we get.

One of the buyers of Julio CMMS a Pharmaceutical Company based in California, USA said they were considering going for eMaint before they discovered Julio CMMS.

He sent us his appreciation of our works (which may be featured on the site any day). He said they were able to do the same thing they wanted to do with eMaint, but it is now better, easier to understand and implement, and very much cheaper.

Julio CMMS also has a mobile application(almost ready) which integrates with your installation if your installation is on the internet. But just like it's parent solution, no other mobile app of a CMMS works the same way. You will marvel!