CMMS: Backbone of Inventory Management and Controltest

By Thomas A. Westerkamp

April 2014

The CMMS is the backbone of inventory management and control. Besides the typical modules —work orders, equipment records, material stores inventory, project management, standard reports, work-scheduling databases — the CMMS query system can yield summary inventory reports that supervisors and managers need.

When each work-order status indicates the material is available, the work order is ready to go, and the maintenance planner can schedule it with the confidence that a lack of materials will not delay the job. Managers also can monitor the trend of work orders awaiting material.

With real-time inventory control, the need for physical inventory decreases, especially if entries are accurate and complete. Out-of-stock trends can alert the stores supervisor to specific items that need expediting before they lead to equipment downtime. Managers also can monitor inventory-valuation trends efficiently.