Ageing machinery is seen as the biggest threat to maximising uptime by maintenance and operations managers, however many are failing to prioritise asset longevity according to a recent report.
Software provider Ultimo’s latest Enterprise Asset Management Trend Report found that over two thirds of asset management decision makers dealt with unplanned operational interruptions – downtime – in the last year.
Around 32% saw ageing assets as the biggest threat to maintaining acceptable uptime figures, with poor communication between different teams named as the top threat by 17%, while 12% cited an ageing workforce and 11% said inefficient maintenance practices were limiting uptime.
Despite the challenges of maintaining uptime, asset longevity came out as the key performance indicator of least concern to respondents. “It appears that in many organisations, a mindset shift from reliance on corrective maintenance towards a mature approach to asset management is needed to drive change in this area,” the report says.
Further findings indicate that 63% of respondents have the data they need to monitor asset health and performance, with a similar proportion taking an ‘in control’ approach to maintenance based on corrective and preventative asset management, and making use of professional software. However 17% still take a reactive approach to maintenance, according to the survey.
Meanwhile almost two thirds reported seeing mobile-based maintenance practices as important to boosting efficiency, but uptake of such technology is being delayed by both a lack of suitable technology and budget.
“Both cases should be a cause for concern, as the absence of these technologies can damage profitability in the long term, confiding maintenance technicians to an outdated and inefficient way of working,” the report says.
“Being able to carry out essential but admin-heavy tasks, such as reporting on the go, or having access to knowledge resources on site, can play a vital part in optimising productivity and increasing hands-on-tool time.”
Turning to wider priorities for businesses, over half of 50% of respondents said recruitment challenges had been the leading internal cause of disruption in their organisation, while supply chain issues and Covid related challenges were the external factors causing the most disruption.
Investing in the workforce was seen as the single most important step to future-proof operations by two fifths of those surveyed and the importance of improving cooperation across the organisation was also recognised for responding to unprecedented events.
“With the disruption brought on by the pandemic, widespread supply chain challenges and material shortages, the impending skills gap, and the skyrocketing energy costs, asset owners have a lot on their plate,” said IFS Ultimo’s chief marketing officer Ewout Noordermeer.
“This report offers the latest insights to inspire maintenance and asset management professionals to use their challenges to fuel positive change. It’s clear that data-driven decision making, optimal cross-team collaboration and smart use of technology are of vital importance, now and in the future.”