We are in the process of reviewing equipment types as we start populating our CMMS. Our list is starting to get rather long (we in the manufacturing industry - multiple locations and processes).

What we would like to know is:
1) What experience have other CMMS users had with use of equipment types? Complex or simple?
2) How have you used this field in the management of assets?
3) Are there any recommended methods (standard list for manufacturing equipment)that you have used as a starting point?

Cbuman,

Quite a few questions. Sound simple at first, but can get really complex. I have used both simple and complex equipment types, depending on what is needed as an end result. All 3 of your questions really tie together.

Yes, I have used equipment types in the managing of assets. Mostly for reporting or grouping of costs and materials. If you are going to use types in this manner, then the simpler the better. Getting too complex for managing assests only leads to confusion.

For example, we got really complex is the types of pumps that we had. Positive displacement, hydraulic, centrifugal, and on and on. After seeing all the types, we had over 200 types of equipment. We took a hard look at the list and narrowed it down to about 30. Our reason was that no one really cared about the type of pump, only that it was a pump.

Manufacturing equipment can be done the same way. See what the end result of the types will be. If you can collect other data that helps define the type of equipment in other fields, use those and not the type.

As for a standard list, use what is common in your industry or your facility. When I worked at a manufacturing plant, we used what the common terms were for that facility (inserter, presser, cutter, etc). We wanted to make in simple for the end user of the CMMS program.

Hope this helps.