Computerised maintenance for multiple benefits

In order to guarantee that its infrastructures are running optimally, Metalcolor relies on an internally developed computerised maintenance management system (CMMS). This planning and response tool also contains a wealth of information that plays a key role in employee training and quality control.

Developed by Mikhaïl Pinot, Maintenance Manager at Metalcolor, the CMMS platform inventories all scheduled and completed equipment maintenance activities. Introduced in 2015, the system already contains 26,000 entries! It also specifies 2,200 spare parts and can locate them along with all necessary information, such as inventory status, restocking and suppliers. “This platform allows us to monitor maintenance activities with great precision”, explains Mikhaïl.

He is in charge of a team that includes a project technician, a locksmith, three production line technicians, one infrastructure technician and a shop floor manager. The team is mainly involved in upgrades (51%) or prevention activities (34%). Since these kinds of activities have increased, the need for corrections and repairs has reduced drastically.

The CMMS contains an index of over 400 preventative measures. These are applied according to a schedule in line with the service life of each item of equipment. A dashboard shows each technician their various tasks for the week. “The specialist can then work according to set priorities, starting with the risk level for employees or the extent to which production will be impacted”, explains Mikhaïl.

Although the platform is designed to keep equipment running smoothly, it is also a fantastic training tool. “Plus, if a batch delivered to a customer were ever to be flagged as non-compliant, we could look back at the activities carried out during the relevant production phase to find the root cause of the problem. This helps us provide our customers with the best possible service.” The CMMS is one of the key elements on which Metalcolor bases its certification: ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 18001 (safety) and, through the optimisation of its infrastructure, ISO 14001 (environment) and 50001 (energy). It also contributed to the obtention of a label by the Energy Agency of the Swiss Private Sector (EnAW).

Jean-Luc Renck
Documentary Writer