Fiix Maintenance Insights: March 2019 Industry & Practical Updates

Explore this month’s curated selection of maintenance news, delivering actionable insights and expert analysis from leading industry voices.

Maintenance News from Around the World

A Race Against Time: Maintenance Is Valued, but Aging Equipment Puts Pressure on Plants (Bob Vavra & Amanda Pelliccione, Plant Engineering)

Plant Engineering’s 2019 Plant Engineering Maintenance Report highlights a gradual shift toward digital processes and technology‑driven asset management. Yet the report warns that aging equipment threatens modern maintenance strategies, framing the issue as a race against time.

Maintenance Outperforms Wall Street by 10 Times (Eric Woodroof, Buildings)

Investing in maintenance can dramatically reduce energy use and drive ROI. This article debunks the myth of maintenance as a cost center, showing how preventive measures curb heat loss and air leaks—boosting the bottom line far beyond market expectations.

Most Important Asset for CMMS/EAM: PEOPLE (Erika Mazza, MRO Magazine)

While IIoT and predictive analytics are exciting, most facilities lack the capacity to fully exploit them. This piece explains why 95% of CMMS/EAM data originates from human input and how mastering people management maximizes the value of maintenance software.

Why Maintenance Departments Regress (William Jacobyansky, Reliable Plant)

Even the most successful maintenance teams can slip back into reactive modes. This article identifies common pitfalls that trigger regression and offers strategies to recover and sustain high performance.

Maintenance News from Fiix

Troubleshooting for Maintenance: More Than Just Trial and Error

When applied systematically, troubleshooting becomes a powerful tool that eliminates backlogs, minimizes lost production, and ensures compliance. The article outlines best practices for building comprehensive asset histories and task lists, transforming troubleshooting from guesswork into precision.

Root Cause Analysis Using the 5 Whys Method

Maintenance failures often stem from a cascade of technical and process issues. This post explains the 5 Whys technique, its role within root cause analysis, and how it helps teams uncover deep‑root problems to implement lasting solutions.

What Is Reliability?

Understanding reliability—and how it differs from availability—is critical for modern asset management. The article traces reliability’s evolution, defines key concepts, and demonstrates how reliability‑centred maintenance can guide teams toward sustained performance.

A Short Guide to Choosing a CMMS

Selecting the right CMMS can mean the difference between operational control and wasted resources. This guide provides practical criteria, scoring templates, and actionable tips to help you pick a system that fits your organization’s needs.