Integrations & technical
What is a CMMS?
A CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) is software that plans, tracks, and optimizes the preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment, machinery, or facilities.
How does a CMMS work?
It centralizes maintenance history, automatically triggers preventive work orders based on defined rules (elapsed time, usage hours, sensor readings), and tracks costs, spare parts, and technician availability.
Why use a CMMS?
A CMMS reduces unplanned breakdowns, extends equipment lifespan, and provides a full audit trail of maintenance activity for compliance purposes.
Real-world example
In a factory, a CMMS can automatically generate a preventive maintenance work order for a machine once its usage-hour counter hits a defined threshold — before a breakdown ever happens.
What are the pros and cons of a CMMS?
A CMMS cuts unplanned downtime and emergency repair costs while keeping a clean audit trail. Its limit: if it isn't connected to the broader team schedule, maintenance work orders can end up conflicting with other jobs already assigned to the same technicians.
CMMS vs ERP
| CMMS | ERP | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Equipment maintenance. | All core business functions. |
| Typical users | Technicians, maintenance managers. | Finance, purchasing, HR, production. |
| Link to scheduling | Direct (work orders to schedule). | Indirect, usually via modules. |
Key takeaways
- Computerized Maintenance Management System.
- Plans preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment.
- Often connected to the broader team schedule.
Visual Planning integrates with CMMS platforms to sync maintenance work orders with your team schedule.
Frequently asked questions
CMMS vs ERP — what's the difference?
A CMMS focuses specifically on equipment maintenance, while an ERP covers a company's full range of business functions.
Who uses a CMMS?
Maintenance technicians, operations managers, manufacturers, and facility managers.
Does a CMMS replace scheduling software?
No. It focuses on maintenance, and ideally connects to a broader team schedule to avoid conflicts with other assigned work.
Is a CMMS worth it for small operations?
Yes — as soon as an organization has critical equipment to maintain regularly, even with a small fleet, the audit trail a CMMS provides is valuable.
Related terms
ERP
Field Service Management
Fleet and Asset Management
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