MR Information System

The implementation of a specialized management system in the field of MR is economically feasible in terms of reducing repair costs, reducing losses from equipment downtime. Implementation of the MRO module allows technology managers to integrate into the corporate system, obtain and provide more accurate and timely information on all tasks related to MRO planning and accounting.

Russian IS MRO market

Russian automated MRO management systems are at the very beginning of their development. This is characterized by the presence of a small number of players, only 20 companies of various sizes took part in our review. For comparison, in the West, up to 50 large and several hundred small companies play in this sector. It should be noted here that most of these companies began to offer their solutions for automation of MR more than 25 years ago.

Classification

In the modern development of information systems, all systems belong to automated control systems (ACS), while quite often the general class of ACS MR is used. For about 30 years, there has been a class of information systems for automating the control of MR processes. It includes three types of systems:

• CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) systems - automated MRO management systems - rather simple information systems that are aimed at controlling only MR processes.
• EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) Systems - Enterprise Asset Management -

special-purpose systems that provide the ability to automate the entire M&R process and the processes that support it, such as, repair personnel management, material base, supplies, etc.

• MR modules in ERP systems are independent combined modules in ERP packages. The main advantage is integration with all other modules. As a rule, they have limited functionality in the MRO management.

Project management software products, which at times fall into the category of MRO management systems, cannot be called full-fledged solutions for MRO management, since they are used mainly for scheduling the timing of work.

Tasks and Tools

The main tasks of MR project management are:

• Further high-level MRO planning and improvement for many facilities or operating enterprises, including budget planning;
• Preparation of the work execution plan for MR and modification with the required degree of specificity, taking into account the technologies, limitations of the enlarged schedules and safety requirements;
• Detailed planning of the use of cash, taking into account their synchronous work in various projects;
• Execution of contract agreements. Amendments to the planned budget of the M&R project and modifications.
• Checking the quality of work performed by the contractors.
• Assessment of the implementation and modification of the MR project and forecasting of its development options.
• Control over identification of previously unplanned works. Adjustment of contract agreements.
• Detailed planning of the new MR and modification project.
• Drawing up minutes of meetings and monitoring the implementation of their decisions.

The above tasks require specialized software tools. They make it possible to repeatedly increase the efficiency of the M&R project management and modification by means of more detailed planning of works, means and financial parameters of the project, development of project development options, etc. Primavera Systems software provides a set of tools for such a plan.

Characteristics

The size of the enterprise and the industry in which it operates are the main characteristics of the automation object. The choice of a certain automation solution and its architecture largely depend on these characteristics. In capital-intensive industries, large enterprises require more complex and expensive solutions for automating M&R processes.

MR processes are usually characterized by a wide territorial prevalence. To automate these processes, it is necessary to install workplaces as close as possible to the repair site or to places where information about the condition of equipment is accumulated, for example, control rooms or diagnostic centers. It should be noted that the result of the system operation requires the installation of workplaces in the immediate vicinity of the work site (areas requiring repair, inventory warehouses, diagnostic points, places for issuing work orders).

An important indicator for the start of repairs is the number of records on the item list, since the motivation of planning during repairs is more determined by the reasonableness of materials planning, therefore, as a rule, the ordered items should be entered into the system and used when forming repair plans.

The number of equipment items in the database makes it possible to analyze with what accuracy the description of the equipment structure is carried out. Depending on how widely the description is carried out, further evaluation of the information and the development of improved service strategies may depend. Most of the projects are characterized by the result of describing the structure of the equipment. This greatly complicates the application of approaches such as state repair and failure cause analysis in an automated system.

The number of work orders that are created manually or automatically in the system shows the activity of the system. Accordingly, the more work assignments, the more information for further assessment. Total, large work orders, the main task of which is to write off work costs for them, cannot be considered sufficient for solving analytical problems.

Types of MR

There are three main types of maintenance and repair used in enterprises.

The first type is event service. This type is granted the right to exist, provided that the cost of repair is quite low, and the product scrap resulting from equipment breakdown is insignificant and will not have any impact on the fulfillment of obligations to customers. In the event of unforeseen repairs, the company incurs losses as a result of product defects and violations of obligations, and is forced to make urgent purchases, as a rule, not profitable in terms of price conditions, and wait until the ordered parts are delivered from the supplier.

The second type of MR is considered routine maintenance. Each asset has a manufacturer's passport, which says in what mode and what service must be provided in order for the equipment to continue its work. This type of service is the most expensive, although it gives the highest percentage of equipment readiness.

The third type of service is "by condition." With the help of meters installed on the equipment or by expert means, its condition is assessed, on the basis of which a forecast is made, about the time of withdrawal of this equipment for repair. The positive aspects of this type of service are that the cost is less, and the readiness of the equipment to execute production programs is very high.

Decisions

Основная статья: EAM

Chronicle

2025: "From the Aqueducts of Ancient Rome to Digital Twins: The Evolution of MRO and the Mobile Repair Revolution"

From ancient aqueduct inspections to modern intelligent MRO management systems, this evolution reflects humanity's desire for reliability and efficiency. In our article, we will see how approaches to maintaining equipment and infrastructure have changed and how modern digital solutions, such as KRIT EAM: Mobile repairman, combine the accumulated experience with the latest technologies. Read more here.

See also

• CMMS
• ERP
• TPM