Keys to digitalize industrial maintenance and optimize production

The technological revolution in the industrial sector is redefining plant maintenance management. Companies now have cutting-edge technologies to respond to a context like the current one in which efficiency, sustainability and adaptability are essential. Technologies that help to optimize their operations, guarantee the availability of their equipment at the lowest possible cost and anticipate maintenance needs.

Thus, this digitalization of industrial maintenance allows for increased productivity, promotes sustainability and reduces the costs associated with unplanned downtime. According to a Deloitte report, the implementation of predictive maintenance strategies can reduce facility downtime by 5% to 15%, and increase labor productivity by 5% to 20%. In addition, the World Economic Forum and Accenture highlight that predictive maintenance can reduce planned maintenance spending by 12%, reduce repair costs by 30% and reduce unplanned downtime by 70%. This reflects a shift towards data-based management models and integrated processes.

Among the main challenges in plant maintenance management, the need to ensure operational continuity, safety and compliance with regulations stands out, while improving the management of associated costs. To meet these challenges, companies in the sector need to modernize their processes with the help of new technologies, moving from reactive to proactive maintenance that prevents failures and improves the performance of their equipment.

Trends in digital transformation

In the field of industrial plant maintenance, digital transformation is marking the way towards more efficient, proactive and profitable management. In this context, six key trends are identified:

1. Comprehensive digitalization: Frequent failures and unplanned downtime can seriously compromise production efficiency. The digital transformation of industrial companies and the deployment of systems such as Computer Assisted Maintenance Management (CMMS) solutions centralize information, improve communication between teams and provide advanced analytical tools. In addition, the automation of processes, from scheduling work orders to inventory management, eliminates routine tasks and improves productivity.
2. Sensors and analytics for predictive and preventive maintenance: The deployment of smart sensors and the use of analytics on data collected in real time help detect problems before they occur and avoid interruptions, reducing the number of unplanned repairs that negatively impact costs.
3. Tools for optimized asset management: Today, industrial companies have specific capabilities that allow monitoring and analysis of the useful life of equipment, ensuring efficient use of resources and maximizing return on investment. They also have analytical tools that provide up-to-date data on the status of assets and the profitability of each project.
4. Solutions for the intelligent management of your technicians: They include functionalities to classify and assign resources, record work times and carry out detailed monitoring through automatically updated maintenance books. In addition, they allow you to keep a historical record of interventions, easy to manage and consult.
5. Capabilities to optimize work order planning: CMMS solutions contemplate the grouping and automatic scheduling of work orders, adjusting dates according to operational needs and avoiding overlaps of maintenance technicians.
6. Commitment to cloud applications: The deployment of cloud applications for remote management and global accessibility ensures both operational continuity and data security in plant maintenance processes, in addition to constant functionality and platform updates to stay on top of innovation. These tools also provide advanced technological integration that facilitates data synchronization, accessibility from any device, and a very user-friendly experience.

_{Fuente: Automática e investigación n559}