Mintek has seen over 20 years of evolution in the CMMS/EAM industry. During that time some of the names we call things and some decriptions of industry terms have evolved due to technological and use adaptations. Our favorite terms listed below are followed by a short definition allowing you to better understand the features of Transcendent and our blogs.
New terms will be added regularly and if you see a term missing please contact us and let us know.
Glossary of Relevant Terms for Transcendent
- Assets (back to top)
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The term is used to describe items controlled by a company from which a benefit is derived. For industry purposes these items are considered non-human fixed assets and represent the core data to be used in an asset management system. Examples include: Buildings, Computers, Furniture etc.
- Asset Lifecycle (back to top)
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The asset lifecycle covers the time span from when the asset need is determined through its eventual replacement or disuse. How the asset's lifecycle is managed is dependent on the strategies and goals of its management. These strategies normally include training, maximizing utility, preventive maintenance, evaluation and when use will stop.
"The life of an asset, from when a need for it is first established, through its acquisition, operation and any maintenance or upgrading, to its disposal. It describes the natural evolution of an asset in terms of the increase and decrease in its use and value from inception to retirement"
Source: Queensland Government Glossary Definition of Asset Lifecycle
- CAFM (back to top)
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CAFM is an abbreviation for Computer Aided Facility Management
See Computer Aided Facility Management
- CIFM (back to top)
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CIFM is an abbreviation for Computer Integrated Facilities Management
See Computer Integrated Facilities Management Management
- CMMS (back to top)
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CMMS is an abbreviation for Computerized Maintenance Management Software.
See Computerized Maintenance Management Software
- Computer Aided Facility Management (back to top)
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Computer aided facilities management uses personal computers to provide facility managers with the ability to track and maintain facility layouts including floor plans, building information, ergonomics, furniture and fixtures and safety information.
"Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM) is the support of facilities management by information technology. The supply of information about the facilities is the center of attention. The tools of the CAFM are called CAFM software, CAFM applications or CAFM systems."
Source: Wikipedia
- Computer Integrated Facilities Management (back to top)
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Computer integrated facilities management uses personal computers to provide facility managers with the ability to track and maintain facility layouts including floor plans, building information, ergonomics, furniture and fixtures and safety information.
"Also known as Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM).
A term identifying the use of a computer system for measuring, managing, and analyzing the space, furniture, fixtures and equipment and associated drawings of a facility. Includes move management, lease information, reports, telecommunications, labor and material cost accounting, and maintenance management issues."
Source: CFI
- Computerized Maintenance Management Software (back to top)
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A computerized system designed to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance activities. Also known as CMMS, typical features include planning, scheduling and monitoring of work orders and maintenance needs.
- Contracts (back to top)
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A written legally binding service maintenance agreement that defines what is to be worked on, how often, the costs, hours of service, what is covered (parts and/or labor), emergency service and limitations. Contracts are necessary as a method of managing your vendors and costs. A contract also provides for standing if persuing legal remedies. For example, if a vendor refuses service and causes a shutdown you may be able to reclaim a portion of your losses. All agreements should be reviewed by an attorney or experienced contract adminstrator before signing.
- Documents (back to top)
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Documents refers to the paper trail to support EAM functions. These may include blueprints, receipts and contracts as well as pdf, pictures and other computer based images.
- EAM (back to top)
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EAM is an abbreviation for Enterprise Assets Management
See Enterprise Asset Management
- Enterprise Asset Management (back to top)
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Enterprise asset management (EAM) differs from Asset Management because it treats the asset from a company (enterprise) perspective. It refers to the management of assets to the benefit of the organization as a whole and not limited to a specific area such as a department, location or division. It includes the entire process from initial planning, designed use, installation, training, operations, maintenance and eventual retirement/replacement.
"When the entire asset portfolio of the organization is considered, EAM takes over. As business and market requirements are dynamic, the output specifications for the organization’s assets change constantly (e.g., increase in output capacity due to new customers). EAM provides the framework for capital and labor allocation decision processes across the competing categories of equipment addition/ reduction, replacement, over-hauling, redundancy setup and maintenance budgets in order to meet business needs."
Source: Wikipedia Definition of Enterprise Asset Management
- Engineer (back to top)
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A person who is trained in the art and profession of a specific discipline. An engineer in terms of EAM, applies scientific and mathematical knowledge to the design, application and use of equipment and facilities.
- Facility Management ( back to top )
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Facility Management is a professional encompassing many disciplines and its primary function is to make sure buildings operate at maximum efficiency through the optimal integration of people, processes and technology. Responsibilities may range from HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lighting, cleaning and security.
- Facilities Management Information System (back to top)
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Is a newer term describing a model that integrates computer assisted design programs and electronic document management systems on a network to manage and track sofware solutions designed for facilities management.
- FMIS (back to top)
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FMIS is an abbreviation for Facilities Management Information System
See Facilities Management Information System
- Geographic Information System (back to top)
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The term represents the merging of cartography and database technology. Once mapping data is collected the information can accessed, transferred, manipulated, overlaid, processed and displayed with various sotware
"A geographic information system (GIS), or geographical information system captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that is linked to location."
Source: Wikipedia
- Geospatial (back to top)
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Geospatial is a term most often associated with advanced mapping techniques by merging imagery, maps, charts, and environmental data into sohisticated 3d images.
"Geospatial Technology is defined as an information technology field of practice that acquires, manages, interprets, integrates, displays, analyzes, or otherwise uses data focusing on the geographic, temporal, and spatial context.” A more specific yet still descriptive definition of Geospatial Technology is “an information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. This is imperative as mapping, in some form is quickly becoming integrated into every aspect of daily life."
Source: Technology Student Association
- GIS (back to top)
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GIS is an abbreviation for Geographic Information System.
See Geograhic Information System
- Global Positioning System (back to top)
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The Global Positioning System is a U.S. space-based worldwide radio navigation system made up of three parts (satellites, control stations and receivers). End users (GPS receivers are then able to provide a three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus the time.
- GPS (back to top)
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GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System
See Global Positioning System
- Inheritance (back to top)
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The term inheritance is a term used inside Transcendent to describe the assigning of identical information across multiple levels within the asset hierarchy. For example, if automobiles are one of your asset groups, cars, trucks and buses become the child categories, Since all of these auto types have a VIN #, then the VIN # becomes the inherited field of reference. This allows for powerful system configuration and customization to fit the unique needs of complicated asset types and subtypes.
- Inspections (back to top)
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An inspection is the act of examining assets in order to determine their condition by checking on known issues, answering checklist questions, observing and documenting changes and making recommendations or scheduling maintenance. Inspections is a form of preventive maintenance.
- Integrated Workplace Management System (back to top)
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The term Integrated Workplace Management System refers to a performance management systems that integrates and optimizes overall corporate strategy for operations, asset and real estate portfolios.
"An enterprise platform that supports the planning, design, management, utilisation and disposal of an organisation’s location-based assets. IWMS systems assist organisations in optimising the use of workplace resources, including the management of a company’s real estate portfolio, infrastructure and facilities assets."
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Source: Steven Hanks IWMSnews
- IWMS (back to top)
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IWMS is an abbreviation for Integrated Workplace Management System
- Lock-Out Tag-Out (back to top)
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A safety method (procedure) used on with dangerous machines to ensure machines are properly shut down and started. to prevent injury or death.
"Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities."
Source: OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy (Tagout/Lockout) in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.147
- LOTO (back to top)
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LOTO is an abbreviation for Lock-Out Tag-Out
See Lock-Out Tag-Out
- Maintenance Repair and Operations (back to top)
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Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO) also known as Maintenance Repair and Overhaul is the fixing of broken or damaged physical items. This includes any mechanical or electrical device.
"All actions which have the objective of retaining or restoring an item in or to a state in which it can perform its required function. The actions include the combination of all technical and corresponding administrative, managerial, and supervision actions."
Source: Wikimedia - Quoting original source - European Federation of National Maintenance Societies
- MC-55 (back to top)
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The MC-55 refers to the Motorola Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA). The MC-55 is a compact handheld mobile computer with multiple functionality including cell phone, bar code reader, and digital camera.
See MC-55 Details. It is the device of choice for use with Transcendent.
- Mobile Computer (back to top)
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The use of a computing device while in transit. Mobile computers with EAM systems generally refer to the use of handheld devices (handheld computers).
- MRO (back to top)
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MRO is an abbreviation for Maintenance Repair and Operations which is also known as Maintenance Repair and Overhaul.
See Maintenance Repair and Operations
- Predictive Maintenance (back to top)
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Predictive maintenance (PdM) programs are based upon the actual condition of the equipment and a determination of when maintenance should be performed to minimize costs. New technology techniques such as ultrasound, infrared and vibration online testing make predictive maintenance a viable alternative in certain circumstances. However, for most equipment the complex metrics for making educated guesses (predictive) is provided by preventive maintenance programs.
- Preventive Maintenance (back to top)
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Maintenance that occurs on a pre-determined schedule. The purpose of preventive maintenance (PM) is to increase efficiencies by reducing the amount of reactive work in relation to planned maintenance thus increasing the ability of management to manage work more efficiently and with greater flexibility. Most importantly, it allows for the early identification of problems and significantly increases the life cycle of equipment, lowers capital expenditure requirements and allows for better planning of capital budgets. In addition, when integrated with handheld technologies and a combination of asset management, work order management and inspections, work flow efficiencies are increased to maximum levels. The data collected through this method becomes the building block for predictive maintenance.
Note: The term Preventive has been used interchangeably with the word Preventative. Both have the same meaning although Preventive is used more frequently as an adjective and Preventative is used more often as a noun. Although their is somewhat of an internet debate about which term is correct, Preventive is frequently enough, that it is considered the preferred term.
- PM (back to top)
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PM is an abbreviation for Preventive Maintenance
See Preventive Maintenance
- SCADA (back to top)
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SCADA is an abbreviation for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
See Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (back to top)
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A computerized system often used to collect real-time maintenance information for monitoring and control of assets.
"A computer system for gathering and analyzing real time data. SCADA systems are used to monitor and control a plant or equipment in industries such as telecommunications, water and waste control, energy, oil and gas refining and transportation.."
Source: Webopedia
- Telemetry (back to top)
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Telemetry is definied as the science and technology of automatic measurement and transmission of data by wire, radio, or other means from remote sources to a monitoring device recording and analysis. For EAM this means the remote transmission of maintenance information.
- WO (back to top)
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WO is an abbreviation for Work Order.
See Work Order
- Work Order (back to top)
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Is the document trail that follows the maintenance of an item. A work order should contain; a description of the task, details of the asset, a tracking number, date requested, due date, who it is assigned to, a priority, time spent on, inspection notes, general notes/remarks section. As the task is completed, hours, cost, materials, and notes of special tools/considerations should be recorded. Information can be recorded on paper forms or online using handheld devices. Upon completion the form/data is normally given to the director of engineering.
- WR (back to top)
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WR is an abbreviation for Work Request.
See Work Request
- Work Request (back to top)
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A document/online form used for making the initial request for maintenance. Once approved, the document is normally converted into a work order.