The Devil is In the Details

Amanda Green

June 13, 2016

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Human error has resulted in some pretty catastrophic events; from Chernobyl to 2010’s stock market disaster a single mistake can have huge consequences. Ironically, Chernobyl melted down because its operators were attempting to prevent a meltdown. Officials wanted to test the reactor to see how long it could remain stable after a power failure, but the 12-hour shutdown was deemed impermissible and it occurred before the reactor could fully switchover to a diesel generator. The resulting 1986 meltdown was so catastrophic the area surrounding Chernobyl is still considered inhabitable.

In the case of Chernobyl, the devil truly was in six details that officials overlooked. Had they had automated systems to handle maintenance for them, the meltdown may not have occurred. In the case of the 2010 stock market disaster, the devil was in one single detail, which wrought catastrophic events.

On May 6, 2010 the letter “B” was used in a stock market sell order instead of the letter “M,” and it caused the stock market to plunge a whopping 1000 points. Although the problem was eventually remedied and most of the lost investor dollars ($1.1 trillion) were recovered, there was a ripple effect that cost a lot of people a ton of money.

Those are just two huge examples of human error, but most instances of human error happen during simple maintenance tasks, and although the result isn’t typically a nuclear explosion, it could cripple your business if given the chance. It’s important to embrace the technology available to your business today, especially the software available that automates maintenance tasks. CMMS software is virtually error-proof. Check out this CMMS comparison sheet to determine which software is best for your company.

Out with the Old (and Unreliable) and In with the New

It simply doesn’t make sense to use Excel spreadsheets or paper checklists to handle maintenance tasks anymore. Even in the earliest stages of development, companies need to embrace the technology available to them. Both paper and excel spreadsheets are not error-proof; yet, so many businesses admit to using paper and Excel to conduct their maintenance tasks. This is bound to cause a problem at some point…

A better idea is to use CMMS (computerized maintenance management system). More than just eliminating human error, CMMS has quite the myriad of benefits. Client connection is one of the biggest perks. Maintenance departments can use the system to automatically communicate with customers and potential customers, as well as techs and managers. Once a request is made, the system will automatically respond to the requester, which paints your business as tech-and-customer-service-forward.

Here’s some other benefits:

· Auto create work orders

· Establish schedules and emergency plans, as well as preventative maintenance schedules

· Schedule everything, including those most important tasks such as procedures and inspections

· Document everything

· Track schedules, warranties, employees, customers, and more

· Compile and analyze data

· Link work orders to inventory, so as to begin monitoring product, costs, and maintenance and thus be more cost efficient

Data Breaches and Human Error

The Inquirer reports that most data breaches are a direct result of human error. If cyber security threats worry you (they should), then this is yet another reason to automate your maintenance tasks. When emails are sent to the wrong people or information is wrongly disclosed, hackers have the details they need to infiltrate your system. Don’t feed them this information.

Imagine what could have been avoided if only this technology was available twenty or more years ago. Automating your tasks reduces stress and workload, but it’s vital because it helps reduce human error. The end result is a more streamlined business process and a safe and more cyber-secure workforce. It’s a win-win all around.