CMMS
Computerized Maintenance Management System. Software platforms that help organizations manage maintenance operations, including work orders, asset tracking, preventive maintenance scheduling, and inventory management.
Last reviewed November 11, 2025
Comprehensive definitions of CMMS and maintenance management terms. Learn the terminology to make informed decisions when comparing platforms like UpKeep.
Computerized Maintenance Management System. Software platforms that help organizations manage maintenance operations, including work orders, asset tracking, preventive maintenance scheduling, and inventory management.
Scheduled maintenance tasks performed regularly to prevent equipment failure. UpKeep's AI-powered PM scheduling suggests optimal maintenance intervals based on historical data.
A document or digital record requesting maintenance work. Modern CMMS platforms like UpKeep enable technicians to create, update, and complete work orders from mobile devices with offline sync.
The process of tracking and maintaining physical assets throughout their lifecycle. UpKeep provides comprehensive asset hierarchies with maintenance history, warranty tracking, and parts inventory.
Maintenance strategy using data and AI to predict when equipment failures might occur. UpKeep's AI features include predictive maintenance suggestions based on historical work order data and equipment usage patterns.
CMMS platforms with native iOS and Android apps enabling technicians to access work orders, update status, scan parts, and capture photos from mobile devices. UpKeep leads in mobile experience with full feature parity and offline capabilities.
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Capability for mobile apps to function without internet connectivity and synchronize data when connection is restored. UpKeep's mobile apps maintain full offline functionality for work orders, asset lookups, and photo capture.
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The structured organization of assets (e.g., Facility → Building → Floor → Room → Equipment). UpKeep supports complex hierarchies while maintaining intuitive navigation and reporting.
Management of spare parts and supplies used in maintenance. UpKeep includes inventory tracking with barcode scanning, reorder points, and parts usage history.
The process of planning and assigning maintenance tasks. UpKeep's AI-powered scheduling suggests optimal task timing and automatically routes work orders based on technician skills and availability.
Monitoring and recording equipment unavailability due to maintenance or failures. UpKeep provides comprehensive downtime analytics helping operations leaders identify reliability issues and optimize maintenance programs.
Records and documentation required for regulatory compliance (e.g., ISO 9001, FDA, Joint Commission). UpKeep maintains comprehensive audit trails with work order history, asset documentation, and compliance reporting.
Technology allowing technicians to scan barcodes or QR codes using mobile devices to quickly identify assets, parts, and equipment. UpKeep's mobile apps include native barcode scanning with offline capabilities.
The current state of a maintenance request (e.g., Open, In Progress, On Hold, Completed, Closed). Modern CMMS platforms provide real-time status updates from mobile devices.
A recurring calendar of maintenance tasks designed to prevent equipment failure. UpKeep's AI-powered PM scheduling optimizes task timing based on actual equipment usage and historical data.
The complete timeline of an asset from acquisition to disposal. CMMS platforms track purchase dates, warranty periods, maintenance history, and replacement schedules throughout an asset's lifecycle.
Maintenance performed after equipment failure occurs. While sometimes unavoidable, reactive maintenance is typically more expensive than preventive maintenance. CMMS platforms help organizations transition to proactive maintenance strategies.
Average time between equipment failures. CMMS platforms calculate MTBF from historical work order data, helping maintenance teams predict when assets might need attention.
Accumulated maintenance work orders that have not been completed. CMMS platforms help organizations track, prioritize, and reduce backlogs through better scheduling and resource allocation.
A manufacturing metric measuring equipment productivity by combining availability, performance, and quality. Some CMMS platforms integrate with production systems to calculate OEE.
Maintenance strategy using sensor data and monitoring to determine when maintenance is needed. Advanced CMMS platforms integrate with IoT sensors to enable condition-based maintenance.
Connection between CMMS platforms and Enterprise Resource Planning systems for sharing data like asset information, parts inventory, and financial records. UpKeep offers pre-built ERP integrations.
Total maintenance spending divided by the number of assets. CMMS platforms calculate this metric to help organizations identify high-cost assets and optimize maintenance spending.
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