What’s the Difference Between a CMMS and EAM?
When searching for a solution to your maintenance management requirements, there are two viable options; a CMMS and EAM.
- EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) focuses on optimising the overall performance of assets.
- A CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management System) encourages the automation of maintenance strategies to prolong asset performance and increase asset health.
Depending on variables such as asset type, business size, and the scale of operations, each solution provides different functionalities and benefits to match an organisation’s maintenance requirements.
A Side-By-Side Difference Between CMMS and EAM
CMMS and EAM are the two solutions that offer maintenance-oriented solutions. Often they are perceived to be the same thing, which they are not. As a general rule of thumb, CMMS can be viewed as only a portion of what EAM can offer (like the image above).
However, the differences, in terms of parameters and functionality, can also be granular.
Parameter | EAM | CMMS |
| Fundamental Concept | Designed to address total asset lifecycle management | Designed to drive asset uptime |
| Key Capabilities | Capital Planning, Asset Procurement, Asset Installation, Workflow Layouts, Production Load Management, Asset Maintenance, Compliance Management, Asset Risk Management & Asset Disposal | Reactive, Proactive, Preventive and Preventative Maintenance Management Workflows |
| Usage | Users from Finance, Maintenance, Operations, Productions and Compliance teams | Users from Maintenance and Operations teams |
| Implementation | Since they are enterprise-wide systems they tend to have Phased Implementation Cycles | Single Implementation Cycles |
| Decision Making | C-Level Suite, Maintenance and Operations Teams | Typically Maintenance and Operations Teams |
| Ideal Application | Asset-intensive industries focused on managing the asset lifecycle | Asset-intensive industries focused on driving asset-uptime. |
Which System Best Suits Your Requirements?
Certain operational scenarios that make it clear which solution you require; EAM or CMMS. When deciding, it’s important for an organisation to understand what they require and what they want to achieve.
When You Require a CMMS
- Drive maintenance KPIs
- Reduce unplanned downtime of critical machinery and equipment
- Reduce repair and emergency breakdown costs
- Limit reactive maintenance tasks
- Increase workplace and worker health and safety
- Prolong asset operation and reduce high asset disposal rates
When You Require EAM
- Track and manage the entire asset life cycle of physical assets and infrastructure
- Increase asset performance and uptime
- Manage operational and purchasing costs
- Determine asset valuation and plan purchasing decisions
- Access informational and technical data regarding each asset