Useful small features in Maximo

As Technical Consultants or Maximo Administrators, we often have high level of proficiency in using the software. Because of that, we often overlook the many basic or simple features that can be extremely useful to the end-users. In many cases, when I mentioned one those features to the end-users, whether they are beginners or long time Maximo users, it is often received with much excitement. So I think it may be a good idea to collect a list of those small features like that and share them here in this post:

Default Table Data: in several standard applications such as Purchase Requisitions or Purchase Orders, in the PR/PO Lines tab, at the bottom of the tab, below the Detail section, there is a section called “Default Table Data”. This section allows a user to enter default data values that will be automatically filled every time when he or she adds a new line.

Free Maximo Training Resources

Our company employees usually wear the T-shirt that has IBM Tivoli and Maximo logos on it. Because of that, for many times, I was approached by random guys on the street to talk about Maximo. In a few cases, they mentioned that they want me to provide materials to learn about Maximo or give them basic Maximo training. I have a few friends who work in IT and like to learn about Maximo too. So I think it would be helpful for some of you out there to know that you can learn and practice with the software completely free with the resources provided by IBM. In this post, I’ll provide some information and links to some of these sources:

Access to Maximo training environment:

You can access and play around with Maximo using the IBM’s preview environment using the following links or googling “Maximo Asset Management Preview Site”. Accessing this environment is completely free and open to the public.

Vietnam Maximo and CMMS users

It is surprising that almost everyone has heard about ERP, but when Asset Management or CMMS software is mentioned, in most of the cases, people don’t know what it is or think it is a function of accounting software. It is unfortunate that we do not have any good report on the size of the software market, so it is hard to know about the current state of how enterprise software is being implemented in Vietnam market. From my perspective, the use of EAM/CMMS is not much less than the use of ERP in this market. In many cases, the companies who are using ERP actually only use its finance/accounting core module; many of these companies are in manufacturing. In contrast, in the heavy industries, many big operators are using EAM/CMMS extensively to manage different aspects of their operations including operation & maintenance, service, inventory, purchasing, and contract.
However, since I’m an EAM implementer, my view could be heavily biased.

Here in this post, I’ll try to list out the companies I know that are using Maximo and other CMMS in this market.

The core components of a complete CMMS system

I am lucky to work for a company that dominates the Vietnam market when it comes to CMMS implementation. Because of that, I have the opportunity to talk and work with nearly every company that is using Maximo in Vietnam (and some companies using other CMMS software too). Often the case, when I talk with a company, they usually ask me to assess whether their Maximo or CMMS system is complete. Obviously, different people will have very different opinions on what does it mean by a “complete” CMMS system. But, after many conversations with my client, I come to understand that what they really mean is to have a look at their system, identify the key areas that the system is missing, and advise them on what can be added to make the most out of their CMMS system.

The answer to the question almost always points to data. One of the reasons why implementing CMMS is often more difficult than implementing ERP software is that CMMS requires data to operate.

The most effective way to learn Maximo core concepts

After several years training Maximo end-users and consultants, I believe there is a right way to learn Maximo and also there is a wrong way to do it. Contrary to what many may think, to me, the wrong way to learn Maximo is through the job. This can take a lot of time, several full cycle green field projects for a consultant, or many months or years for end-users. By the time the person understands the software, it is often too late. For a consultant, it could mean many bad implementations or advice had been given to the customers; for an end-user, it could mean a lot of bad data had been entered into the system over time.

So what is the right way to learn Maximo? I believe it is through intensive, comprehensive training right at the beginning when a consultant starts the job; or for an end-user, it is before he/she starts to use the system.

Maximo Immersion Training Video Recordings (Vietnamese)

When I started working with Maximo, my supervisor gave me a bunch of training books. The books are created by MRO (the company which owns Maximo before it was acquired by IBM) to provide its customers and business partners basic training to get started with the software. 

The first book I had to read is “MED 0146 - Immersion Training for EAM” written in 2008 for Maximo v7.1. This book is 900+ pages long and is provided as the material when you take the 5-day immersion training course. The problem with following tutorials in the book is that it starts with the basic applications on the first few days, and only at the 4th or 5th day, it starts to connect different concepts to build a complete picture of how an O&M organization can organize its data and processes in the software.

So for the first few days, I was doing the tutorial one by one without any understanding of the whole high level concept.