In the ever-evolving world of IoT and Asset Management, organizing and tracking assets is crucial to ensure productivity, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Asset hierarchy can significantly enhance your asset management strategy if you want to manage your factory assets to streamline operations.
Efficient management of assets is the cornerstone of any successful process, be it in manufacturing, facility management, or any industry reliant on machinery and equipment.
The hierarchy software, often regarded as the backbone of asset management, is the structured classification of assets within an organization. It enhances operational efficiency and ultimately preserves the overall value of assets in organizations.
In this ample blog, we will delve into the world of asset hierarchy, exploring its definition, components, benefits, implementation strategies, challenges, and how it is leveraged to strengthen productivity and streamline maintenance practices.
Understanding the Asset Management Hierarchy
Asset hierarchies is a structured framework that categorizes your assets based on various organizational relationships and functions, like type, location, importance, or value.
At its core, it creates a clear and logical framework for asset management by breaking down complex systems into manageable, organized units, enabling organizations to gain better control and make informed decisions.
For instance, imagine you are running a manufacturing facility, which includes assets from machinery and equipment to inventory and spare parts. Asset hierarchy enables organizations to categorize these assets into logical groups, making managing and maintaining them more manageable.
The structured approach simplifies asset tracking, maintenance, and decision-making. In this era of industry 4.0, various advanced CMMS software like Fogwing Asset+ offers a comprehensive IoT asset management platform designed to help organizations monitor, track, and maintain their asset effortlessly.
It provides various features, including real-time asset monitoring, preventive maintenance, and asset monitoring, making it an ideal solution for multiple industries.
The Asset management hierarchy functionality of the Fogwing Asset+ platform enables its users to organize and represent the organization’s assets with a structured and hierarchical approach.
The Key Components of Asset Hierarchy
Asset hierarchy, a foundational element of effective asset management, comprises several crucial components. By establishing a precise order, businesses can streamline maintenance efforts, enhance operational efficiency, and make informed decisions regarding their assets.
In exploring critical features of asset hierarchies, we will walk you through the fundamental elements that comprise this framework, shedding light on how it empowers businesses to manage their valuable resources effectively.
1) Asset identification
Asset Identification serves as the basis of effective asset management. Every asset will have a unique name/ID, whether in the form of a name or alphanumeric code.
In hierarchy software, the Asset Identification ID is a distinctive marker that sets assets apart, simplifying tracking and management. Additionally, a concise description of assets offers a vital insight into the asset, summarizing its purpose, location, and other related documents.
It ensures that assets are identified and thoroughly understood. So, Asset ID is an essential component of Asset hierarchy, paving the way for streamlined maintenance and management processes, ultimately contributing to the organization’s overall operational efficiency and success.
2) Asset Type/Category
Asset Type/Category is a fundamental classification in effective asset management hierarchy. Organizations categorize their assets based on various characteristics, functions, or industry-specific standards.
It simplifies the organization and aids in tailored maintenance strategies. Common categories of organizational assets include equipment, vehicles, buildings, and infrastructure.
Organizations can make informed decisions on asset management standards by categorizing assets according to shared traits and business needs. It helps maintenance managers allocate resources and enhances overall asset performance monitoring, ultimately improving operational efficiency and ensuring the longevity of valuable resources.
3) Location
Effective asset management requires a precise and efficient location system. This system includes physical location details such as coordinates, addresses, descriptions within a facility, and geographic location information applicable to operations covering multiple regions or sites.
Location is considered one of the vital components of Asset hierarchy. By accurately tracking the location of assets, it becomes easier to manage and allocate resources, perform maintenance, and extend the lifespan of valuable resources.
A well-structured location enhances the operational efficiency of hierarchy software. It helps ensure the long-term success of an organization.
4) Parent-Child Relationships
Parent-Child relationships form a vital aspect of asset organization. This hierarchical structure involves parent assets and higher-level components encompassing multiple child assets.
For instance, a building might be a parent asset, and the HAVC system, Electrical Wiring, Plumbing Infrastructure, and Roofing will be a child asset. This classification helps the managers understand the dependencies and interactions between assets, streamlining maintenance and management efforts. It provides a clear framework for hierarchy software to allocate resources and plan maintenance activities, ultimately contributing to efficient asset management and the prolonged functionality of value within an organization.
So, Asset Hierarchy involves the Parent-child as a component to filter the assets quickly.
5) Maintenance and service
An effective Asset Management process requires adequate maintenance and service information. It encompasses the maintenance history, which offers maintenance managers and technicians a comprehensive record of past maintenance activities, detailing dates, work descriptions, and schedules.
Additionally, service requirements outline recommended maintenance intervals, specific service tasks, and associated contracts. Data is essential and valuable for planning and executing timely maintenance, ensuring continued functionality and asset longevity.
Maintaining accurate records and adhering to service guidelines enables organizations to optimize their asset performance and minimize the risk of costly breakdowns or disruptions. So, maintenance and service is one of the essential components of Asset hierarchy.
6) Criticality and Risk Assessment
Effective strategic asset management requires two key components: criticality and risk Assessment. These processes enable organizations to identify the assets based on their significance to the organization’s operations and the potential risks they pose.
They will allow them to prioritize resources and make educated decisions about asset management best practices and repairs by understanding which assets are essential for uninterrupted services and carry higher risks.
Organizations implement targeted strategies to safeguard their valuable assets and maintain operational efficiency. This proactive approach contributes to the overall success and longevity of the organization’s assets.
7) Asset Ownership and Responsibility
Effective asset management requires identifying those accountable for maintenance, operations, and overall management, along with the ownership details such as acquisition date and cost.
It encompasses acquisition date and price and provides essential insights. Asset ownership in Asset Hierarchy ensures that assets are supervised by the appropriate parties, streamlining accountability and facilitating efficient maintenance practices.
By clearly defining ownership and responsibility, organizations can effectively manage their valuable resources, contributing to operational efficiency and prolonged functionality of assets.
8) Financial Information
Financial information is vital to asset management best practices. This information includes an asset’s purchase cost, depreciation, and current financial worth.
Understanding an asset’s depreciation schedule can provide insights into how its value decreases over time, which is vital for financial reporting and tax compliance.
This data helps organizations decide whether to replace, resell, or invest further in an asset. Effective management of these financial aspects enables organizations to optimize their resources and ensure the continued economic sustainability of their assets.
9) Work Order and Task History
Keeping a record of Work Order and Task History is a crucial process in asset management. It covers the comprehensive history of work orders, tasks, and repairs on the asset and equipment.
It also includes associated costs and timelines, providing valuable insights into the asset management best practices and performance history.
Having adequate information is influential in making informed decisions regarding future asset maintenance, repairs, or potential replacements. Organizations can optimize maintenance strategies by maintaining detailed records and ensuring their assets’ continued functionality and value.
These core components help organizations manage their assets and equipment effectively, optimize maintenance practices, minimize downtime, and make informed decisions regarding asset replacement or upgrades. The specific details and depth of asset hierarchy can change depending on the complexity and needs of the organization.
Here are the six critical levels of the asset hierarchy of Fogwing Asset+ Platform:
The Fogwing Asset+ platform empowers maintenance managers to manage their assets efficiently with a structured and hierarchical approach. This advanced functionality enables users to appoint the parent or child asset. It seamlessly allows users to attach parts to the assets.
The Fogwing Asset + platform offers its users six distinct levels of asset hierarchy: Customer, Plant, Category, Asset Parent, Child Parent, and Parts. These asset associations are presented visually in a hierarchical structure, allowing for easy filtering based on hierarchy.
- Customer:
The Fogwing Asset+ platform has a hierarchical structure where customers represent their organizations or companies at the highest level. Under this level, there might be various divisions or departments. Each customer is assigned an asset and has the authority to manage the assets entrusted to them by logging in to their respective portals to address asset management standards.
- Plant:
Within Fogwing Asset+, the plant level in the hierarchy could represent a significant organizational unit or a specific physical location where various assets are deployed. At the plant level, the focus is mainly on managing assets within a particular area or facility.
- Asset Category:
Within each plant or facility, you can further group assets based on their similarities, like type, functionality, or classification. For instance, in a manufacturing plant, you might have an asset category based on production equipment, maintenance tools, or environmental sensors.
- Asset Parent:
When organizing assets in the Fogwing Asset+, you can categorize the parent or child asset hierarchy. It enables the organizations to establish a hierarchical relationship between the assets. This structure helps in grouping and managing assets based on their relationships.
- Asset Child:
Fogwing Asset+, a hierarchy software, enables organizations to classify child assets while creating an asset. In asset management, a child asset refers to a specific asset associated with another asset, a parent asset. This hierarchical relationship helps organize and manage assets based on their functional or spatial connections.
- Parts:
The last level of Asset Hierarchy is Parts. In the context of asset management, “Parts” refers to individual components or pieces that make up assets. These components are vital for the accurate functioning and operations of the overall asset.
Benefits of Asset Management Hierarchy
- Improved structure and Visibility: Asset Hierarchy enhances system and visibility by offering a structured, easily navigable view of all assets. It simplifies locating, tracking, and managing assets, eventually leading to more efficient operations.
The neatly categorized and hierarchically arranged assets enable the maintenance team to access the required data swiftly. It streamlines the maintenance efforts and simplifies resource allocation by assigning the resources where it is needed. It improves visibility and empowers organizations to make informed asset decisions, ultimately contributing to enhanced operational efficiency and prolonged asset lifespan.
- Enhanced maintenance Planning: Asset Hierarchy enables the organizations to group related assets. It also enables organizations to create more efficient maintenance schedules.
It allows timely inspections and repairs, reducing the risk of costly breakdowns and disruptions to operations. With assets organized hierarchically, maintenance teams can prioritize tasks based on criticality and dependencies, ensuring the resources are allocated where they are most needed.
Ultimately, structured asset management standards planning leads to smoother operations, enhanced asset performance, and prolonged lifespan.
- Efficient resource allocations: Prioritizing critical assets and organizing them in a hierarchy enables the business to allocate them efficiently.
The company ensures that resources are directed where there is the need for them the most. It optimizes maintenance efforts, reducing the risk of costly breakdowns and disruptions.
With a clear framework, organizations can allocate workforce, time, and materials to maximize the impact on asset performance and longevity. Efficient resource allocation contributes to overall operational efficiency and the sustained functionality of valuable assets. - Cost Optimization: Managing the asset management standards is a critical aspect of any organization that depends on the assets and equipment.
Prioritizing the essential assets and categorizing them according to hierarchy enables organizations to focus on their resources and manage their asset maintenance cost-effectively.
It reduces the unnecessary expenses on less crucial assets. The risk of overspending reduces as asset hierarchy streamlines maintenance activities’ efficiency.
It ensures the organizations get the most value from their maintenance budget, ultimately contributing to improving cost-effectiveness and the organization’s overall financial health.
- Risk Management: Risk management refers to identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks that may harm an organization’s objectives, operations, or projects.
It involves a systematic approach to recognizing vulnerabilities, evaluating their potential impact, and implementing measures to avoid or minimize them.
Risk management helps organizations maintain business continuity, safeguard assets, and ensure compliance with regulations. It also enables organizations to make informed decisions, assign resources efficiently, and acclimate to changing circumstances.
By doing so, organizations can enhance their ability to thrive in dynamic asset management levels and uncertain business environments.
- Improved Reporting and Analytics: The asset hierarchy enables organizations to generate more accurate and detailed reports on asset health, performance, and maintenance activities. This data-driven approach empowers decision-makers with valuable insights, allowing them to make informed choices about resource allocation, asset investments, and maintenance strategies.
Complete reporting and analytics enable organizations to optimize their maintenance efforts, enhance asset performance, and ultimately prolong the lifespan of their valuable resources. This structured approach to reporting supports the overall efficiency and effectiveness of asset management standards.
Conclusion
Asset hierarchy is not just the buzzword; It’s the key to unlocking the strategic approach to asset management and maintenance that can significantly impact an organization’s efficiency and bottom line.
Embracing the asset hierarchies enables the business to navigate the complexities of asset management with greater ease and precision. It simplifies asset management, improves operational efficiency, and empowers organizations to make data-driven decisions.
Whether in manufacturing logistics or any industry that utilizes assets, Fogwing Asset+ can be your game-changing software for maintaining Asset management levels. Fogwing Asset+, a Smart CMMS and asset performance monitoring software, offers users an advanced Asset management hierarchy feature that enables them to manage their assets effectively.
Stay tuned for more understanding of the ever-evolving world of asset management.
