[webinar] Embracing Digital Transformation in Maintenance & Plant Operations | March 13 at 10AM EST – Register Now
Maintenance is not a controlled environment, no matter how structured we try to make it.
Building maintenance has always relied on data, but 2026 finds the industry at a crossroads between “AI hype” and “Industrial AI” reality. While marketing noise often conflates maintenance tools with general language models like ChatGPT or Gemini, true industrial systems require a different architecture focused on precision, not probability.
A large proportion of maintenance teams are still early in their digital journeys: a substantial number continue to depend on manual processes even as they express confidence in the long-term value of connected, digital maintenance workflows.Â
The question of whether managed in-house maintenance or contract maintenance is superior is a persistent one, and both options present unique challenges. Administration, for instance, can be a minefield regardless of the chosen path. A maintenance agreement contract, for example, is a broad subject that can lead to numerous issues if not carefully drafted and agreed upon. This means that in-house maintenance isn’t always the straightforward solution it might seem to be.
Digital maintenance promises speed, insight, and control. But what happens when the foundation it builds on — your asset data, your workflows, your program logic — is already in disarray? You can start by the taking the Maintenance Structure Assessment here or read through and use the printed copy below.
Gluing the Dissected: API-Orchestration mimics Maintenance Flow Ahmed Rezika, SimpleWays OU Posted 7/3/2025 This kind of mental alchemy — where software mirrors workflow in maintenance— doesn’t
A plant shutdown and turnaround is defined as a major plant maintenance shutdown, typically involving the entire plant or multiple areas and lasts for several days (or if not properly planned and scheduled can last longer than expected). Some organizations have both Major (more than 24 hours) and minor (24 hours or less). In many cases, minor shutdowns can have a bigger impact on lost production. Â
Belief-Driven Reliable Maintenance Management Culture: Beliefs 11-15 Christer Idhammar, Founder, IDCON INC Posted 5/15/2025 Read The Belief Driven Maintenance Management Strategy: Creating a Reliability Culture Part 1
Many facility managers continue to rely on paper maps, blueprints, and spreadsheets to track assets, navigate spaces, and manage emergencies. While digitized floor plans are often seen as an improvement, it remains limited in functionality, offering little more than a digital version of its paper counterpart. This is where a dynamic mapping solution, takes the lead.
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