CPMS Work Shops
Each year, a two-day CPMS Work Shop is normally held for all of our CPMS Users.
Topics always include a complete review of the current version of CPMS, a tour of the newest release, and an open discussion of changes planned for the coming year. While all CPMS users participate in the development process, the opportunity to get directly involved in the design and programming activity is always exciting.
The seminar concludes with an extensive question and answer period, and there is always time allocated for one-on-one training and company specific inquiries.
Although on-site training is always available, we have found that this annual collection of engineers with diverse backgrounds and manufacturing experience, always results in a free exchange of ideas and sheds new light on old problems.
CPMS Work Shop 2005
The CPMS Work Shop was held in Cincinnati with the following agenda.
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The normal format at our CPMS Work Shop is to review the current system, have a number of question and answer sessions, and then talk about the upcoming version. But, because there was so much material to cover in CPMS 4.0, the entire two days was devoted to learning all of the new functions and features in the new CPMS.
We encouraged attendees to send us a copy of their CPMS data ahead of time so we can provide some meaningful examples and provide answers to plant specific questions.
We also encouraged all of our users to locate a plant layout diagram in order to take advantage of the new CPMS main menu. Our recent newsletters and website show how to locate all plant equipment by just pointing at it. And, the Hot Spots display dynamically highlights and tracks up to 25 of your most troublesome machines.
CPMS Work Shop 2004
The CPMS Work Shop was held in Las Vegas with the following agenda.
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A review of important changes in the current version of CPMS 3.1a. These new features are a lot more valuable when you know how to use them properly. Some highlights are:
> Step by step explanation of the Plant Summary screen on the Main Menu. Not only does this show you what portions of CPMS need your attention, but it also shows you how well you are doing in a number of different areas.
> Using the Residual PM capability when processing PM work cards. Show some real world examples of where/when to use this feature.
> New Change Key Column capability for equipment numbers, part numbers, employee numbers, vendor idents, etc. For example, if the same part number was entered two or three different ways, and you have a substantial amount of history for each, you can now "merge" all three into a single part number.
> In the Guest Menu, you can optionally allow mechanics to select and assign Work Request to themselves (only) as a Work Order.
> In the Guest Menu, a Part Check Out screen provides an extremely easy method for mechanics to issue parts by using popup selections. In addition, it automatically creates a part issue transaction.
> In addition to accessing the entire CPMS Help System from the Main Menu, each CPMS form and menu now displays context sensitive instructions when the Help button is clicked.
> Review the Purchase Order Approval module which will automatically send email and have PO's approved for up to three different approval levels.
> Setting up the manufacturer's recommended PM's right on the Master Schedule screen.
Introducing CPMS 4.0. New forms, reports, and new features which will knock your socks off.
This will be the highlight of the work shop. CPMS has not undergone this level of development since we converted from DOS to Windows. Every screen form, report, and program module has been upgraded and redesigned. In the past there were a number of limitations with regard to how our screen forms looked and worked. These have all been eliminated. In addition, many functions such as emailing or exporting files and reports into other file formats had to be done outside of CPMS.
Using CPMS 4.0, you can preview all reports using a scroll bar, and then decide if you want to print, export, or return to the main menu. Some of the file formats you can choose to save you report or data are Adobe Acrobat (PDF), HTML Document, RTF, Excel, JPG, and Bitmap, just to name a few.
We will also review the new Plant Layout option in the Main Menu which highlights problem areas in your plant. These are just two examples of what you'll see.
And, last but not least, we want to show how you can evaluate how you are doing with CPMS and specific areas you can work on to improve the Maintenance function. We need to be able to measure where we are in order to look for ways to get to the next level.
Specifically, we will show you how to evaluate your Maintenance Records and then make important corrections to both your Equipment and Inventory records. Many of our customers are printing PM work cards every day, and providing Inventory reports to their management with portions of their data base never set up properly. We will show you how to quickly identify those areas which need your attention.
Once you have more confidence in your data then the next step is to make sure that you are running at the best operational level possible. It is easy to be complacent if there is no standard in place for you to see how you are doing. We will help you get more out of CPMS by providing these measuring tools.
CPMS Work Shop 2002
Maintenance personnel responding to a questionnaire for the CPMS Work Shop scored the presentation at 24.5 out of a possible 25 points. Some comments received from the attendees:
"I am using several things I learned at the workshop that are real time savers..." Tammie Brown, Schwebel Baking, Hebron OH
"Good information. Well done!" Terry Schultz, Stroehmann-Maiers Bakery, Reading PA
"... I took many ideas and techniques back with me. Thank you." Dustin Zehring, Stroehmann, Harrisburg PA
"The use of the Purchase Order system through CPMS has given us better control and accountability and has streamlined the purchasing work load. This allows more time for other Inventory Control tasks." Vic Hafer, Stroehmann-Maiers, Reading PA
The CPMS Work Shop was held in Philadelphia with the following agenda.
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Since our last CPMS Work Shop, many of our customers have set up their own multi user network and are now enjoying the many benefits of the Guest Menu functions. Put the data entry effort in the hands of those who see a problem, request a repair, check out a part, process their work card, or need a part. If you are still running CPMS on just one PC, we will show you why it's time to get everyone involved.
One of your goals is to make your Maintenance Department proactive instead of reactive. We are doing the same thing in CPMS. Instead of running various reports to see how your plant is doing, why not have CPMS automatically provide you with the information you need. The new Plant Summary screen shows you where you may be behind in processing some of your activity and also gives you the current status of your plant in a number of critical areas. We will go over this in detail at our Work Shop and ask for suggestions for additional components.
The new CPMS Help System is now truly context sensitive. In addition to both the CPMS manual and the online CPMS help file, you can now click the Help button anywhere in the program to display the associated Help page.
Complete review of CPMS for Windows versions 2.6a and the "magical" 3.0. There are numerous changes and enhancements in the current versions of CPMS and we want to make sure that everyone understands how to use and benefit from all these new features. This is the portion of the Work Shop where you can bring up any questions or problems you may have run into when using CPMS at your plant.
Complete review and discussion of changes planned for CPMS in the coming year. Bring all your good suggestion because we depend on our users to help us determine the list and priority of all upcoming enhancements.
Step by step instructions for using some of the new functions, and get more out of the existing capabilities. Specifically:
> Using the new Change Key Column option for Equipment, Employees, Parts, Task Descriptions, and Vendors, show how to delete, change, or "merge" these key components used throughout the CPMS program.
> How to go about properly balancing your work load. Whether or not you swap PM assignments among your mechanics, you need to know the different ways of spreading the work properly across your crew.
> How to identify obsolete or seldom used inventory. Review your present part identification and location methodology and see how to use CPMS to help you get better control of your parts.
> Assigning parts to Work Orders. Did you know you don't need to enter part transactions? If you use the Purchase Order module for ordering and receiving parts, and add parts directly to Work Orders or have your mechanics use the Part Check Out screen to issue parts, all the necessary part transactions are added for you.
> Use a scanner or digital camera to add drawings and pictures to your parts, equipment, work orders, and equipment failures. You can even store your MSDS online so that this critical information is always at your finger tips.
> Go over items on the Plant Summary screen and decide what else would be useful on a "More" button. For example, on a second page, we can display the Top Ten pieces of equipment which are giving you the most trouble, or graph Equipment Failures, or even list your mechanics in the order of who has the best work completion rate. The idea of the new Plant Summary screen is to provide you with a snapshot of your plant. It is always displayed and is as current as your "Refresh" button.
Question and Answer session. As a group, or individually, during breaks and after class each day, this is your chance to make sure your questions get answered.
CPMS Work Shop 2001
The CPMS Work Shop was held in Scranton, PA with the following agenda.
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Day One
> Complete review of CPMS for Windows versions 2.5 and 2.5a. There are more than forty changes and enhancements in the current version of CPMS. We want to make sure that everyone understands how to use and benefit from all these new features.
You will return to your plant with at least a couple of, "Wow, I didn't know I could do that!", which will make our annual meeting well worth the time and expense.
> Complete review of version 2.6 of CPMS. Some of the new features include:
Add all of your Account Numbers (and account descriptions) to CPMS on the new account number screen! Every screen where you use an account number will now allow you display and select account numbers from a popup screen.
A new barcode part tag which can be used to tag the actual shelf or bin/box. There are 30 tags per page and each tag has the part number, description, location, and bar code. In addition, the information for the barcode part sticker for the 14 stickers per page tag (Avery 5162) has been repositioned slightly in order not to print on the perforation.
When printing Purchasing Reports (Expanded) you can now subtotal by Account Number in addition to the other selection options.
Show the origination date of the Work Request on the Work Order screen form (both Open and Closed). Show the originator and origination date on the Open and Closed Work Order reports. In addition, allow selection of Work Orders by all or part of the Task Number. This will allow you to review the life history or one or more Work Orders, from a Work Request, to acceptance, to each time it was rescheduled, to when it was closed.
Show the Originator on the Work Order Work Card (both standard notes and full page notes format).
Numerous other minor changes and corrections including: modifying approved PO's, increasing the size of the Vendor Name field on the PO's, and displaying and processing Work Orders even when they have already been marked as Not Done (X) or Incomplete (I).
Day Two
> Complete review and discussion of changes planned for CPMS in the coming year. Bring all your good suggestion because we depend on our users to help us determine the list and priority of all upcoming enhancements.
> Graphs. In addition to showing you how to set up a simple Equipment Failure graph for your plant using products such as Excel, we will provide you with "graph templates" for you take back to your plant.
> CPMS Tips and Techniques. You have seen these in our quarterly newsletter and we will have a chance to go through many of the "tricks" of making CPMS give you the most output with the least amount of effort. Become the "Master of your Domain", even if it's just your CPMS program.
> Question and Answer session. As a group, or individually during breaks and after class, this is your chance to get any/all questions answered. Make sure you don't leave any question unanswered.
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