Information Systems Approach

The organization may find a weakness with one or more of its asset management information systems (AMIS).

They may not have completed a detailed needs analysis but will have concluded that they need to either implement or replace an existing system, such as:

• Geographic information system
• Computerized maintenance management system
• Works/resource management system
• Condition monitoring system and CCTV data records
• Fixed financial asset register
• Inventory control and store system.

No matter what system the organization plans to implement or replace, they should consider it in terms of the total asset management quality framework, including:

• Business processes and practices
• Data and knowledge
• Information systems
• Service delivery.

This will improve the organization's understanding of the functionality and interfaces required between these systems.

The key success factors in AMIS projects are:

• Deciding on a vision for your business in Asset Management terms. What do we want to be like in the future?
• Making the business processes meet this vision, especially data standards and data flows
• Designing the functionality for this application
• Understanding the other required applications and their functionality
• Understanding the way they will need to interface with other systems in the future
• Looking at all options using a life cycle cost approach to the software and hardware
• Understanding the training, cultural change and data collection requirements.