Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: FMEA • MTBF • Pump Maintenance

CMMS

Term from Mechanical Maintenance industry explained for recruiters

CMMS stands for Computerized Maintenance Management System. It's like a digital assistant that helps maintenance teams keep track of equipment repairs, schedule regular checkups, and manage spare parts. Think of it as the equivalent of a car maintenance logbook, but for an entire facility's equipment. Instead of paper records, everything is stored on computers, making it easier to track what needs fixing, when machines were last serviced, and what parts are available. Popular systems include eMaint, Maintenance Connection, and IBM Maximo. You might also hear it called "Maintenance Management Software" or "Asset Management System."

Examples in Resumes

Implemented CMMS software to track maintenance schedules for 200+ pieces of equipment

Reduced downtime by 30% through effective use of CMMS and preventive maintenance planning

Trained staff of 15 technicians on CMMS data entry and work order management

Managed spare parts inventory using Computerized Maintenance Management System

Typical job title: "Maintenance Managers"

Also try searching for:

Maintenance Supervisor Facility Manager Maintenance Coordinator Reliability Engineer Plant Engineer Maintenance Planner Asset Manager

Where to Find Maintenance Managers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you implement a CMMS system in a large facility?

Expected Answer: Should discuss planning steps like assessing current maintenance processes, training staff, organizing equipment data, and setting up preventive maintenance schedules. Should mention change management and getting buy-in from team members.

Q: How do you use CMMS data to make strategic decisions?

Expected Answer: Should explain how to analyze maintenance costs, equipment downtime patterns, and repair history to make decisions about equipment replacement, preventive maintenance adjustments, and staff allocation.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you prioritize maintenance tasks using a CMMS?

Expected Answer: Should explain how to use work order systems, equipment criticality ratings, and maintenance schedules to decide which tasks need immediate attention versus what can wait.

Q: How do you ensure accurate data entry in CMMS?

Expected Answer: Should discuss training staff on proper documentation, creating standard procedures for data entry, and regular audits of maintenance records.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What basic functions does a CMMS perform?

Expected Answer: Should mention work order creation, equipment tracking, maintenance scheduling, and parts inventory management as core functions.

Q: How do you create and close a work order in CMMS?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the basic process of entering maintenance requests, assigning work, recording completed tasks, and closing work orders.