Equipment inspection software is a digital solution designed for companies that want to streamline their inspection checklists, workflows and data collection processes on every piece of equipment.
An equipment inspection tool is a more specialized version of the general-purpose inspection software, as there are many different types of inspection apps that are tailored for a wide variety of industries, from construction to the medical sector. There are many different types of professionals that use this kind of software to facilitate their asset management and inspection process, such as project managers, superintendents, safety managers, equipment managers, project engineers, foremen, truck drivers and even executives. Construction equipment operators, plant managers and other individuals who are tasked with preventive maintenance and equipment safety can use equipment inspection solutions to efficiently track the status of their respective equipment.
With a robust and full-featured equipment inspection software system, you have the ability to create a complete, equipment-specific inspection and safety checklist that your inspection team, managers and operators can follow. You can utilize the digital inspection forms, which are often included as a basic feature of the inspection app, to conduct a comprehensive equipment safety and inspection report from a single unified solution. With a well-optimized mobile app, you can easily receive and process work orders as well as take care of the inspection management process from anywhere in the field, using any internet-enabled mobile device.
Most equipment inspection systems are capable of supporting fleet or vehicle inspection, construction or heavy equipment inspection and lifting equipment inspection workflows, among others.
Equipment inspection software is a more concise and specific type of tool; unlike inspection management solutions that most companies also use to help them plan, execute and monitor their inspection tasks and workflows. An inspection management solution will often provide a general type of app for performing inspections as part of its core features, such as digital inspection forms, safety checklists, data collection capabilities and other functions designed to help users track the health and status of their equipment and machinery.
Inspection management software facilitates tasks that are associated with environmental protection, quality assurance as well as health and safety, which is what any inspection software is meant to do, regardless of whether it specializes on medical equipment, construction, manufacturing, transportation, etc. This type of software, including equipment inspection tools, is often used by businesses and organizations in industries that are heavily or strictly regulated, obviously construction, energy and manufacturing.
By implementing an equipment inspection tool, such companies can effectively take care of their fixed assets, ensuring better quality products while valuing employee health and safety.
Equipment inspection software is available as a standalone product or as part of a more comprehensive digital platform, such as enterprise asset management (EAM), computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), quality management system (QMS), as well as environmental health and safety (EHS) software. While not all, some of these software solutions may offer a type of inspection app as a built-in or a separate optional module. Construction companies can use the equipment inspection form to make sure every piece of heavy construction equipment and machinery is working properly.
Quality assurance officers and safety managers can use the software to perform quality safety checks, ensuring all equipment is fully functioning and safe to operate. An inspection report tool is often included in standalone equipment inspection systems, which is very useful when conducting periodic checks and visual inspections. The inspection report can help equipment managers and inspectors with identifying potential damage to the equipment or any harmful conditions that may indicate a possible repair or complete replacement of the equipment.
When equipment inspection software is integrated and fully implemented into an existing inspection program, the inspection checklist function can help asset managers and inspectors with identifying key tasks and workflows for preventive maintenance. They can create an accurate checklist that should help inspection teams complete more in-depth performance and safety checks that meets the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for construction/heavy equipment safety in the workplace. For companies with lifting equipment, the right equipment inspection tool can help with ensuring compliance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations or (LOLER) of 1998.
Different industries approach asset management in different ways that suit their very unique requirements. They also use equipment inspection tools in various ways. For instance, the manufacturing industry may utilize the software as a means to close the skills gap, effectively acting as a bridge between technology and people. This makes equipment inspection apps crucial to producing future-proof employees who value equipment safety and performance in the workplace. For the manufacturers, they can benefit from a safety-conscious workforce and hiring more workers while still adapting to the inevitable industry changes.
For the construction industry, on the other hand, equipment inspection software can be leveraged to help address fire and safety hazards, avoid plumbing issues and pest infestation, among other things. A good equipment inspection tool is crucial in the construction industry, especially when it comes to building and home inspections. The software can help inspectors maintain their course and quickly identify potential problems or raise issues immediately by using live data and collaborating with reputable contractors to find adequate corrective solutions.
In the automotive industry, equipment inspection tools play a significant role in regulatory compliance, especially when it comes to emissions and road safety compliance. The right equipment inspection app can provide companies in the automotive industry with valuable insights and analytics that they can use to improve overall quality control. Some equipment inspection tools are equipped with ready-made inspection templates designed to help companies remain compliant with the requirements of different countries and territories.
Most standalone equipment inspection software solutions in the market are equipped with a few basic features and capabilities, such as inspection task management, inspection and recurring tasks scheduling, automatic inspection reminder, offline inspection, ready-made custom inspection templates, in-depth reporting and analytics.
Equipment inspection software provides a lot of benefits to a wide variety of industries, such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, healthcare, facility management, food and beverage, just to mention a few. It allows equipment managers to quickly perform spot checks or conduct a more comprehensive, scheduled performance and safety inspections on different types of assets, from heavy construction equipment, fleet of vehicles and medical equipment to manufacturing and plant machinery.
One of the biggest advantages of implementing the right equipment inspection solution is the speed and efficiency in which it allows your inspectors when performing their daily equipment checks. The inspection checklist, which is a standard feature in any inspection software, helps expedite the inspection process without sacrificing integrity. Inspectors can do their job much faster and more efficiently without cutting corners. The appropriate inspection software can also help bring down the inspector’s workload in a significant way. They can greatly reduce the amount of time needed to complete equipment checks and get the inspection results quicker.
Another great benefit of equipment inspection software is in the compliance aspect. Whether you have a standalone equipment inspection system or a more comprehensive asset management solution with equipment inspection capabilities, the ability to accurately perform equipment checks can help you meet the compliance requirements of your industry. Different industries have different regulatory standards that govern key aspects of the business, such as product quality, environmental protection and workplace safety. The software allows you to create more streamlined workflows that increase the efficiency of equipment inspections as well as task allocation and scheduling.
The software also serves as a centralized data management platform for all necessary documentation, including inspection reports and analyses. This way, if and when industry authorities require you to produce documentation or any relevant information about your operation, for the purposes of environmental protection and workplace safety, you should be able to meet those demands and maintain your compliance status. Failure to do so could result in hefty fines, legal issues and potential closure of your operation.
Equipment inspection software also allows you to track every piece of equipment and the maintenance processes and inspections that have been performed on each of them. This is particularly advantageous for companies that have operations and equipment that are dispersed in multiple locations. In this situation, conducting scheduled inspections without the proper tools can be time-consuming, overwhelming and difficult, especially for the equipment managers and inspectors. A good equipment inspection tool should help project managers, maintenance teams and inspectors stay on top of their responsibilities and keep updated of the other locations’ equipment checks and conditions.
There is also the equipment inspection and maintenance log that is often included as one of the key features of the software. This particular function will pair nicely with the inspection tool’s equipment tracking capabilities. You want to have a complete maintenance and repair record of every piece of equipment that didn’t pass your performance and safety checks.
Equipment inspection software is a good tool to have if you want to ensure that every piece of equipment your company uses is safe to operate, in excellent condition and complies with every industry requirement. This type of software is designed to facilitate the various process involved with equipment quality, performance and safety inspections. Features like customizable inspection checklists, inspection reports, inspection scheduling, automated reminders, analytics and mobile app support are all part of its core functionality. While most inspection software products are cloud-based, there are on-premise options available.