In this interview, Laurent Morisset, Head of Engineering and Maintenance Methods at Eiffage Energie Systèmes, shares his experience of using Skill FMEA Pro, a software dedicated to FMEA. As a specialist in industrial maintenance management, he explains how the integration of such a tool has helped optimize failure analysis processes, while meeting the technical requirements and high expectations of customers in a variety of sectors.
In this interview, he highlights the benefits brought by this specialized FMEA software solution, particularly in terms of data capitalization. He also discusses the key factors that led to the choice of a suitable software solution, emphasizing the importance of understanding industrial issues, geographical proximity and the publisher's sector-specific expertise in guaranteeing a high-performance solution in line with the company's specific needs.
Could you introduce yourself and the challenges you face in terms of FMEA?
"I'm Head of Engineering and Maintenance Methods at Eiffage Énergie Systèmes GAME Ingénierie, a subsidiary of the Eiffage Group. We provide industrial maintenance services. Our core business consists of managing multi-technical contracts, i.e. supervising the global maintenance of our customers' installations.
The use of FMEA has become a real challenge, particularly at the request of certain customers. Initially, we carried out these analyses using tools such as Excel. However, we quickly came across limitations: a perceived lack of professionalism in presentation, a certain complexity in data handling, and above all the absence of an optimized support to collaborate effectively with our customers. This led us to look for software specifically designed to meet these challenges."
Software dedicated to FMEA (Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis) offers several technical and strategic advantages for industrial maintenance service providers:
- Optimization of maintenance processes: Such a tool structures the analysis of failure modes, facilitating the prioritization of risks, the prioritization of preventive and ameliorative actions, and the efficient allocation of resources. It thus supports better asset management by targeting the necessary interventions.
- Data reliability and professionalism: unlike generic solutions such as Excel, dedicated FMEA software guarantees standardized, professional presentation of analyses. They minimize the risk of human error thanks to guided interfaces and predefined templates, while offering advanced reporting functionalities.
- In-depth analysis and criticality management: These tools integrate dynamic databases and use pre-determined criticality grids, either standard-compliant or adjusted to customer specifications. The criticality of failures, assessed by the user, is thus quantified in a methodical way, improving the speed and accuracy of analysis and facilitating the implementation of predictive or condition-based maintenance strategies.
- Compliance with standards and contractual requirements: In an environment where industrial standards (ISO 9001, ISO 31000, etc.) and customer expectations are evolving, dedicated software guarantees rigorous compliance. It documents processes in a standardized way, which is essential for audits and to meet customer specifications.
- Adaptability and scalability: Modern software often offers the modularity needed to adapt to the specific needs of each contract or sector of activity, whether in heavy industry, pharmaceuticals or food processing.
- Reduced failure-related costs: By identifying critical failures and their causes more accurately, it becomes possible to reduce unplanned downtime, unforeseen repair costs and losses associated with repetitive incidents.
The integration of dedicated FMEA software contributes to the competitiveness of industrial maintenance service providers by reinforcing their ability to offer quality services, while meeting the performance and reliability requirements of their customers' installations.
What set Skill Software apart from other FMEA solution providers?
"Skill Software was chosen after a comparative analysis of the solutions available. It's worth noting that the market for specialized FMEA vendors is fairly small. Skill Software stood out with an independent solution that met our technical needs precisely and offered geographical proximity, being based in the Rhône-Alpes region as we are.
We also appreciated their understanding of industrial issues, as their teams include professionals from industry. This makes it much easier for us to talk to them, and to match their software to our real needs: they speak the same language as we do.
We also found their solution financially competitive. Geographical and linguistic proximity reinforced our choice, making interactions much smoother. As an example, some foreign-based alternatives involve delays and cultural differences that can complicate projects."
When choosing FMEA software, analysis of the company's specific needs is a decisive factor. An industrial maintenance provider needs to assess the extent to which the solution exactly meets its technical and operational requirements, and those of its diverse customer base. A key criterion is the software's ability to adapt to the particularities of maintenance contracts, the types of installations managed and customer specifications. In addition, a detailed understanding of industrial processes ensures that the software can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of existing systems, maximizing the efficiency of analyses and interventions.
Software publishers' sector-specific expertise also plays a central role. A maintenance provider will prefer a solution developed by professionals with solid experience in the industrial field. Indeed, a team with technical expertise in the field can anticipate needs, understand the specific challenges encountered in asset management, and adjust the proposed tools in line with these realities. This guarantees not only the relevance of the software's functionalities, but also greater responsiveness to complex or urgent technical requests.
Geographical and cultural proximity also has a significant influence on the fluidity of interactions between the service provider and the software publisher. A service provider located at national level, or in a nearby geographical region, facilitates close collaboration on both technical and human levels. Real-time exchanges, local-language project management and responsive support teams ensure more efficient project management. On the other hand, geographically distant publishers, particularly in the international arena, can lead to additional delays and obstacles linked to cultural differences or language, which can affect the responsiveness and overall efficiency of the partnership.
Could you tell us how Skill FMEA Pro has been integrated into your practices, and the support provided by the Skill Software teams?
"Integration began with a project entrusted to a maintenance co-op student. His task was to carry out FMEA analyses on three different pieces of equipment in the laboratory sector. These initial analyses were not specifically requested by the customer, but they enabled us to build up an initial database. We then responded to a request from a customer in the food industry to carry out a complete FMEA analysis, including an action plan. For this project, our work stopped at this stage. The customer's maintenance team implemented the action plan. We make sure that our deliverables are rigorous and professional, because FMEA analysis services are expensive and have to meet high customer expectations.
Since then, we have added new analyses to this base, for example on a machine tool recently. This allows us to have concrete case studies for various industrial sectors, while continuing to train our teams thanks to this feedback.
Skill Software's customer support is exemplary. We have a dedicated, responsive technical contact. If necessary, they don't hesitate to visit us or contact our IT department to solve technical problems. They also take the time to train us and answer our questions. This proximity, combined with their industrial expertise, facilitates collaboration and reinforces our confidence in their solution."
In the context of industrial maintenance services, the use of a software solution dedicated to FMEA offers significant advantages in terms of equipment reliability and performance management. It guarantees a rigorous, uniform method for carrying out these analyses, while facilitating data management and traceability. This is particularly important in sectors where failure risks can have major consequences, such as the pharmaceutical, food or energy industries. Such a solution ensures the consistency of analyses carried out, and its ability to centralize information enables precise monitoring of recommended corrective and preventive actions.
Secondly, the integration of FMEA software optimizes the operational efficiency of maintenance teams by centralizing technical information and providing a collaborative environment. This type of solution encourages knowledge sharing between different departments or with customers, while facilitating database updates. What's more, access to past analyses or specific case studies enriches in-house expertise, contributing to faster, more informed decision-making on new projects. Enriching the database with concrete analyses provides a solid frame of reference to guide future maintenance actions.
Last but not least, FMEA software guarantees high-quality customer follow-up. Rigorous presentation of deliverables and documentation of FMEA analyses are key to meeting customer expectations, especially in sectors where reliability and safety requirements are high. Dedicated software offers complete traceability, from initial analysis to implementation of action plans, ensuring compliance with current standards and strengthening the relationship of trust with customers.
Technical assistance and personalized follow-up, often offered by the editors of these solutions, provide invaluable support in resolving specific problems that may arise, thus contributing to customer satisfaction and the overall performance of maintenance projects.
Which elements of the Skill FMEA Pro solution do you find most beneficial?
"One of the main benefits of Skill FMEA Pro is the management of "generics". With each analysis, we can capitalize on the sub-assemblies identified and transform them into reusable models. These generics include not only components, but also all the failure modes and solutions already analyzed.
This feature saves us considerable time in future analyses, as we can retrieve and adapt existing data rather than starting from scratch. It also encourages knowledge sharing and skills development among our teams.
What's more, the software is intuitive and user-friendly. For example, certain complex tasks, such as database creation or analysis layout, are simplified thanks to the user interface. This contrasts sharply with the limitations of Excel, where specific macros would have to be developed to achieve the same level of performance."
FMEA software enables data to be capitalized on effectively by structuring analyses in the form of reusable models. This preserves information on equipment, components and failure modes, reducing the risk of omissions or inconsistencies. The ability to retrieve and adapt this data for future analysis saves significant time, while ensuring consistent risk management. Generic models also speed up the implementation of maintenance actions, enabling a quicker response to recurring needs in different sectors or facilities.
The use of these generics helps to increase the skills of maintenance teams. By reusing validated data, employees reinforce their expertise in proven failures and solutions. This approach also facilitates knowledge sharing, and ensures consistent risk management across projects. What's more, the centralization of information enables an up-to-date database to be maintained, ensuring effective, proactive asset management over the long term.
In a few words, how would you describe Skill Software and their Skill FMEA Pro solution?
"Skill Software is first and foremost a competent and available team. Their solution is ergonomic, tailored to our needs, and backed up by excellent customer service. Their Skill FMEA Pro software stands out for its ability to capitalize on data, its user-friendly interface, and its efficiency in carrying out professional FMEA analyses."
