‘Little things make big things happen.” In just a few words, this cliché sums up MRO and its benefits. But what are these “little things,” and what effects do they have on your company’s bigger picture?

In the complex world of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), answers to these questions are pretty much company-specific. How your company defines and measures the impact of MRO activities largely depends on the type of business you run.

In manufacturing and other asset-heavy industries, a lack of strategic MRO management can cause huge operational issues. For instance, up to 50 percent of prolonged unscheduled downtime is due to a lack of spare parts or stockouts, which are often the consequence of poor MRO practices.

By the end of this article, you’ll get a better understanding of:
• What MRO stands for and how to define it for your specific operation
• MRO’s meaning in supply chain and procurement
• The four main MRO categories
• How to manage certain aspects of MRO with a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) such as work, inventory levels, and costs

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