Project visibility is critical for achieving and maintaining efficient and cost-effective operations. Most companies, however, struggle with establishing project visibility. The key to tackling project visibility issues is knowing the factors that lead to reduced visibility and addressing these issues at the root level. Keep reading to learn about these factors and how a CMMS or computerized maintenance management system can help you improve project visibility in your organization.

What Does Project Visibility Mean?

Let us start by understanding what project visibility means. Every project has critical data, components, status, and other relevant information. Project visibility means having all this information organized and accessible to every team member involved. Having high project visibility means that every individual involved can:

• See the big-picture view of the project, as well as its detailed tasks or progress.
• Examine the project goals and reference these when executing their respective tasks.
• Easily report and provide updates to other members on any critical changes or project issues.
• Have an accessible reference for project tasks, giving them clarity on their roles and responsibilities.
• Maintain awareness of the potential risks of the project, thus helping team members identify and correct minor project issues and avoid project failure.

 Factors that Reduce Project Visibility

The following are the factors that can challenge project visibility in any organization:

Limited Communication

Project visibility relies on open communication among the team members. Limited communication happens when members focus on one-on-one communication. This results in limited transfer of information. As a result, team members often find themselves answering questions repeatedly, thus delaying project progress, or worse, causing errors that compromise the project.

Information Silos

Information silos are a result of limited communication between team members or where you store project data. Also known as data silos, these are areas of concentrated information that do not flow freely to other areas. When information is not properly distributed among all team members, there is less collaboration and cooperation. Members will perform their tasks at varying methods, rates, and standards, which can result in conflict and disharmony that can delay project completion.

Unclear Goals

When there is limited project visibility, the project’s goals and performance metrics are open to varying interpretations. Team members can confuse goals and devise different expectations for their fellow team members. In addition, this confusion also results in less motivated team members. Thus, they are less likely to commit themselves and exert their full effort in completing the project.

Lack of Organization

Project visibility means having organized information that is accessible from a centralized source. Members can have all the project information they need to perform their tasks, but a lack of organization of this information can lead to confusion, inefficiency, and project-delaying errors.

How CMMS Improves Project Visibility

The use of project management software like CMMS addresses the above factors and improves project visibility issues through:

Centralized Database

The only source of accurate information provides uniformity and eliminates confusion among members. CMMS provides a platform where members can find the latest information, report their concerns, and notify everyone of current project issues. A CMMS opens the line of communication and prevents information silos. As a result, reactions from members are faster, more accurate, and more collaborative.

Organized Information

A CMMS allows managers, technicians, and members to organize and store information securely for easy access whenever needed. Having ready access to a member’s schedule, pending tasks, deadlines, and other information makes it easy for managers to assign appropriate tasks. With CMMS, tasks and other project information are easier to organize and manage. With notification and alert capabilities, users are less likely to miss tasks and delay their progress.

Accessibility

Current workplaces are no longer limited to a specific location. Project visibility must be maintained even with team members working from multiple locations. With CMMS, information sharing is possible through any mobile device. Redlist’s CMMS even has offline capabilities for those in the field with limited Wi-Fi or cell service. Thus, managers, technicians, and other team members accomplish their tasks and update information wherever they may be.

Manage Complex Information

Project management often involves complex information due to multiple team members, many assets, and the involvement of complicated processes. A CMMS is specially developed to deal with complex information. Unlike manual spreadsheet methods in the past, CMMS runs through computer-powered software, helping users process and manage complex information faster and with minimal errors.

Improve Your Project Visibility Today with Redlist

Visit getredlist.com/cmms/

A user-friendly and intuitive CMMS like Redlist can be the best step to achieve project visibility for your company. Its genuine all-in-one maintenance and lubrication capabilities are unsurpassed by any other software available today. With customizable and seamless data exchange features, it can also easily integrate with your current sensors and software. To experience Redlist for free, visit www.getredlist.com to schedule a demo with our expert technicians today!