{"id":9829,"date":"2022-11-03T15:43:22","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T21:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?p=9243"},"modified":"2025-05-30T13:04:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T19:04:37","slug":"failure-codes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/failure-codes\/","title":{"rendered":"Failure codes: a guide to the basics"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you know <\/span>the most common issues with your assets, the reasons for your asset failures, or the piece of equipment failed the most in the last six months?\u00a0If not, a system of failure codes may be the answer. We’ll cover the basics and benefits to help you get started.<\/span><\/p>\n

Failure code basics<\/span><\/h2>\n

A failure code is a short sequence consisting of alphabetical, numeric, or alphanumeric characters that are used in maintenance and asset management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They point to equipment defects, why a piece of equipment failed during operation, and the type of work that was performed on the asset.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using failure codes helps to standardize reporting, reduces variability between technicians when reporting failure causes, and allows data mining for insights into maintenance efficiency on a plant or asset level.<\/span>
\nOperators, technicians, or engineers apply a failure code to an asset, for entry and storage in a <\/span>Computerized Maintenance Management System<\/span><\/a> (CMMS) database \u2014 to become part of an asset’s history.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Reliability engineers can then sort the data for failure trends, <\/span>indicating common failure modes<\/span><\/a> across the plant or at an asset level, and allowing remedial actions to be implemented as quickly as possible.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-bottom” kd_top_separator_style=”skew-left” kd_top_separator_height=”separator-height-small” kd_bottom_separator_style=”skew-left” kd_bottom_separator_height=”separator-height-small” kd_top_separator=”true” kd_bottom_separator=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1682969576554{margin-bottom: 40px !important;padding-top: 120px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;background: #dde4e8 url(https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cta-laired-hex-4.webp?id=9077) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 0px !important;}” css_tablet_landscape=”.vc_custom_1682969576554{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}” css_tablet_portrait=”.vc_custom_1682969576555{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}” css_mobile=”.vc_custom_1682969576555{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column_inner]

Checklist for Creating a Preventive Maintenance Plan<\/h2>
Following a consistent Preventive Maintenance Plan can make life easier. Use this checklist to create your own!<\/h6><\/header>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner content_placement=”top” kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-xs-12″ css_tablet_landscape=”.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}” css_tablet_portrait=”.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}” css_mobile=”.vc_custom_1631866454224{padding-right: 15px !important;}”][vc_raw_html]JTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTIwdHlwZSUzRCUyMnRleHQlMkZqYXZhc2NyaXB0JTIyJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGanMuaHNmb3Jtcy5uZXQlMkZmb3JtcyUyRmVtYmVkJTJGdjIuanMlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlMjBoYnNwdC5mb3Jtcy5jcmVhdGUlMjglN0IlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjByZWdpb24lM0ElMjAlMjJuYTElMjIlMkMlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjBwb3J0YWxJZCUzQSUyMCUyMjM5NzU2MDglMjIlMkMlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjBmb3JtSWQlM0ElMjAlMjJjMDY2MWEwZS05NWUxLTQ3ZDktOWFlNS1mYjExYzZiYmY5MzclMjIlMEElMjAlMjAlN0QlMjklM0IlMEElM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” custom_src=”https:\/\/3975608.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net\/hubfs\/3975608\/Content%20Downloads\/PM%20Checklist%20mockup.png”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Common failure codes used in Asset Management<\/span><\/h2>\n

The following list shows examples of generic failure codes applicable to most equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Code<\/b><\/td>\nDefinition\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nDescription<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AOL<\/span><\/td>\nAbnormal outlet low<\/span><\/td>\nLow output<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PLU<\/span><\/td>\nPlugged<\/span><\/td>\nPartial or full-flow restriction<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IHT<\/span><\/td>\nInsufficient heat transfer<\/span><\/td>\nInsufficient heating\/cooling<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AIR<\/span><\/td>\nAbnormal instrument reading<\/span><\/td>\nFalse alarm or faulty reading<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SPS<\/span><\/td>\nSpurious stop<\/span><\/td>\nUnexpected shutdown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
REPAIR<\/span><\/td>\nMaintenance action to restore an item to the original state<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
REPLACE<\/span><\/td>\nReplace the item with a new or refurbished item of the same type and make<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MODIFY<\/span><\/td>\nReplace\/renew\/change an item with a different type, make, design, or material<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SERVICE<\/span><\/td>\nPeriodic servicing, with little or no dismantling<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TEST<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nPeriodic test of function availability<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CHECK<\/span><\/td>\nInvestigate the issue with no action required or the action deferred<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ADJUST<\/span><\/td>\nBring out of tolerance condition within tolerance<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Steps for implementing and using failure codes<\/span><\/h2>\n

Follow these four steps to implement failure codes within your organization:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Choose your method of failure code capture<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Categorize the data you wish to collect<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Create a library of codes<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Train employees in applying failure codes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"Steps<\/a><\/p>\n

    Let’s tackle each of these in more detail.<\/span><\/p>\n

    1. Choose your method of failure code capture<\/span><\/h3>\n

    While you can try to manage it manually, organizations commonly use failure codes <\/span>in conjunction with a CMMS<\/b>. Using consistent data with electronic search and retrieval unlocks powerful reporting capabilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Most modern CMMS support using three or four-character data codes and provide the ability to mandate the data collection. This control prevents technicians from submitting a defect report or closing a planned maintenance task without applying a code relevant to the task or failure.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Capturing<\/p>\n

    The above image presents one of the ways of capturing failure codes inside Limble CMMS. In essence, we allow you to store failure codes as \u201ccustom tags\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. Categorize the data you wish to collect<\/span><\/h3>\n

    For failure coding to work, an organization needs a thorough coding structure that suits the business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This structure should cover more than just failures to be effective. You’ll need to develop codes for each of the following categories:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Three<\/a><\/p>\n