Internal—The EMPM provides assessment results that are easy to understand and communicate. Areas requiring additional resources become apparent, and thus, can be more readily addressed. Improvement can be tracked in meaningful ways. Assessment detail allows attention to be drawn to processes of exceptional maturity and areas in which changes or additional resources, or both, are required to achieve process improvements.

External—Meaningful comparisons to external requirements are enabled. Comparisons of equipment management between entities in different operational or business environments become meaningful and provide insight previously unavailable.

1.1 This practice covers a process for the assessment and reporting of an entity’s overall equipment management process maturity (EMPM).

1.2 The highest value is placed on continuous improvement as reflected in measured increases in maturity over time.

1.3 The EMPM model is designed to be applicable and appropriate for all equipment-holding entities, however, the EMPM may not be the only acceptable assessment model available.

1.4 It includes all aspects of equipment management.

1.5 In addition to applicability to equipment and equipment management as defined in this practice, this practice may in whole or in part be effectively applied to intangible property, real property, and material.

1.6 There is great variation across organizations regarding the internal departments that accomplish the various aspects of equipment management. Thus, all criteria are not applicable to all entities.

1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.