Enterprise Asset Management

Enterprise Asset Management (EAM)

Enterprise Asset Management plans and documents maintenance and the lifecycle of physical assets and infrastructure.

Enterprise Asset Management: Not to be confused with

EAM is NOT the same as fixed asset accounting. Fixed asset accounting values and depreciates assets financially, EAM plans and documents the technical maintenance of those assets, such as service intervals, spare parts and failure history. The two views complement each other but are different functions.

Gartner describes EAM as systems that cover the entire lifecycle of physical assets, from procurement through maintenance and repair to decommissioning (Source 1). Some ERP vendors integrate EAM directly into their platform, others connect a dedicated EAM system to the ERP through an interface.

EAM matters most for asset-heavy industries with large infrastructure, for example at Energy & Utilities companies or in Construction & Real Estate firms managing their own facilities.

Related terms

• ERP

Sources for Enterprise Asset Management

1. Gartner, "Enterprise Asset Management (EAM)", IT Glossary ↗