Ski Resorts and Mountain Operations: CMMS for Lifts, Snowmaking, and Lodge Equipment

Introduction

There's a certain magic to a ski resort at dawn. The quiet hum of the first chairlift spinning, the sight of pristine corduroy stretching down the mountain—it’s an image of serene, natural beauty. But for the maintenance and operations teams, that serenity is the hard-won result of a complex, high-stakes mechanical ballet performed behind the scenes, often in the harshest conditions imaginable. The reality of mountain operations is a constant battle against physics, weather, and the relentless wear and tear on millions of dollars of highly specialized equipment.

The operational scope is staggering. It’s not just one type of asset; it’s an entire, self-contained city perched on a mountain. We’re talking about everything from multi-million-dollar detachable chairlifts and gondolas, which are essentially public transportation systems with zero tolerance for failure, to a utility-scale snowmaking plant with miles of high-pressure pipe and massive pump houses. Then there’s the fleet of sophisticated grooming machines, the lodges with their commercial HVAC and kitchen equipment, and all the rolling stock and support facilities. The sheer diversity of assets is a challenge in itself.

For decades, many operations ran on a combination of institutional knowledge, well-worn logbooks, and a flurry of radio calls. The maintenance director was a walking encyclopedia of every strange noise and recurring problem. But in today’s environment, that’s no longer enough. The pressure to maximize uptime, ensure absolute guest and employee safety, control spiraling maintenance costs, and justify capital expenditures has become immense. Spreadsheets and paper binders, once the backbone of the maintenance office, are now the biggest liability. They can’t provide the real-time visibility, auditable documentation, or data-driven insights needed to manage a modern resort.

This is where a modern Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) transitions from a "nice-to-have" to a non-negotiable, core operational tool. A properly implemented CMMS software becomes the central nervous system for the entire mountain, connecting people, assets, and processes into a single, cohesive system. It’s about moving from a reactive, "run-to-failure" posture to a proactive, predictive, and data-informed strategy that drives equipment reliability and operational excellence.

Taming the Mechanical Beasts: Lifts, Trams, and Gondolas

No asset defines a ski resort more than its lift system. These are the arteries of the mountain, and when one goes down, the entire operation feels it—in guest complaints, in lift line chaos, and directly in the bottom line. Lift maintenance isn't just about keeping things running; it's a rigorous, heavily regulated discipline where safety is absolute and documentation is everything.

Beyond the Daily Log: Comprehensive Preventive Maintenance Scheduling

The preventive maintenance (PM) schedule for a single modern detachable lift is a beast. We're talking about hundreds of distinct tasks, from daily pre-operational checks to weekly, monthly, and annual procedures mandated by manufacturers like Doppelmayr or Leitner-Poma and codified in standards like ANSI B77.1. These aren't simple tasks. They include complex procedures like grip non-destructive testing (NDT), gearbox oil analysis, sheave liner gauging, haul rope inspections, and comprehensive tower assembly checks.

Trying to manage this on a spreadsheet is an exercise in futility. It can't handle task dependencies, it's terrible for assigning resources, and it provides zero visibility into work completion or overdue tasks. What happens when the mechanic scheduled for the annual brake inspection calls in sick? Who gets the work, and how is it tracked? The paper trail becomes a nightmare, especially during an audit or, worse, after an incident.

A dedicated CMMS transforms this chaos into controlled process. It allows maintenance planners to build out the entire PM program for each lift, creating recurring work orders that trigger automatically based on calendar dates, operational hours, or even lift cycles. The system can bundle tasks, attach digital copies of OEM manuals and safety procedures, and create standardized checklists. This ensures that every required task is performed, documented, and traceable. It builds a defensible, auditable maintenance record that satisfies regulators, insurance carriers, and internal safety teams. It’s about ensuring nothing—absolutely nothing—falls through the cracks.

Real-Time Issue Capture and Work Order Flow

Picture this common scenario: A lift operator in the top shack of an express quad hears a new, rhythmic clicking sound coming from the bullwheel. In the old world, this might get called in over a busy radio channel, scribbled on a notepad, and hopefully passed along to the next shift or the lift maintenance team at some point. The information is vague, and the response is delayed.

Now, consider the process with mobile maintenance capabilities. The same lift operator pulls out a tablet or smartphone, scans a QR code affixed to the control panel, and instantly pulls up the asset record for that specific lift. They can create a new work order on the spot, type a quick description of the sound, and even attach a short audio recording of the noise itself. The moment they hit "submit," the work order is created, categorized, and automatically routed to the lead lift mechanic's device.

The mechanic, who might be working on another lift halfway across the mountain, gets an instant notification. They can listen to the audio file, review the asset’s recent work history, and make an informed decision immediately. This is the power of a connected system. The time from issue identification to diagnosis and repair is slashed from hours (or even days) to minutes. Platforms designed for this environment, such as MaintainNow, are built around this mobile-first principle. The ability for any authorized employee to log an issue from the field (accessible via https://www.app.maintainnow.app/) fundamentally changes the communication dynamic and drastically improves response times. It means more "wrench time" and less time spent tracking down information or traveling back to the shop.

Asset Lifecycle Management and Capital Planning

Chairlifts are legacy assets, expected to operate safely for 30, 40, or even 50 years. This requires a long-term strategic approach. The decision to rebuild a 25-year-old gearbox versus budgeting for a complete new drive terminal in five years can't be based on a gut feeling. It needs to be backed by data.

This is where a CMMS provides immense strategic value. Every work order, every spare part, every hour of a mechanic's time is logged against that specific asset. Over the years, the CMMS builds a detailed financial and operational history. The maintenance director can pull a report showing the total cost of ownership for every lift in the fleet. They can see that while Lift #4 is older, its maintenance costs have been stable, whereas the newer Lift #7 has been eating up the budget with persistent electrical issues.

This data is the foundation of effective capital planning. When it's time to go to ownership or corporate leadership with a multi-million-dollar request for a lift upgrade, the proposal isn't based on anecdotes. It's supported by trend lines showing rising maintenance costs, increasing downtime, and the diminishing returns of continuing to patch up an aging asset. This transforms the maintenance department from a cost center into a strategic partner in the long-term financial health of the resort.

The Art and Science of Snowmaking and Grooming Operations

If lifts are the arteries, the snowmaking and grooming fleets are the heart and soul of the product itself. In many regions, the ability to make snow is the difference between opening for Thanksgiving and waiting for a fickle Mother Nature. The quality of the groomed surface is what skiers and riders remember and review online. The reliability of these systems is paramount.

Optimizing a Sprawling, High-Pressure System

A modern snowmaking system is an industrial marvel. We're talking about miles of buried, high-pressure water and air lines, massive pump houses with arrays of multi-stage pumps and variable frequency drives (VFDs), and hundreds of hydrants and snow guns (from brands like SMI or TechnoAlpin) spread across thousands of acres of challenging terrain. It’s a distributed factory, and it runs in the coldest, darkest hours.

Managing maintenance for such a sprawling system is a geographical and logistical challenge. A technician responding to a frozen valve at 2 AM needs to know precisely where that asset is, what its history is, and what parts might be needed. A CMMS with GIS or mapping capabilities is a game-changer. It allows every hydrant, valve, pump, and fan gun to be geo-tagged. A tech can pull up a map on their tablet, tap an icon, and instantly see all relevant information.

The real value, however, comes from systematizing the preventive maintenance that keeps the system running. This includes routine tasks like exercising valves to prevent them from seizing, annual pump vibration analysis to predict bearing failures, pre-season hydrant checks, and post-season drainage and winterization procedures. A CMMS automates the maintenance scheduling for all of this, ensuring that the hundreds of small tasks that contribute to overall system reliability are consistently executed and documented.

Fleet Maintenance for Groomers and Mobile Equipment

The grooming fleet—the PistenBullys and Prinoths—are the unsung heroes of the mountain. These are not simple tractors; they are incredibly complex and expensive machines operating in extreme conditions. Their hydraulic systems, electronics, and specialized implements require a sophisticated maintenance approach, much closer to aviation than standard fleet management.

Unscheduled downtime during a critical overnight grooming window can directly impact the next day's revenue and guest experience. The key is to get ahead of failures. This starts with tracking operating hours accurately. A CMMS can integrate with telematics systems on the machines to automatically pull hour meter readings. This data then drives the PM schedule. The system can be configured to automatically generate a work order for the 500-hour service when a specific machine hits 495 hours, assigning it to the right technician and pre-populating a checklist of all required tasks and parts. This proactive approach is fundamental to achieving high equipment reliability.

Parts inventory is the other critical piece of the puzzle. A multi-ton groomer can be sidelined for want of a specific hydraulic fitting or sensor that isn't in stock. A robust CMMS integrates parts inventory with work order management. When a mechanic uses a filter on a work order, it's automatically deducted from the inventory count. When stock levels for that filter hit a pre-set minimum, the system can automatically generate a purchase requisition. This closes the loop and ensures that the parts needed for both scheduled PMs and common repairs are always on hand, minimizing downtime and eliminating costly emergency freight charges.

The Guest Experience Engine: Lodges, F&B, and Facilities

While the on-mountain equipment gets most of the attention, the guest experience is often made or broken by the supporting facilities. A cold lodge, a long wait for food because of a broken oven, or a malfunctioning bathroom can sour a visitor's day faster than an icy slope. The maintenance of these assets is just as critical to the resort's success.

HVAC, Kitchens, and the Unsung Heroes of Maintenance

The sheer volume and diversity of assets in a base lodge or mid-mountain restaurant is a huge management challenge. There are commercial boilers, rooftop HVAC units, complex building automation systems, walk-in coolers and freezers, deep fryers, dishwashers, fire suppression systems, and countless other pieces of equipment.

For many facilities, the approach to these assets is largely reactive. Things get fixed when they break. But this is incredibly inefficient and disruptive. A "run-to-failure" strategy for a walk-in cooler in the main kitchen can lead to thousands of dollars in spoiled food and an inability to serve guests during the busiest part of the day.

A CMMS brings order to this complexity. It allows facility managers to create a complete asset registry and apply standardized PM templates across asset types. For example, a single "Quarterly Rooftop Unit PM" checklist can be applied to all 20 RTUs on the property, ensuring that belts are checked, filters are changed, and coils are cleaned on a consistent schedule. This systematic approach reduces emergency calls and extends the life of the equipment, directly lowering long-term maintenance costs.

The integration of mobile maintenance tools is vital here as well. A department manager—say, from Food & Beverage—can be given limited access to the CMMS. When a convection oven goes down during the lunch rush, they can submit a high-priority work request directly from their phone. A system like MaintainNow (https://maintainnow.app) ensures this request is instantly routed to the on-duty facility technician, bypassing phone tag and miscommunication. The tech arrives with a better understanding of the problem, can access the oven's service history on their device, and gets the kitchen back online faster.

Compliance, Safety, and Documentation

Beyond customer satisfaction, facility maintenance is also a matter of critical safety and compliance. Fire suppression systems (like Ansul systems in kitchens), emergency lighting, elevators, and backflow preventers are all subject to strict inspection and testing schedules mandated by local and national codes.

Failure to perform and document these inspections can result in fines, forced shutdowns, and massive liability in the event of an incident. A CMMS serves as the definitive system of record for all compliance-related activities. It schedules the recurring inspections, provides digital checklists to ensure they are performed correctly, and creates a permanent, unalterable digital record of completion.

When the fire marshal or a health inspector arrives for a surprise visit and asks for the service records for the lodge's fire alarm panel, the facility manager doesn't have to scramble to find a dusty binder. They can pull up the complete, time-stamped history on their tablet in seconds. This capability, where systems such as MaintainNow allow for photo verification and digital sign-offs to be attached directly to the work order, provides an ironclad audit trail that demonstrates due diligence and protects the organization from risk.

Conclusion

The operational environment of a ski resort is unlike almost any other. It’s a unique fusion of heavy industry, public transportation, hospitality, and municipal services, all operating under the pressures of extreme weather, seasonal demand, and the highest standards of safety. Managing such a complex ecosystem with outdated tools is no longer a viable strategy. It’s inefficient, risky, and ultimately more costly.

The adoption of a modern, mobile-first CMMS software represents a fundamental shift in how mountain operations are managed. It's about moving away from reactive firefighting and toward a proactive, data-driven culture of reliability. The benefits are clear and profound: enhanced safety for guests and staff, a significant improvement in equipment reliability across all asset classes, a tangible reduction in costly downtime, better control over maintenance costs, and the ability to make strategic, data-backed decisions about long-term capital investments.

A CMMS is not an IT project; it is an operational excellence initiative. It provides the visibility, structure, and control needed to manage the immense complexity of a modern ski resort. It empowers technicians with the information they need at their fingertips, gives managers the oversight required to optimize resources, and provides leadership with the data to plan for the future. Ultimately, it’s about enabling the entire team to focus on what truly matters: delivering a safe, reliable, and unforgettable experience for every guest who comes to enjoy the mountain.