Whether your organization manufactures products in-house for your own use, or if you manufacture parts for third-parties, your organization needs to remain competitive. Quality, consistency and efficiency are essential when striving to outbid and outshine competitors. The surest way to consistently and efficiently produce quality products is to maintain your manufacturing equipment. Keeping these four supplies on hand will allow machine operators to trouble-shoot equipment problems when needed and fix them right away.
Lubricants and Oils
Wear, tear, heat, grinding and increased friction contribute to poor quality products and inconsistent production. They also kill your machines, making it necessary to invest in new and expensive equipment. While regular maintenance schedules are a given, there are times when increased production or a new operator will put stress on a piece of machinery. In these situations, it is helpful to have lubricants, oils and coolants on hand.
Machine-Specific Maintenance Fluids
If you have a particular machine that consistently under-performs, then you will want to recognize its quirks and have ample supplies available. You might also want to consider the age of your machine and the future availability of machine-specific lubricants and oils. Milling machine coolant, thread rolling neat oil or semi-synthetic fluids for high-speed steel are some examples of machine-specific fluids that might be hard to come by in an emergency situation.
Cleaning Agents and Rust Inhibitors
Messes happen. Immediate and proper clean-up needs to occur in order to prevent damage to machines or injuries to employees. Stocking up on rust inhibitors, sensor cleansers, adhesive removers, degreasers and hard floor cleaners are likely at the top of your list. However, don’t forget the cleaning agents that help maintain a safe work environment. When flu season hits, you will want to have plenty of hand sanitizers and wipes available.
Retrofit Kits and Auxiliary Parts
Investing in a piece of machinery is a risk. It might break. It might wear down. It might become outdated. Small manufacturers need to keep an eye on flexibility. When choosing a piece of equipment, it is smart to stock up on auxiliary parts and to invest in retrofit kits. This keeps your equipment up-to-date and functional regardless of industry changes.
Equipment reliability and maintenance should be at the top of every manufacturers’ list of priorities. Maintaining a steady level of high-quality production requires clean tools that function in a range of temperatures and environments. Stock up on these items because they will always remain a necessity.
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