Equipment represents a major investment for any business and keeping that equipment in top condition not only extends its life for the long term but also lowers maintenance costs in the short term. Companies that push their equipment to the limit often find those limits exceeded, and soon their budgets do the same. Here are four ways you can make sure you’re optimizing the equipment maintenance budget at your business.
Service Plans
Sometimes you have to spend a penny to save a nickel, and this may be one of those situations. Signing an equipment maintenance contract with the vendor who either sells your equipment, maintains it, or both is a good way to have qualified personnel doing the work on the proper schedule. Good preventive maintenance will keep your equipment at top performance with a lower risk of breakdowns. You will also have less administrative work to do because
Proper Training
A frequent problem at any employer is training. When a new piece of equipment is put into operation, your staff was probably trained by factory personnel. Over time, attrition can find you with new hands-on the sandblasting machine, hands that were probably not trained by the manufacturer but rather by co-workers. Make sure that you take the proper steps to train new workers so that they are as qualified as your veteran workers.
In-House Repair
In some situations, you might actually benefit from having not just your equipment operators trained by the factory, but also your equipment maintenance staff. If your facility is located far from certified techs, you might save money by having your own personnel certified and doing warrantied work with your own staff. It may be even more cost-effective if you have several of the same pieces of equipment.
Equipment Protection
Just as your light fixtures are designed to protect the bulbs inside, the use of appropriate protective features can reduce maintenance costs for your equipment. For electrical items, a reduction in power can be just as destructive as a spike. Go beyond surge protection and install battery backups to bridge those gaps. Install guards, shields, and cooling systems to reduce the risk of damage from impacts with forklifts, pallets of materials, walls, and so on.
Equipment is often key to the profitable operation of a business. When a piece of machinery fails or needs unscheduled maintenance, production schedules can fall apart. Keep your equipment in top condition so that it can return the favor to your business.
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