Machine maintenance might seem like a waste of time, but it is the one thing that can keep your operation running smoothly. If you don’t have a maintenance schedule in place already, it can be difficult to know where to start. To make that a little bit easier, here are a few machine maintenance tips to help you get started to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently.
Inspect Regularly
The first step toward keeping your equipment running smoothly is to inspect it regularly. Depending on the type of equipment and the work that is being done, regular inspection can be done as often as needed – even every day before work starts, if the equipment is being used under heavy load.
Taking the time to inspect your equipment gives you a chance to find small problems before they can become big ones that could prevent you from being able to continue your work until the equipment is repaired.
Start your day a little bit earlier or take some time from your normal work day to inspect your equipment to keep it running as smoothly as possible.
Keep It Clean
Some of the biggest problems in machinery are caused by dirt and dust making their way into the moving parts. Even a few grains of sand in a delicate piece of equipment can cause wear and tear that can damage the equipment.
Keeping equipment clean isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially for construction and excavation projects, but take the time to hose down your equipment at the end of the day. This can be part of your daily inspection or part of your end of day routine but keeping your equipment clean can go a long way toward keeping it running at peak performance.
Invest In High Quality
They say that you get what you pay for – and that goes double for manufacturing equipment. For small businesses or ones that don’t have a lot of extra capital to spend, remanufactured or refurbished equipment can be a great way to save money – but it can also become a problem in the future, especially if it wasn’t well maintained by the previous owner.
Investing in high quality new equipment can cost more up front, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run. New equipment is usually covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, so if there is a factory defect you can have it repaired for little or no money out of pocket. You also don’t have to worry about the machine’s previous maintenance history.
A high-quality piece of equipment is designed to do the job, and to serve you well for years to come. If you have the means, invest in new equipment.
Stay on Schedule
Keeping up with a maintenance schedule might seem like a waste of time – especially if your schedule seems to interfere with your current project – but don’t skip your maintenance in favor of getting a job done faster. You could end up shooting yourself in the foot and losing more time by allowing your equipment to go unmaintained until it breaks down.
Keeping up with your maintenance schedule can help you save money, keep your project on track, and lower overall costs by preventing unscheduled stops in work. It can also help to protect your workers while they’re on the job, and lower insurance claims.
Train and Retrain
It’s not just the equipment that you need to keep an eye on – it’s the people operating it. It’s essential to ensure that your employees are trained in proper safety and maintenance procedures for each piece of equipment on your job site. Not only does this create a safer work environment for your employees, it makes it easier for them to ensure that your equipment is being maintained properly.
Don’t stop at onboarding training though – continue your employee’s education as often as you deem necessary. A refresher course for established employees can be a great way to keep your job site running smoothly.
Maintenance might take up some precious time that you could be dedicating to your current project, but it will save you money and reduce costs in the long run. Your equipment is the backbone of your business – take care of it and it will take care of you for years to come.
Article by —
Megan Ray Nichols
Freelance Science Writer
nicholsrmegan@gmail.com
www.schooledbyscience.com/about
