Machinery is a vital part of a manufacturing business. If the machines are not performing up to their optimal level, a business will suffer. Moreover, if a machine breaks in the middle of a busy day, it will delay the manufacturing process ultimately leading to a loss of profits.
If you want to maintain your machine in the best of health and you want to ensure that your manufacturing process remains consistent every day, here are some very helpful tips that can proactively maintain your machinery for a long time.
1. Always Check The Warranty
The most crucial aspect of a maintenance routine is keeping yourself informed about the warranty of each machine. Industrial machinery is expensive. Whether you buy a brand-new machine or invest in used machinery, you will be provided with a warranty from the seller.
You should know the duration of the warranty and its coverage. Knowing this information can save you from costly repairs from outside.
2. Maintain The Paperwork
Documentation of your previous repair works is also an integral part of a machine maintenance schedule. Make sure that you actively log all the information related to the repair or replacement a machine might have gotten.
Knowing this information will help you keep a check on machine health. If the need for repair is becoming more frequent, you might have to consider replacing the machine. Moreover, documentation is important as it can help you with financial agreements and claim insurance if needed.
3. Follow The Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Every machine comes with a booklet from the manufacturer. This booklet contains all the information you need to know about the machine. Make sure that your engineers go through the booklet and keep it safe for future reference. This booklet will give you manufacturers’ recommendations regarding repairs, replacements, and other essential information.
Make sure that you follow the guidelines when getting repairs. For instance, hiring recommended metal fabricators for maintaining a machine can help you save money and effort, instead of relying on random welders.
4. Invest In Preventive Measures
Machines do not stop working abruptly. If things go wrong, your machine will give you indications before it ceases to work, therefore, giving you enough time to take precautionary measures. Make sure that you are taking preventive measures and inspect your machine regularly.
Investing in technologies such as industrial thermal imaging can help you take proactive measures towards machine maintenance. Thermal imaging can detect abnormal heating or inefficient use of energy by the machine. Therefore indicating any possible disruption in future.
5. Proactively Maintain Replacement Parts
When you have machines in your manufacturing plant that require refilling or replacing certain parts after some time, make sure that you proactively buy these parts to save money and reduce the layoffs.
For instance, if you have a laser cutting machine, it will require refilling of shots. Buying these shots before the one’s in use finish can save you from a lot of trouble. Keeping spare parts for your machine can reduce maintenance time, therefore, protecting your manufacturing plant from a complete shut down.