Business owners rely on their employees and their physical assets to keep the organization running in top shape. While you could invest in up-skilling your employees, hiring better-qualified professionals, and outsourcing services to experts, when it comes to machinery, there are fewer options. Even if you invest in the best infrastructure for your business and get everything made to order, without proper upkeep, it is bound to deteriorate over time. Even high-quality stainless steel tools will eventually fall apart if you don’t take care of them. If you want to make the most of the money that you have invested in infrastructure and equipment, here is what you can do to take care of those assets.
1. Environment
The conditions and the environment in which you keep your equipment are extremely important. Even though big metal tools and large machinery may seem like it can stand up to any condition, it does require care. Even though you can bring back tools from rust and other problems, it’s much easier to just ensure they are stored properly in the first place. Just making sure your tools are greased, there isn’t any water or moisture in the toolbox, and that they aren’t left exposed can help your tool last decades.
2. Proper Setup
Sometimes the storage is correct but the use isn’t. Especially when you have new employees working with you who might not know how to operate machinery, the chances of a breakdown are very high. If you use motors, compressors, milling machines, or other large machinery you should invest in vibration monitoring equipment that will help you ensure everything is aligned properly and nothing is being forced to work in the wrong direction.
Sometimes the vibration is so small that you can’t hear it or see it but it is causing damage to the equipment. In places such as main shafts, that bear the bulk of the weight, a small vibration could break the entire machine.
3. Timely Repairs
When you are in the middle of a project or you just have a little bit of work left, you just want to keep going and get the job done. When the machine is already faulty, pushing it to continue not only damages the machine but also puts your safety at risk. Ideally, businesses should have a regular schedule for repairs or maintenance and all machinery should be inspected during this time. With all your equipment in top shape at all times, the possibility of it breaking down when you need it the most is reduced.
A great solution for machinery-related problems is to outsource the upkeep of your machinery to a specialist. This way you don’t have to worry about when it was repaired or how it was taken care of. An expert can come in at regular intervals, inspect the machinery and do what is needed to keep it in good shape. This can also ensure that you get the work done properly and don’t damage equipment trying to maintain it. It will cost a little bit of extra money but it is well worth the safety benefits and the fact that it will keep your downtime to a minimum.