Industrial equipment in its many forms deserves plenty of attention when it comes to maintenance. Whether it’s mining equipment, farming, or construction pieces, maintenance is important when trying to make machinery last a long time.
Breakdowns happen, but keeping expensive replacement costs at bay should be pursued through regular maintenance. Here are some maintenance tips to make sure your equipment lasts as long as it’s meant to, and then some.
1. Operator Training
Industrial equipment is wide and varied, and should be handled by a wide and varied selection of operators. Any maintenance checklist should include overseeing the correct operation of the equipment itself. Large machinery should be inspected right when it’s purchased and operator training should be offered just as soon.
Operator manuals can be revised for work situations and can be re-written in simpler language while shorter manuals can be provided to each operators for easy reference. Making sure to stay up to date on training will help employees get familiar with the different kinds of equipment and their uses so to avoid misuse of equipment, which can lead to breakdowns and accidents.
Plus, while having industrial equipment insurance, such as manufacturing coverage, is integral to any operation when it comes to replacing damaged equipment, education around proper use is the best first step to keep claims and liabilities low.
2. Look for Signs of Wear and Tear
Vibration, high temperatures, regular use, and friction can all contribute to the breakdown of parts in industrial equipment. From extended use to bad gear and overworked belts, a lot of issues can come up with regular use of machinery.
While this is typical, it’s still good to keep an eye out for signs of harsh use. This will help to get out ahead of possible breakdowns and issues with maintenance. If you discover wear and tear on any moving parts, be sure to get on top of performing the necessary replacement of any worn equipment parts to save time and money in the long run.
3. Keep It Clean
Seals and filters cover heavy machinery in order to keep parts clean and free of contamination. Seals should be inspected regularly and thoroughly to make sure they’re in great condition and filters should be inspected and changed on a regular basis. The electronics inside a cab are also susceptible to contamination and face the risk of breaking down as well, so make sure to inspect these parts and store machinery in a shed to avoid rust or contamination of any kind.
4. Have a Schedule
While giving maintenance a daily check-up to see if any signs were missed the day before, keeping a regular schedule of check-ups and maintenance and having up-to-date record keeping will help to keep everything transparent.
Fluids, tires, tracks, and electrical systems in machinery need to be checked on a regular basis to prevent breakdowns. Make sure to make notes of when inspections occurred, what was needed to fix parts, and how much these upgrades cost. Also, make sure to run torque checks on the bolts and lubricate gears frequently, all to help avoid issues in the long-term.
About The Hilb Group
Deciding what coverage you need and what limits and deductibles make the most sense can be tricky. Founded in 2009, the Hilb Group has been helping clients to make sense of their options and make the smartest choices for their circumstances. Whether you need Warehouse Insurance or any other type of business or personal coverage, we encourage you to contact our friendly, experienced, and capable team today. Call us at (800) 776-3078 for a consultation.