3 New Years Resolutions for Maintenance Planning
Happy New Year everyone! We hope your holidays were relaxing, memorable and full of joy. We decided to collect a few wish list items that should make it on any maintenance departments New Years Resolution list.
Gather and Store All Machine Documentation
Machine data is most commonly seen in three layers. The first is on paper – things like schematics, manuals and the like. This kind of data is usually packaged somewhere in the control cabinetry when the machine is purchased. While hardcopy material such as this seems like it should be easily obtained should it be lost, we encounter plenty of cases where the machine goes obsolete, the OEM goes out of business or other factors that make this impossible.
The second layer is software. When we talk about software usually we are referring the platform from which the machine runs, usually from some sort of processor assembly such as a PLC (programmable logic controller) or NC (numerical control). This is framework from which the whole machine receives and send its commands and without it cannot run. For a variety of reasons from corrupted memory, user-error, or even unexpected hardware failures – this software can suddenly be lost.
The third and final layer is settings. Parameters, programs, and even physical set up configurations – think dipswitch settings and the like – is another level of data that is critical to the machine running properly.
Our technicians in the field get a lot of feedback from the maintenance personnel they meet and one of the most common heartaches they hear of is that one of these layers of data has been lost. As we enter the new year, a smart and effective resolution would be to take a complete inventory of all data layers in each of your machines. Copy any store backups wherever possible. It will come in handy in the future.
Scheduled Maintenance
A common complaint we hear from maintenance personnel is the that they feel less like maintenance – one who “maintains” something- and more like fire-fighters running from one problem to the next fixing issues but never really preventing anything. This can come from many examinable problems from being short staffed, aging equipment or power related issues but the most common cause we see to this state of chaos is organization. If there is no true maintenance planned, then none will be performed. This is reliant on making a schedule, and keeping to it.
Perform A Safety Audit
While going into a new year is a great time to be looking forward it is also a good time to look back. In this regard it is a great time to look back on any safety related incidences that have occurred in the previous year and work towards preventing them in the new one. Starting from a preventative approach, do a detailed audit of the safety policies and procedures you have in place and then plan to improve them. Taking added steps towards safety could be one of the most important and rewarding changes you can make going into the new year.
What are your New Year’s resolutions for your company? Please share them with us below! Also be sure to visit us online at gesrepair.com or call us at 1-877-249-1701 to learn more about our services. We’re proud to offer Surplus, Complete Repair and Maintenance on all types of Industrial Electronics, Servo Motors, AC and DC Motors, Hydraulics and Pneumatics. Please subscribe to our YouTube page and Like Us on Facebook! Thank you!
