Industrial maintenance is essential to keep the machines running efficiently and to prevent breakdowns. Some production plants operate round the clock which makes industrial equipment susceptible to wear and tear. Breakdowns can lead to downtime. It can cause delays in production and financial losses. According to 2023 statistics, the leading causes of unscheduled equipment downtime are aging equipment (34%), mechanical failure (20%), operator error (11%), lack of time for maintenance (9%), and poor equipment design (8%). The data shows the importance of having industrial maintenance to take care of the machines and ensure they are always in perfect working condition, especially when they are already old.
Each business has its upkeep requirements. Industrial plant maintenance usually includes equipment inspection, cleaning, lubrication, repair, and parts replacements. A manufacturing business’ productivity depends on the effective implementation of its industrial maintenance strategies. You have to find a trusted industrial equipment supplier in the Philippines that maintains the machines and help them work properly to optimize their production lines.
4 Common Types of Industrial Maintenance
1. Corrective Maintenance
It is also called reactive maintenance. This type of industrial maintenance is carried out immediately to fix any defects or malfunctions on a machine right after detection. This short-term strategy aims to get the equipment back in working condition as quickly as possible.
2. Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance is used by companies to predict when equipment will possibly break and plan the necessary industrial maintenance measures to prevent it from happening. This limits the expenses due to unforeseen breakdowns that cause operation disruptions. This type of maintenance uses data and technologies like vibration analysis, oil and fluid analysis, and thermography to predict an impending failure. Maintenance activities are scheduled in advance to repair a machine before it breaks down.
3. Preventive Maintenance
Statistics showed that 76% of manufacturing companies around the world prioritize preventive maintenance. This type of industrial maintenance is planned and a schedule is set ahead of time. It also takes into account the history of past breakdowns of the machines. It uses software to identify and fix possible problems before they happen so the equipment is always in good working condition.
4. Condition-based Maintenance
It involves simple operations like regular maintenance of machines using mechanical grease. No training is required and those who use the machines can do the maintenance. However, the basics of industrial mechanics must still be mastered. Industrial maintenance involves everyone in the facility performing the tasks without depending mainly on mechanics or engineers.
Implementing proper industrial maintenance can bring several advantages to a business. All companies must consider adopting the necessary interventions to ensure seamless operations inside the facility.
5 Benefits of Industrial Maintenance
1. Minimized breakdowns or repairs
Proper interventions can prevent equipment from experiencing sudden breakdowns. Aside from increased equipment uptime, industrial maintenance prevents permanent damage to machinery.
2. Improved safety
Through industrial plant maintenance, you can identify possible hazards that may endanger lives and properties and address them right in time. It keeps the workers safe from sustaining any injuries caused by accidents that could have been avoided if proper attention has been given. For instance, equipment inspections can avoid problems like electrical overload, explosion, and fire, among other hazards. A loose screw in a machine can cause it to malfunction and injure a worker.
3. Saves money
The accumulated expenses of recurring machine breakdowns are very expensive. This includes repairs and replacements of worn out parts and medical expenses if a worker gets injured. Repeated equipment repairs are sometimes more costly compared to industrial maintenance.
4. Increased efficiency
Productivity is affected when machines wear down and fail due to extended usage. Industrial maintenance ensures that machines are always running well and avoid production stoppage.
5. Prolong equipment life
Immediately addressing machine problems like wear and tear and regular breakdowns through correct maintenance measures can extend the life of an equipment in a facility.
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It is always important to properly maintain your machines inside the facility. Proper management of industrial maintenance helps a business to operate smoothly. Continuous use of machines makes them prone to damages that can result in sudden production stoppage. There are different types of industrial maintenance that a company can choose to address the problem. Neglecting the quality of your machines can affect productivity and endanger the safety of the workers, among others. This is why finding the right supplier that can help you maintain the quality of your equipment must ba a priority.
Elixir is a reliable supplier of industrial equipment that can help customers meet the operational needs of their businesses. It provides services including Aftersales Support, Spare Parts, and Maintenance to ensure the proper functioning of its sold products. Are you in need of an industrial equipment supplier that also offers maintenance services for its machines? Elixir can assist.