It is common for heavy equipment in construction sites to have challenges that affect the operators’ workflow. Some of these challenges include breakdowns which are expensive to fix every year. Businesses or contractors need a well-planned heavy equipment maintenance program to lower frequent equipment failure incidents and prevent future expenses.
If you need major overhaul and equipment repair services for your business, feel free to contact us. We have a state of art repair center that guarantees you overall convenience and top-notch care. Follow the following guidelines to keep your equipment running.
Commit to a preventative maintenance program
A preventive maintenance routine requires you to anticipate changes and wear and tear and then take corrective actions continuously to ensure the machines are reliable and perform effectively. It involves consistent, systematic inspections, replacements, and modification of components, including performance analysis and testing.
Carrying out a successful preventative maintenance program prolongs the life span of your equipment and reduces the instances of unscheduled downtime that happen when equipment breaks down. If you are diligent in preventative maintenance, you improve their resale value, have better inventory management, and decrease instances where you replace expensive parts, among other benefits.
Identify significant causes of machinery breakdown.
You need to be aware of what causes equipment breakdown, as that can help you save thousands of dollars and maintain a consistent workflow while at it. The three types of machinery failure include:
- Sudden failure results from your machinery breaking down with no warning for apparent reasons. You should fix or replace the part immediately to return the equipment to service.
- Intermittent failure describes a stoppage that occurs sporadically. The causes of such failures are difficult to identify, making downtime more frustrating and costly. You can prevent this by anticipating its cause and handling it during maintenance.
- Gradual failure is a failure you can prevent through routine inspections and maintenance. It is where you take note of the wearing parts and components and replace them before their life span ends.
Pay attention to the equipment’s environment.
Provide extra care and store equipment properly if you want it to last long; the physical environment or location matters a lot. Weather elements like mud, extreme heat, and freezing temperatures require various maintenance measures.
For instance, if your business operates in harsh environmental conditions that put stress on heavy equipment, regular maintenance is paramount.
Operate heavy-duty equipment based on its limits
If you are in a business, ensure that your equipment operators adhere to the published performance limits of every heavy-duty piece of equipment. The adherence will lower the chances of equipment failures and repairs.
Also, have clear operating procedures from the beginning, as you have your staff undergo the appropriate training. Ensure that speeds, torque limits, feeds, and load are controlled and monitored keenly. Be aware of excessive wear and tear, as it can lower the performance of the equipment and shorten its lifespan.
Check the fluids
Heavy equipment maintenance requires you to have the right quality of fluids and to keep them at the correct level. Such a practice is essential in ensuring your equipment performs better. Follow the guidelines and specifications provided by manufacturers to have your fluids filled, as overfilling causes overheating.
Create a checklist
Have a daily, weekly, and monthly checklist at the beginning of every shift that will guide how you inspect every piece of heavy-duty equipment to identify if some problems or parts need essential servicing. The checklist should include safety items, lubrication, operating parts, and cleaning. To lessen your work during maintenance, always store the equipment in safe spaces after using them.
Create a rapid-response team
If you have a long-term project, consider having a rapid response team to do your repairs. The importance of having such a team is that they are always available anytime you need them to provide you with things like spare parts, and that will allow you to fix your equipment immediately.
With this team, you save your time because they can easily find compatible spare parts you need to fix your equipment and resume your business operations quickly.
Train your operators for the proper use of machines
To avoid having instances that would have your operators engage in practices that will damage your equipment, invest in training them. Training can be about identifying common problems and carrying out safety inspection checks, among other duties. Operators knowledgeable in spotting problems promptly can comfortably make the needed repairs. Having a strong team significantly affects the durability and performance of your equipment.