Who does not know that prevention is better than cure? Industries of all types and sizes have practiced this for many years for the maintenance of machines and equipment. As competition increased and productivity became the focal point of businesses to stay competitive, the role of maintenance went through a sea change. It became clear that machines must work without failure or downtime to ensure uninterrupted production and keep up productivity. The only way of doing it was to become proactive in identifying potential problems and prevent it from becoming a showstopper.
Creating a preventive maintenance program for machines thus came into prominence, and companies adopted its own ways of devising programs that can serve their goals of achieving minimum downtime or even better, zero downtime. The methods of monitoring machines and equipment manually made way for advanced technology. With the digital revolution of the nineties that swept across the world, preventative maintenance management software became the backbone of manufacturing and assembling industries.
The right preventive maintenance approach saves money and improves operations and productivity besides many more benefits.
Cost saving
Even if it is not always possible to avoid equipment downtime, it should never be unplanned. Having a preventive maintenance schedule means that there is a plan for machines that would be unavailable due to repairs and maintenance so that it does not hamper production. This is very important because every minute of downtime that affects production can cost thousands of dollars for companies.
High efficiency
Preventive maintenance ensures that the machines that are in use have minimal or no chances of failure, which helps it to operate at peak efficiencies. The maintenance plan will eliminate emergency repairs that cost huge money as most companies that suffer from poor maintenance spend almost 50% of productive time on emergency work. With the right preventive maintenance program, equipment uptime increases that improve productivity and reduces costs.
Lower maintenance cost
Covering equipment under a preventive maintenance plan results in better equipment health, which performs better and has a long life. Aging equipment is one of the main reasons for unplanned downtime. With scheduled maintenance, machines are under close check and help to avoid unwanted repairs that improve equipment performance and results in better output. The money spent on scheduled maintenance is much lower than what you might spend on unplanned repairs.
Longer equipment life
When you look after the machines well, it remains healthy for many years and keeps performing at a high level. Regular maintenance means that the machines can withstand stress better and perform efficiently, which protects your investment and provides better returns with higher output. With a longer lifespan and better performance, the machines pay back much more than you expect.
Safe operations
Most accidents occur from poorly maintained equipment and machines. And accidents mean down time that affects production and machines undergo regular checks under the preventive maintenance schedule it ensures safer operations that protect workers and improve productivity as the machines would seldom malfunction.
Having a professional preventive maintenance strategy goes a long wat in improving the company’s bottom line.
