Everyone who runs a business will tell you that business equipment is far from cheap, especially in some industries. Many startups and small businesses have no other option but to take out a large bank loan to be able to afford the necessary equipment. Otherwise, they wouldn’t exist. Also, the state of such equipment has a direct effect on the performance of each business. So, when we take all this into consideration, it’s only logical to conclude that business equipment needs to be used and maintained properly. What is not logical is the fact that many companies fail to take care of their machinery, which leads to breakdowns, replacement of expensive parts and losing precious time in the process. Wouldn’t it be easier to prevent such problems from occurring? Of course. That’s why we’ve prepared the following list of things that are absolutely necessary when it comes to equipment maintenance.
Refer to the manual
Some people order machines, yet never bother to read the manual that comes with it. Why that happens will probably remain a mystery, but we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to carefully read the manual and consult it before using the machine in question for the first time. Also, it should be the first thing you refer to in case something goes wrong with your equipment. What you should be careful about, though, is being too self-confident. Namely, you might have experience working with similar kinds of equipment and feel that you know everything there is to know about the machine, but we strongly encourage you to read the manual for the new machine, nevertheless.
Get a warranty
You may see it as an unnecessary expenditure, but that’s rarely the case. Truth be told, not every warranty is useful or sensible, but equipment warranties are quite necessary. Namely, you could potentially lose a lot of money and time replacing parts or conducting minor repairs and without a warranty, you might find yourself in a situation that your company’s future is in danger because of unforeseen costs. Treat a warranty as an investment in your peace of mind and a shrewd business decision.
Pay attention to the environment
Many industries rely heavily on equipment working properly round the clock. For that to happen, the conditions in which machines operate need to be optimal. Take oilfield equipment for example. The equipment needed is extremely expensive and no matter how well you maintain it, it will experience problems if the conditions, such as temperature, air quality and others, are not right. In oil and gas applications, if products containing H2S gas get in contact with air and moisture, sulfuric acid is formed, which leads to corrosion of metal parts. This, in turn, causes reduced durability, weakened strength and premature failure. That’s why proper H2S treatment is vital to keep these machines running smoothly.
Buy top quality products
Buying cheap equipment of dubious quality is not a smart move, despite the normal wish to save money. However, you always have to think about how much money you’re going to spend in the long run when making business decisions. That’s why it’s better to invest in legitimately good quality equipment, especially if you’re working in heavy industry. Mining and oil drilling is again a good example. Poor quality machinery is more expensive to maintain and repair and it can also cause a real catastrophe, endangering workers and the environment. Therefore, investing more money, in the beginning, pays off in the long run, because you’ll have to do less maintenance and you’ll experience less downtime in production. As you know, low-cost materials can be damaged easily during the production process, which means you might end up with a lot of waste. This, of course, translates into more costs to your business.
Never miss routine maintenance
You should never skip scheduled maintenance of important equipment. Just like you take your car regularly to your mechanic for maintenance, you need to give your business equipment the same kind of attention. Most machines should be examined at least once a year by an expert to make sure they are running smoothly. This significantly reduces the chances of things breaking down in the middle of work or worse, injuring a worker. Apart from having an employee injured, you’d also be liable for a lawsuit, though nothing can be compared to harming a human being under your supervision.
Regular cleaning
Just like you need to clean your home (or have someone else do it for you), all the tools and equipment used by your employees need to be cleaned regularly, using the right methods. Again, every manual will give you instructions on how it should be done. Clean tools and equipment will perform better and be less likely to experience failure. Also, don’t forget that you need much less time to clean something than to repair the damage that might occur as a result of failing to clean tools and machines regularly.
Allow only trained staff to operate machinery
Even if you buy the latest, most expensive and best equipment in the world, you won’t be able to make the most of it unless those dealing with it don’t know how to handle it properly. This is one of the great challenges for everyone, especially new entrepreneurs. That’s why you need to train your employees and appoint a supervisor to keep everything in check and help workers maintain equipment properly. Machines often malfunction due to human error and you should minimize that risk by training and supervising your employees.
The amount of effort needed to keep equipment in top shape varies, but it’s definitely much easier and less expensive to invest in prevention than deal with potentially dire consequences. Being careful and responsible will go a long way towards ensuring a stable production process, which is necessary for any thriving company.