Equipment maintenance is a broad term used to describe the various processes that are employed to keep equipment in proper working order. The idea behind any maintenance program is to ensure that the items are in compliance with any safety regulations that may apply, as well as remain capable of producing the desired output. Maintenance of this type is ongoing, and is related to such a number of business settings, including manufacturing plants and administrative offices.
The exact steps used in any equipment maintenance plan will vary, depending on the type of equipment involved. In some cases, the maintenance schedule is simple and may require nothing more than periodic checks of filters or other removable components, coupled with more comprehensive checks of key components at specific points throughout the year. At other times, the maintenance process may require daily inspection of certain components as a means of identifying potential issues before they can have any type of serious impact on productivity.
With plant equipment maintenance, the process is often a combination of specific maintenance tasks that are required as part of a governmental compliance with safety and environmental laws, as well as any inspection and equipment repair protocols implemented by the business that are above and beyond those minimum governmental requirements. It is not unusual for equipment maintenance in a plant setting to involve weekly or even daily checks on different types of machinery, especially machines that are directly associated with the product of goods offered for sale by the business. Typically, those checks focus on checking components for signs of unusual wear and tear, as well as making sure that any lubrication or other fluids used by the machines are maintained at proper levels.
Should the equipment maintenance checks uncover any potential issues, qualified professionals employed by the business take steps to correct any issues that could cause the machinery to either turn out damaged goods or fail completely. In situations where the issues are somewhat complex, the company may choose to involve outside support as a means of resolving the potential problems. Many businesses that build equipment for use in manufacturing plants maintain a staff of professionals who are available to assist their clients with complex repairs, usually in exchange for some type of service fee. For the most part, a properly structured preventive maintenance program will minimize the possibility of requiring outside support, and allow businesses to handle equipment issues in house with relatively few problems.
By Malcolm Tatum