5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Machinery

It goes without saying that if you service a vehicle on a regular basis, it will run safely, efficiently, and last longer. The same holds true for equipment. You can lower costs, boost efficiency, and extend equipment life with regular preventative maintenance. You have made large investments establishing your business. Here are five ways to increase the return on your investment by extending the life of your equipment.

1. Have a schedule to replace parts

For forklifts in particular, tires, starters, and alternators, are some of your most used parts. They are also essential parts that the forklift can’t run without. You never know when a piece of equipment might break down, or overuse could occur on a crucial part. Without a predictive schedule put in place, you may find yourself facing long lead times waiting for essential parts, ultimately halting your business and costing you money. 

Consult the owner’s manual for all your equipment to see when each part is due to be replaced. Each should contain a chart of how often equipment should be checked and replaced. Then, schedule part replacement services with your parts provider before they become necessary.

2. Inspect your assets on a regular basis

Equipment doesn’t usually break down without warning. In addition to regular preventative maintenance, you should inspect equipment on a regular basis to look out for warning signs that it needs work or maintenance. Visually inspecting your assets can help you catch problems before they occur.

A poorly planned maintenance schedule can lead to equipment failure. Simple periodic maintenance like hydraulic oil changes, transmission oil changes, and brake checks can go a long way in extending the life of your equipment. As normal wear and tear leads to your equipment underperforming, you will notice that normal repairs will become increasingly expensive. To ensure that every piece of equipment you have receives the maintenance it needs, before replacements are necessary, find a facilities maintenance partner who can fulfill your maintenance, repair, parts, or rental needs.

3. Take detailed notes about your equipment

Take detailed notes about each and every piece of equipment you have. Information you need includes the age of the machinery, hours of use, previous repairs repairs, warranty information, etc. The more information you have at your disposal, the easier it will be to handle any issues that arise. 

4. Train your operators

One of the most common causes of equipment failure is improper operations. A key part of extending the life of your assets is proper training and management of those who operate the equipment. Even the most skilled operators can lose their edge with time. Revise your operator manual as needed for your specific applications and retrain operators who have not had a refresher in a while.

5. Establish A Maintenance Checklist for Operators

When an operator starts a piece of equipment, there are key steps to be taken to use the equipment correctly. An equipment maintenance checklist can be used to ensure that all tasks necessary to properly operate the equipment are performed. 

Your equipment maintenance checklist tracks mileage/hours, fluids levels, any visible damage, and the performance of the machinery while in use. This is vital information that can aid in the detection of breakdowns before they become costly part replacements. In addition, it can help to track down operator abuse if there is damage to the equipment. By documenting the precise condition of the equipment at both the start and finish of use, a detailed picture of the equipment performance can be obtained.