Machinery Maintenance: The Knack Of Preserving Company Equipment

Lots of businesses don’t have in-house equipment because they outsource. Although outsourcing is popular, it doesn’t mean manufacturing is dead. If you are one of the few companies which produce goods, congratulations on staying strong. However, resisting the urge to hire an external expert is difficult when the machinery isn’t on point. As soon as it starts to fail, the idea of outsourcing is more appealing. So, maintaining machinery is essential if you want to keep manufacturing in-house.

Here, then, are the factors to keep in mind regarding machinery maintenance.

Add/Test Lubricants

One basic way to keep a piece of equipment functioning is to add or test the lubricant levels. Oil, for example, stops the parts from rubbing together, which reduces the impact of wear and tear. A simple lubricant such as WD-40 is usually enough to grease the components and prevent metal coming in contact with metal. Before you fill the machine with oil or WD-40, make sure it needs it first. Use the dipstick to test the levels and add more if they look low. If they are high or normal, there is a bigger issue to address.

Remove Water

It sounds counterproductive considering the last paragraph just sang the praises of lubricants. Doesn’t water fall into that category? Yes, it does, but H2O also has other components which make it potentially dangerous. In simple terms, the vapor from the water can get into parts of the machine which need to stay dry. Unfortunately, once the steam is inside, it’s almost impossible to get out. The key is to remove the moisture from the air with a compressed air dryer. Then, there is no reason to worry about any stray H2O ruining the insides of your tools.

Listen

When something is wrong, a machine will show telltale signs of damage. Well, it won’t show it but rather it will make weird sounds. Usually, they are impossible to miss and sound very bad. In that case, it’s easy to take the device apart or call an expert. The subtle sounds are the ones to listen out for, however. For the most part, the noises don’t seem damaging, which means it’s tempting to ignore them altogether. However, even a low sound can escalate into a massive problem in the future. It’s best to tackle the problem head-on now than to deal with a bigger one in six months’ time.

Check Them Regularly

Just because machines don’t show any signs of damage doesn’t mean they are okay. Sometimes, a problem can occur out of the blue without any signal whatsoever. But, by keeping tabs on the appliance, it is possible to spot issues before they happen. Then, you can make the repairs without having to break the bank and spend a fortune. To do this, you should schedule regular check-ups every half a year. If you prefer, it can be sooner, but six months is the accepted timeframe.

This is helpful, especially if you work in land clearing and grubbing. The large scale equipment used to clear rocks, trees, and shrubbery is important to maintain because if machinery breaks down in the middle of clearing, you will be left with land that could flood or cause damage to surrounding buildings if the land is not cleared quickly and on schedule. 

When it comes to maintaining machines, the tips above are invaluable.