Preventative maintenance is essential to any manufacturing or distribution facility, whether it be for industrial operations or material handling systems. Material handling systems involve numerous moving parts that easily get stopped up, worn down, or damaged without the proper care. If your business relies on material handling systems for moving parts or products throughout the facility, preventative maintenance is absolutely necessary!
Five Benefits of Preventative Maintenance for Material Handling Systems
Incorporating preventative maintenance into your facility’s workflow will inevitably result in time and cost savings, giving your machinery greater longevity and efficiency! Here are five benefits of regular preventative maintenance for your material handling systems:
1. Extend Equipment Lifespan
Any piece of machinery or equipment will last longer if it is well-maintained, including material handling equipment. If you have an engineered system rated to last from 30-50 years, preventative maintenance will ensure you get the full 50 years out of your equipment, and possibly even more! Furthermore, your equipment will run more efficiently when kept cleaned, lubricated, and maintained.
2. Catch Problems Before Breakdowns
From clogged conveyor belts to loose screws on shelving, preventative maintenance has one ultimate goal in mind: prevention! The smallest of issues can lead to significant breakdowns if left unchecked for too long. Preventative maintenance reduces mechanical issues throughout your material handling process, identifying these minor issues before they turn into major emergencies.
3. Reduce Downtime and Expenses
If your material handling systems are not receiving regular preventative maintenance, they will be more prone to unexpected failures. Sudden breakdowns are more expensive, can cause additional costly issues with your system as a whole, and will cause unexpected downtime until the problems can be addressed. When you schedule preventative maintenance, you get to control the downtime rather than letting it control you, and your business will save a lot of money on emergency repairs!
4. Ensure Warranty and Regulatory Compliance
Many industries have specific standards that need to be adhered to for safe, compliant operations. Preventative maintenance ensures that your material handling systems are always operating according to industry standards.
If your material handling equipment is covered by a warranty, preventative maintenance increases the chances of your warranty covering unexpected repairs and replacements. Some warranties may even cover the preventative maintenance!
5. Improve Safety
There’s a reason preventative maintenance is often required for safety compliance: unexpected equipment failures can create dangerous situations for your employees. Material handling systems kept in good repair are safer to operate since they are less likely to break down and create hazards in the workplace.
Types of Preventative Maintenance for Material Handling Systems
Preventative maintenance tasks may vary depending on the specific material handling equipment in question. But generally, this involves inspection, cleaning, and minor repairs. Here are some of the maintenance tasks you can expect when hiring professionals like Mathews Mechanical for preventative maintenance for your material handling systems:
Monitoring and Assessment
The first thing we will do when performing preventative maintenance is monitor the equipment during operation. This allows us to pinpoint potential problem areas and identify inefficiencies in the material handling process. We will test all equipment operations, making sure every button and lever and gauge is working as it should.
Cleaning and Lubrication
Material handling systems involve a lot of moving parts, and friction between these parts can cause significant wear over time. This is why regular lubrication is vital to preventative maintenance for material handling systems. Equipment is always thoroughly cleaned before lubrication to ensure no build-up occurs that could stall production.
Routine Maintenance
In addition to inspection, cleaning, and lubrication comes…everything else! Preventative maintenance can vary every time it occurs, depending on the state of the equipment. Filters may need to be replaced, bolts tightened, and fluid levels adjusted. Some parts may wear down over time and require replacement or repairs. A holistic assessment takes place at the start of the initial inspection, so your equipment is always left in pristine working condition.
Professional Preventative Maintenance for Your Material Handling Systems
At Mathews Mechanical, our expert technicians are well-versed in all kinds of material handling systems, from cranes and lifts to conveyor systems and reclaimers! Our material handling systems solutions and preventative maintenance will give you the peace of mind knowing that your equipment is in the best condition it can be, and if emergencies ever do occur, we are available 24/7 to come and take care of it as quickly as possible!
You handle the materials, and let us handle the maintenance. Contact Mathews Mechanical to learn more.
