Equipment is critical to the success of many industries. Regular maintenance has a positive impact on your bottom line. There are a few key tests to ensure that your systems are up to date so operations can continue uninterrupted.
How Recently Was It Replaced?
It is important to avoid unnecessary maintenance costs, especially when you are in an expensive industry. Set a specific cycle of replacement. A common one is to repair new equipment and replace old ones. Old machinery is more likely to repeatedly break down. Newer equipment, by contrast, probably only needs a few small updates here and there. Replacing old machinery eliminates the sunk time and money cost of trying to maintain it.
Is It Still Safe?
Equipment safety is the underlying basis for OSHA compliance. OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration and is housed under the United States Department of Labor. It requires all offices and industries to create a working environment that prevents or reduces hazards for their employees. An OSHA representative does not announce when they will inspect your facility. This is to ensure honesty. OSHA inspectors are also known as compliance safety and health officers. They evaluate your facility on criteria that can include the following: worker complaints, referrals, or a targeted inspection if your industry is highly specialized.
Are You Following the Manufacturer’s Guidance?
Your factory or other facility may have a direct link with the company that produced your equipment. Take advantage of that relationship as you evaluate your machinery. A representative can talk you through the way their products are supposed to work. Manufacturer requirements can also dictate the two above criteria. They can tell you how often to replace their equipment and what safe operating standards are.
Was It Installed Properly?
Production equipment is not something to cut corners with. You want to create something your customers will be satisfied with. That process is compromised if your machinery was not installed correctly or is missing several critical pieces. For example, boiler rooms fuel many factories. A shoddy installation job in that situation can be frustrating at best and dangerous at worst. Professional burner service can help you avoid that problem.
Testing your equipment will get your facility up and running or help it continue operations smoothly. Make these evaluations part of your facility’s regular routine so you don’t run into problems down the road.
