Maintaining machinery involves significant costs in both time and money. To stay competitive and secure a positive ROI, it is vital to consider technological advancements and management strategies that minimize maintenance needs and downtime.
The primary causes of unplanned downtime include aging assets, mechanical failures, operator errors, insufficient maintenance time, and poor design. One effective solution is installing components requiring minimal maintenance, such as ultrasonic clamp-on meters, which are virtually maintenance-free.
Adopting a comprehensive preventive maintenance (PM) routine can also enhance ROI. This approach, based on a predetermined schedule, identifies and addresses potential issues before they cause disruptions, thus reducing downtime, extending equipment lifespan, and increasing resale value. However, it can also add to ownership costs.
Predictive maintenance (PdM), using analytics tools and specialized software, offers another promising solution. By monitoring real-time asset conditions with sensors, PdM enables maintenance only when necessary, providing significant cost savings over routine preventive maintenance.
Managing maintenance effectively is a significant challenge, but using the right tools, embracing new technologies, and upgrading to low-maintenance components can improve the performance and longevity of equipment.
For further details on industrial maintenance strategies, please refer to the accompanying resource.
Low- Or No-Maintenance Industrial Machinery was provided by Emerson
