Industrial machinery may be heavy-duty, but it also requires some level of care. Its adequate maintenance is crucial to the amount of time it’ll offer good service. If poorly maintained, the efficiency of the equipment reduces drastically. It’ll break down often and it can also become a grave safety hazard. However, with proper maintenance, it’s possible to keep the machinery in good condition for longer. 

Below are some tips and tricks that can help extend the lifespan of industrial machinery, reducing the frequency of machine breakdown and downtime:

1. Ensure Proper Operator Training

Machines don’t work on their own, and what operators do would determine how well a machine will work and for how long. If an operator isn’t properly trained to handle the machinery, they won’t maintain it well. One of the ways to keep used process equipment & industrial machinery in good shape for longer is to train the users. Industrial machines are also operated by multiple operators, and training ensures all operators can handle the machinery in a standard way. This eliminates human errors that lead to machine breakdown.

Providing extensive training ensures the machines run properly for longer. In addition, it ensures employees are also safe from injuries that may arise from improper machine handling. Workers’ skills need refreshing from time to time to keep up with standards and ensure that everyone’s on the same page. Besides, technology upgrades and updates can cause changes in the operation of the machinery. 

Operator training is also beneficial to new employees so they’d smoothly transition with their tasks. Operator manuals should also change with any technology upgrades and be written in a simple language anyone can understand.

2. Carry Out Preventive Maintenance

Industrial machines are usually subjected to extreme temperatures, friction, vibration, and shock. All these issues and many others can cause fast wear and tear as well as the eventual breakdown of the machinery. With time, belts start warping and breaking, bolts loosen, and seals crack, causing faster aging of the industrial machinery. 

The best way to ensure the machinery has an extended lifespan is by doing a regular inspection for signs of wear and tear. In this way, technicians can identify the parts that need to be replaced before they cause a machinery breakdown and business loss. With preventive maintenance, chances of the machinery breaking down or a part causing damage to other components is significantly reduced.

3. Check For Any Defective Parts

It’s usually easy to assume all is well because the machinery worked perfectly in the previous shift. But before the start of every workday, a check is necessary to see if the machine has any defective parts whatsoever. For instance, checking for parts that seem misaligned or disconnected from the rest of the equipment could ensure proper performance. Faulty parts are dangerous, which can lead to industrial fire accidents and other incidents that can cost a business a huge amount of money.

4. Apply Proper Lubrication

Industrial equipment usually has moving parts such as conveyor belts and rollers. The constant movement makes them more prone to damages, so proper lubrication is crucial. Lubricating moving parts ensures they have the right amount of fluid that helps slow down the wear and tear process. When lubricating parts, the maintenance team should be on the lookout for signs of excess grease buildup.

The type of lubricant used also plays a part in ensuring proper lubrication. The appropriate lubricant should be used on the machinery for effectiveness. 

5. Clean Machinery Regularly

Industrial machinery suffers buildup of debris and dirt, which is expected. However, this doesn’t mean it should be left to stay that way since these elements can destroy seals or clog air filters. If it gets to the gears, it inhibits the moving parts and functions of the equipment. This can lead to untimely machine breakdown, lost work hours and business, and unnecessary repair costs. 

Regular and thorough cleaning of air filters and other areas where buildup accumulates ensures the machinery isn’t malfunctioning while helping to extend its life. Also, the entire environment where the machinery is stored needs to be clean and dry to prevent rusting of parts. 

6. Keep A Maintenance Schedule

Just like a vehicle, industrial machinery has parts that need a routine inspection to keep them running as they should. It’s essential that a business keeps a maintenance schedule regarding what needs to be checked and for how long. A schedule ensures no necessary checks are missed. Proper maintenance of parts is essential for the prolonged life of industrial equipment. The simplest way is by training operators to create a maintenance schedule. 

Although employees keep the schedule, the more thorough maintenance should be left to professionals. Every service carried out on a machine should be recorded, and a date for the next check should be clearly indicated. Lack of keeping up with scheduled maintenance on all the necessary parts is detrimental to the life of the machinery.  

7. Avoid Overworking The Machinery

Sometimes, there can be pressure to complete tasks and fulfill client orders on time, but using the machinery beyond its limits can reduce its lifespan. Every machine has its production capacity, and that shouldn’t be exceeded. Always ensure it’s not being overworked by forcing it to outperform its capacity. This is a quick way to hasten the wear and tear of essential parts, reducing the machinery’s durability in the long run.

You need to observe the manufacturer’s specifications strictly on production capacity and intended processes. Forcing a machine to perform unintended functions will lead to its imminent breakdown sooner than later. 

Bottom Line

Industrial machinery needs tender care to give quality and effective services. When the machine breaks down, processes are brought to a halt, which means loss of business and unplanned expenses in repairs. 

Proper machinery maintenance reduces frequent breakdowns and extends its life. Even though maintenance checks can be done in-house, they shouldn’t replace the professional routine inspections whether they’re done monthly or annually. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you utilize your industrial equipment appropriately.

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