When regular maintenance is performed on a piece of equipment, it decreases the likelihood of it failing suddenly. Preventative maintenance should be performed when the equipment is still in good working condition. Regular maintenance ensures that your equipment does not break down unexpectedly, stopping production.
Preventative maintenance is the list of actions taken to prevent any sudden failures. It also covers the overall performance of a system. A well-planned preventative strategy should optimize the competence of the communication channels inside and between departments or teams. Your team should also know the difference between corrective maintenance and preventative maintenance.
The goal of a preventative maintenance program is to:
- prevent failures and mishaps,
- minimize the need for corrective maintenance, and
- maintain the standard of quality of the equipment.
Taking these preventative maintenance steps improves the overall reliability and functionality of the equipment.
Predictive Versus Preventative
What is Preventative Maintenance?
Preventative maintenance is always scheduled and performed on machines, even when they are fully functioning and operating correctly. Preventative maintenance is performed to prevent mechanical failures in equipment and devices. Any breakdown or issues that could occur in the future are prevented using this method of maintenance.
The primary purpose of preventative maintenance is to avoid sudden failures in equipment. The beauty of this method is that, over time, preventative maintenance helps with increasing the lifespan of the equipment as well. It also improves the efficiency and productivity of the equipment, making the equipment an asset to the company.
However, preventative maintenance is not as easy as it sounds. This type of maintenance is labor-intensive, but the cost is relatively low. To maintain your equipment correctly and effectively, you need proper maintenance software.
Creating a maintenance plan allows you to make knowledgeable decisions based on different strategies. This will enable you to assess the needs of the equipment. You can then build a schedule and reduce maintenance costs.
What is Predictive Maintenance?
Predictive maintenance is another method of support that is used to keep your equipment up to date. This type of predictive maintenance is referred to as condition-based maintenance. Predictive maintenance differs from preventative maintenance in various ways.
Predictive maintenance is only performed on equipment as needed, and it reduces the maximum amount of downtime. An excellent predictive maintenance program should involve analysis and measurements. The difference in the conditions of equipment should be identified and recorded during the usual cycle. This, in turn, provides the information needed to apply predictive maintenance.
However, predictive maintenance has additional complexities. The maintenance software needs to accommodate scheduling and condition monitoring modules. This makes it more costly than preventative maintenance.
The main difference between preventative and predictive maintenance is, preventative maintenance is based on regular maintenance.
Predictive maintenance, on the other hand, involves analysis and analytics. It reduces labor costs but can be more expensive. Since predictive maintenance is performed as needed, it cuts labor as well as material expenses.
The true benefit of preventative maintenance is that it is less expensive and it gets the job done just as well as predictive maintenance.
Preventative Maintenance Plan
A preventative maintenance plan is necessary for any company looking to safeguard their investment. Before you start looking for the right solution, there are steps you should take to create a reasonable maintenance plan.
1. Have a team of the right people on board
Before you start considering different software, you need to have the right people on your team. The team should include:
- top management,
- technicians,
- managers, and
- staff that understands how the system operates.
You should also include individuals from data processing, accounting, and production. They can provide you with valuable feedback and insight as your business endures different stages of growth.
2. Have a goal for your preventative maintenance plan
Having team input can help you set reasonable goals using different software. A preventative maintenance plan will help you maintain the order of your equipment. You should also train your team members to use the software. They will be able to add information and detail you might not have considered.
3. Keep an inventory of equipment and assets
Keeping an accurate inventory of your equipment and assets can be the best move for making a convenient preventative plan. You should create a list of assets that need to be maintained.
It is important to understand the current condition of your equipment. Creating this list will help you determine which assets and equipment to prioritize. Prioritizing is much easier to do if you’re using excellent preventative maintenance software.
4. Find an excellent preventative software program
Finding a reliable preventative software program is a must, and this step should not be skipped.
This type of maintenance program helps keep your equipment efficient and reduces operating costs. When you’re trying to find the best preventative software program, determine if you have a structure to support it and the kind of reports you expect from the software.
In short, preventative maintenance software helps you understand the needs of your business.
5. Have trained staff
The best maintenance software is useless without the right people managing the systems. Machine operators should know the daily maintenance routine and proper procedures for the equipment. These operators should be trained in maintenance repair, service, and clean-ups. You should consider helping these professional individuals understand the software you plan to incorporate in your company.
Conclusion
Preventative maintenance has many benefits, including decreasing your downtime and increasing the lifespan of your equipment. In the construction industry, the need to keep up with the support of your machinery and assets is imperative. Using reliable maintenance software gives you peace of mind and helps you complete a variety of operations using accurate information. This precise data can be used to help you implement a well-planned preventative maintenance strategy.
An organized, transparent system can be beneficial in increasing morale and efficiency among your equipment and staff. To help you achieve your company’s goals, at Field Eagle, we use amazing, innovative software. Our software is designed to help your business with preventative and audit solutions for your equipment. Contact us today to become more familiar with our inspection software solutions and receive your free trial.
