7 Maintenance Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Aggregate Processing Equipment

Processing equipment is the backbone of your business and requires constant maintenance to keep it in good working order. Unplanned downtime comes with a sizeable financial impact, and when margins are tight, no company wants to lose even a few hours on an unplanned outage.

The following tips will help you maximize equipment effectiveness.

1. Equipment upkeep needs to be on time—Each asset is an essential piece of your business operation. They are used to doing the heavy work and need regular attention. Even a small issue can create a much larger problem if not addressed on time.
2. Efficient asset management is critical—Lose the pen and paper. Develop a plan to manage your assets more efficiently. Software can help you find any document within minutes.
3. Operator training should be a priority—Many types of large equipment can have any number of employees working on them at any one time. Employees also come and go, creating a gap in when the last updated training was done. When this happens, skills can become rusty and poor operation can lead to breakdowns. Training your employees is the best way to ensure your equipment works within it’s operating limits.
4. Always check for signs of wear—Abrasion, fatigue, and vibration during daily use can all contribute to the wear and tear of your machinery. Quickly performing the necessary replacement of any worn parts will ensure the safety of your employees and the uptime of the equipment.
5. Avoid exceeding performance specifications—All equipment comes with a list of limitations. These can include limits such as maximum load capacity, a defined range of operating pressure and temperature limits, and many others that need to be followed. Exceeding the performance specifications will lead to an increase in wear and tear, along with reduced longevity. Make sure to check the operator’s manual to thoroughly understand each machine’s limitations and abide by them.
6. Document all preventive maintenance and servicing—Documentation is crucial for any business. Regular maintenance checks ranging from lubricants to electrical systems can be a complicated process that needs to be recorded with date, times, and technical specifications of the service. Keeping good records will make it easier to predict needed maintenance and to process any warranty claims.
7. Listen to your operators—Your equipment operators are a great source of information. Listen to them. They are using your equipment on a daily basis. Daily operators get a “feel” for the machine. They have a sense when something is not just right, and they will tell you. Listening to them and appreciating the value they can offer should be an important part of your maintenance strategy. 

Purchasing processing equipment is a significant investment. It is often times the determination of the quality of the final product that you sell. To keep these assets in the best shape and to avoid equipment failure, the above maintenance and management tips can be very useful.