Treat your Heavy Equipment right with quality lubricants and preventative maintenance.
When it comes to heavy machinery and the industries that use them, it is fair to say that time really is money. One unexpected breakdown can quickly become a big problem for project timelines and ultimately the bottom line. With one of the leading contributors to increased and unexpected project costs being attributed to poor equipment productivity due to maintenance issues and downtown, it really pays to focus on being proactive with your maintenance schedule rather than reactive when it comes to heavy equipment.
Why is preventative maintenance always the better choice?
Implementing and adhering to a preventative maintenance programme for each piece of machinery is one of the simplest and most effective ways to enhance heavy equipment productivity, minimise downtime, and increase income.
The vast majority of equipment failures occur at random. The trouble with random bouts of downtime is that they generally have long term knock-on effects on productivity and ultimately project costs. By implementing regular and consistent inspections on all equipment and ensuring required maintenance is completed, the chances of having issues or a breakdown before it receives attention are dramatically lowered. Less unexpected interruptions in productivity lead to healthier project timelines and budgets.
What should be included in scheduled maintenance?
The specific maintenance jobs that need to be undertaken will depend on the vehicle and the recommendations of the original equipment manufacturer. That being said, most heavy equipment have engines that require similar inspections.
The main areas to focus on here would include the following:
Ensuring that you use only top quality products when it comes to engine oil and lubricants. While this may seem like a small piece of the puzzle, cutting corners on quality or choosing the wrong engine oil can lead to more significant problems and costlier repairs, as well as more downtime and poorer production in the future. At Oil & Energy, we pride ourselves on ensuring the right choice is made when it comes to oil and lubricants for heavy equipment.
Alongside oil and lubricants, fluid levels are also an important factor to include in any scheduled maintenance plan. Checking transmission, coolant, brake, fuel and other fluid levels gives you great insight into the overall health of your equipment.
Lastly, looking at the overall function and visual appearance of the equipment will allow you to better ensure the equipment is functioning just as it should. Spending some time cleaning equipment regularly and performing operational testing often ensures that heavy equipment continues to run smoothly.
What are the main benefits of preventative maintenance?
Cost savings: The improved productivity and reduced downtime of properly maintained vehicles is an obvious draw from a cost-efficiency perspective.
Improved worksite safety: When equipment is properly and regularly maintained, worksite safety is much more assured. With safety mechanisms and machinery working smoothly, injuries on the job become less likely.
Time-saving: Having to stop work due to equipment malfunction or failure can cause tremendous delays to projects.
Coverage: In some instances, equipment warranties and insurance providers may void policies should basic maintenance be neglected.
Won’t preventative maintenance cost money?
While some consider regular preventative maintenance to be time-consuming and disruptive, the proof really is visible in the numbers. A regularly maintained fleet of equipment is more dependable, with fewer random delays to swallow into your project timeline and budget. Equipment that is ignored or improperly maintained will have more malfunctions, downtime, and ultimately a shorter lifespan.
The benefit of scheduled maintenance is that it is just that, scheduled. While preventative maintenance will take equipment out of action for a short time, it is something that can be done in a strategically planned manner. By evaluating project needs ahead of time, a maintenance plan can be developed that allows for each piece of equipment to be ready to go and in the best shape when it is needed.
When looking at the bigger picture, it is easy to see that proactive maintenance shouldn’t be viewed as a nuisance, but rather as an investment. An investment in efficiency, safety and productivity that delivers a long-serving return on investment when it comes to heavy machinery.
If you’re looking for a partner to consult on your scheduled maintenance needs, look no further. At Oil & Energy, we confidently provide ongoing support and advice when it comes to choosing the right lubricants and oils for any vehicle.
Get in touch today to make sure your fleet is in good working order, and working all the time.
