Not every tool and equipment business has an equipment maintenance plan in place – but they should!
Whether you’re a large business or small, this plan is essentially a to-do list for keeping your equipment in good condition and ready for use.
This drives efficiency by reducing unexpected equipment breakages and extending equipment life.
It also means that equipment is safe to use.
So, how do you go about creating a plan?
In this article...
1. Choose an Employee Who Will Be Responsible for Setting up the Maintenance Plan
Your employee should be a person who has experience operating and maintaining your equipment.
Without that expertise, they will find it difficult to create the plan and manage the maintenance tasks effectively.
2. Your Employee Should Create an Inventory of All Your Equipment
This should include the Make, Model, Manufacturer, Serial Number, and Date of Purchase of the equipment.
They should also add any Warranties or Service Plans that come with the equipment, too.
3. The Equipment Manufacturer’s Recommended Maintenance Schedules Should Then Be Identified and Scheduled
Sometimes, a manufacturer will downplay the need for maintenance in order to achieve a sale.
If the manufacturer’s recommendations seem incomplete, more frequent schedules can be adopted.
4. Then Allocate the Maintenance Tasks
Determine which team member will complete a task, and what tasks need to be assigned to another firm or contractor.
These tasks can be entered into your maintenance management software like GoCodes, so that tasks are automatically assigned and reminders sent out if they become overdue.
5. Each Person Assigned a Task Should Create a Detailed Service Record
This should include the type of servicing that’s been completed, when it was completed, and when it should be undertaken in the future.
This information should be saved into the maintenance management software.
If the business doesn’t have this software, the paper records should be given to the employee in charge to file.
6. When the Maintenance Plan Is in Place, Monthly Checks and Audits Should Be Carried Out to Ensure That the Plan Is Being Followed
This way your equipment stays in optimal condition and is safe to operate.
When everyone follows through on the maintenance plan not only will equipment work well but workplace accidents and injuries will be limited too – and that’s a win for everyone.
