Reducing Downtime for your Equipment

Heavy construction and mining equipment are costly to buy and run but even more expensive when it’s not operational. Companies need to keep downtime to the absolute minimum to gain the best return on their equipment. But how can you best manage and even prevent equipment downtime?

Maintenance is Crucial

Don’t be tempted to skimp on maintenance. When you are busy and you need every piece of machinery working at full capacity, it’s tempting to put off routine maintenance for another month or so. While maintenance is downtime, it’s crucial for avoiding longer periods of due to breakdown.

Know the OEM’s recommended service and maintenance schedule for each piece of equipment you own. Keeping a spreadsheet with due dates will ensure you know well in advance what is coming up so you can plan for the time you won’t have access to your machinery.

Keep an Eye on the Hours

As well as being informed of upcoming service and maintenance, it’s important to keep track of active usage. Parts are designed to last a set number of hours, so if you know your pump is coming up to its expected life, you can start making plans for its replacement and the downtime associated with this.

Parts in Stock

Don’t wait for your equipment to break down before thinking about how you will organise its repair. You should know in advance which repairer you will use and whether they usually carry your parts and components in stock. Keep a note on file who your repairer is, how to order new parts or book in your equipment. Speaking to your chosen repairer in advance will allow you to find out how long it usually takes for parts to arrive, repairs to be carried out and freight to you. If you know you will need a new part soon, your repairer may even order it in advance so you can reduce the wait time.

Some repairers offer service exchange so there is minimal disruption to your operation. If this is important to you, look for a repairer in advance that provides this service.

Be Vigilant for Changes in Equipment

Most equipment will give you a sign that they are about to break down. But when you are using a piece of equipment day in day out, it’s easy to miss these subtle changes. Let operators know when a piece of equipment is coming close to its hours and ask them to be on the lookout for any changes. Some of these changes might include:

• Engine is harder to start
• Equipment makes a different running noise
• Not as fuel efficient
• Performance has dropped off

Having an idea that a breakdown or end of a part’s life is imminent can mean the difference between being prepared for the downtime and not. Preparation is the key to reducing downtime.

Hydraulic equipment services:  

Looking after your hydraulic system can be a bit daunting. We highly recommend you speak to an expert or an agency who can provide you with more solutions on reducing downtime for your hydraulic equipment which is cost-effective and efficient.