Equipment is the backbone of most businesses, but it can only keep things moving forward if you keep it properly maintained. Preventive maintenance can help keep machines running smoothly and prevent downtime, which can damage both productivity and profits.
For companies that don’t already have a preventative maintenance plan in place, here are some tips and tricks to create the ultimate preventative maintenance checklist.
1. Safety
Safety is important in every industry, but it becomes especially important in facilities that handle hazardous chemicals or use dangerous equipment. When developing the safety portion of your checklist, be sure to:
- Inspect personal protection equipment, including safety glasses, gloves, respirators, and other equipment, and replace anything worn or damaged
- Keep all first-aid kits stocked, especially after use
- Check and restock all eyewash stations and bottles
- Inspect, repair, or replace any fall protection kits
Safety should be everyone’s first priority, and maintaining safety equipment is one of the best ways to create a safe working environment.
2. Plumbing
Plumbing problems, depending on where they appear, can lead to expensive repairs and cause lots of damage and bacteria growth, at the very least.
In order to keep your operation’s plumbing running smoothly, it’s crucial to regularly maintain building water systems and remove any chemical buildups.
In addition to keeping your systems cleaned, here are a few other key steps to include in your preventative maintenance checklist:
- Inspection — The plumbing in your building should get professionally inspected at least once a year. This can prevent small problems or outdated plumbing from becoming bigger issues in the future.
- Testing — Water heaters, boilers, and water boosters should all be tested and inspected periodically.
- Sump and sewage pumps — If your building utilizes sump pumps or sewage pumps to reduce flooding, they should get inspected regularly. The last thing anyone wants is to have to deal with a failed sewage pump.
3. Building Interior/Exterior
Both the interior and the exterior of a building should be inspected to prevent small problems from becoming big ones. A comprehensive checklist would take up its own book, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Roof — Inspect the roof of your facility and repair any small problems you find during the inspection. Check drainage, clean the gutters, and remove any plants or debris.
- Walls — Inspect the walls for signs of foundation settling, such as cracks, stuck or sticking doors, and other signs of damage.
- Interior floors — Keep all interior floors free of debris or equipment that could present a safety hazard.
- Exterior floors — Clean up any debris that could create a tripping hazard. Remove any plants growing in exterior sidewalks and against the foundation.
- Miscellaneous interior — Regularly check and change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Test the fire alarm system and any firefighting equipment.
While there is a lot more that goes into maintaining a building’s interior and exterior, these points above are a good place to start.
4. HVAC
In many cases, a building’s HVAC system does more than just keep the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You can also use these systems for ventilation to remove smoke and harmful fumes from the working areas.
Air intakes need to be checked regularly, and air filters need to be changed as needed or on a regular basis, depending on how much dirt or dust gets pulled through the HVAC system.
You also need to check the condensate pan regularly for proper drainage, and the drain tube should be cleaned to prevent clogging and flooding. Ducts should be inspected for leaks as well and repaired as necessary.
HVAC hardware should also be inspected on a regular basis and repaired as needed. These inspections should include electrical connections, pumps, motors, and fans.
5. Pneumatic
Air compressors and pneumatic tools are the backbones of many manufacturing industries. If one or more of your compressors goes down, business can feel the strain immediately. Production can grind to a halt.
Preventative maintenance, however, can keep equipment running smoothly and reduce downtime in the event of an equipment failure. Regular preventative maintenance for a pneumatic system may include:
- Equipment maintenance — Like anything else that uses small engines, an air compressor needs regular oil and air filter changes. Belts can also wear out and cause equipment failure, and if the belt breaks, the whole air compressor will shut down.
- Inspection — Air lines can develop leaks over time, and pressure loss due to leaks can reduce system efficiency.
- Condensate traps — Condensate traps should never be left open, regardless of how humid the environment is. These traps should be inspected for leaks and kept closed whenever possible. If the compressor is set up in a very humid environment, it’s a good idea to install an air dryer in order to reduce or eliminate the need for condensate traps.
- Fittings and gaskets — Connection points are the most vulnerable to air leaks. Inspect connections regularly to ensure that the gaskets or O-rings are intact and secure.
6. Lighting
Lighting is extremely important, allowing workers to see what they’re doing and remain safe on the job. Plus, unmaintained electrical systems can create a fire hazard.
- Wiring — Check all wiring to ensure that there aren’t any exposed wires that could create a shock or fire hazard. Screws and hardware should also stay secure to prevent any exposed wiring.
- Bulbs/Lamps — Any burned-out lamps should be replaced immediately. If a number of bulbs start burning out at the same time, it could indicate a problem with the electrical system in that area.
- Dusting — Dusty lamps generate heat and can create a fire hazard. Create a lamp-dusting schedule, especially if your lamps are placed high up and are difficult to reach without additional equipment.
7. Electrical
Electrical problems can turn into dangerous situations for both your employees and your building.
- Inspect — Wiring, plugs, and other electrical connections should be inspected to check for frayed wires, loose connections, and other problems that could create an electrocution hazard or start a fire.
- Confirm — If you utilize timers or photocells, confirm that they are all working correctly and repair any that are not working as quickly as possible.
- Check — Cover plates should be checked to ensure that they are tightly secured and that there are no cracks, chips, or missing plates.
Save Time and Money
Preventing downtime and keeping equipment running smoothly and efficiently, preventative maintenance can prove a valuable investment. A comprehensive checklist might take some time and effort to implement, but it can save both time and money in the long run.