Time is money when it comes to your business, and your equipment is essential for project success. When equipment fails, it leads to expensive downtime and delayed projects. If you wait until your equipment starts to fail to perform maintenance, you sacrifice time, money and machinery.
Maintenance is essential to prolonging equipment life span. Groups that use predictive and preventive maintenance see 52.7% less unplanned downtime than reactive maintenance operations. If you’re looking to maximize your return on investment and use your equipment for years, routine maintenance is crucial.
The Importance of Construction Equipment Maintenance
Regular equipment maintenance can make or break your machines’ life spans. Whether you’re looking for short-term efficiency improvements or long-term results, maintenance can help. Routine machinery care benefits include:
Longer Life Span
One of the main maintenance advantages for your equipment is a longer life span. When machinery is well-maintained, it’s less likely to have issues. Problems with wear and performance lead to increased damage to the machine. Keeping everything in peak condition with maintenance prevents these issues from taking their toll. Investing a little in maintenance goes a long way toward your equipment’s life span.
Reduced Repair Costs
Preventive maintenance catches problems early. When machine issues go unaddressed, they damage the equipment’s function. Wear creates a cycle of increasing damage, leading to expensive repairs once the machine breaks down. Investing in occasional maintenance stops issues from increasing, saving you costs in the long run.
Better Performance
Preventive maintenance can also improve performance. Clean filters and proper lubrication mean less friction and wear, and when cared for, your equipment will function more smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, using maintenance to improve efficiency means faster job completion and lower operational costs. With a little maintenance, you can meet your deadlines and stay under budget.
Increased Safety
Safety is a top priority for any operation. Regularly inspecting and maintaining equipment minimizes malfunctions and breakdowns. With your equipment performing as expected, you’ll see fewer injuries. Checking critical systems like hydraulics, breaks and tires can prevent failures that might cause accidents. Put your team first by setting up a maintenance schedule with a trusted team.
Less Downtime
Unexpected equipment failures bring your project to a hold, increasing project times and costs. Regular maintenance catches issues before they break down. This reliability is essential in an industry with project deadlines and tight budgets. Consistent maintenance routines keep your equipment in top shape, preventing unwanted downtime.
Routine Maintenance Practices
Your equipment works hard in rough conditions. All that wear and tear will lead to a shorter life span without maintenance. You can increase machinery longevity through maintenance. Equipment maintenance protects your machines, boosting productivity and keeping everyone safe. If you’re looking to improve machine longevity through maintenance, here are some practices to follow:
1. Perform Regular Inspections
Routine inspections are the backbone of any maintenance plan. Have a regular inspection plan in place for all your equipment. Look for loose parts, wear, leaks and other issues that could cause problems. If you find anything, address it immediately to prevent more damage. Additionally, keep a record of all your inspections. Having a record on hand lets you see repeat problems — you can adjust your maintenance schedule with the wear on your equipment.
2. Keep Equipment Clean
Equipment constantly works in debris-filled, dirt-prone areas. Any buildup can get into the machine and increase wear and tear. The longer you let buildup sit, the more your equipment performance can be affected. Establish a cleaning schedule to keep dirt, dust and debris from causing problems. Remember to pay special attention to cooling systems, filters and moving parts. These areas are more vulnerable to dirt-related issues.
3. Lubricate as Needed
Many machines have moving parts that need lubricating. Lubrication prevents friction and wear on the equipment’s moving parts. When moving parts lack lubrication, friction increases. Friction reduces efficiency and increases strain on the components. Over time, your equipment will stop working correctly. Use lubricant as directed by your manufacturer to prevent damage and keep everything running smoothly.
4. Watch Fluid Levels
Your equipment contains various fluids. Oil, coolant and hydraulic fluid all play essential roles in your machines. When fluids get low or dirty, they can cause poor performance, overheating and mechanical failures. Check fluid levels regularly and top them up as needed to ensure smooth operation on the job. Make sure to use fluids approved by your manufacturer or equipment expert to prevent more damage.
5. Follow Manufacturer Guidelines
The equipment manufacturer should provide you with information on your equipment. Each machine has a recommended maintenance schedule and procedure. These guidelines are designed to ensure your machine runs smoothly while preventing issues early. Following them ensures you’re using the correct machine parts, schedule and lubricant.
6. Replace Worn Parts
Even the best maintenance can’t prevent wear entirely. Over time, parts fail. When this happens, you need to replace them quickly. Waiting to replace worn parts affects efficiency and performance. Worn parts might even cause more expensive damage to the rest of the components.
Work with a trusted parts dealer to ensure you have access to new and used parts that work with your equipment. An expert team can quickly get you the right parts without sacrificing quality, ensuring a long life for your machine.
Following a Maintenance Schedule
Setting up and following a maintenance schedule is crucial for extending your equipment’s life. If you want to catch issues early and protect your investments, you need a maintenance plan.
Set up a plan for your equipment and operation and stick to it. You need to inspect equipment when it goes out for work and when it completes a job. Incorporate preventive maintenance downtime into your equipment’s routine so you can stop problems from slowing down the job. Additionally, schedule lubrication and filter changes to prevent wear.
At Thompson Machinery, we understand the importance of a consistent maintenance routine. Our expert team offers maintenance services tailored to your equipment’s needs. With our maintenance agreements for Cat® equipment and general maintenance services, you can ensure your equipment gets the care it needs. We provide everything from routine inspections to preventive maintenance for a smoother operation.
Receive Preventive Maintenance From Thompson Machinery
Keep your equipment working for years with Thompson Machinery’s preventive maintenance services. With over 200 trained service personnel and over 50 service vehicles, we can optimize your machine’s performance. We have 11 facilities across Tennessee and Mississippi and a mobile on-site service to meet your maintenance needs on time.
Trust Thompson Machinery to keep your equipment reliable and efficient for its full life span and enjoy all the benefits of regular maintenance. Contact us to schedule your service today!
