Like all machinery and vehicles, heavy equipment needs to be maintained properly. Equipment can undergo a great deal of wear and tear, which shortens its lifespan. Keeping up with a rigorous preventative equipment maintenance schedule is the best way to protect your investments, avoid downtime and protect yourself and workers from injury.
Here’s an overview of how to care for your equipment:
- Understand why machinery breaks down: The best way to prevent equipment malfunctions and excessive wear and tear is to understand how it can happen. When you learn why your specific equipment can break down, you’ll have a better idea of how to prevent it. Think of it like vehicle oil changes: you might know you’re supposed to change the oil every 5,000 miles or so, but it’s more impactful when you realize failing to do so can cause expensive engine damage. Research common problems with your specific equipment, so you’ll know what to look for.
- Create a preventative maintenance schedule: Next, you’ll want to create a preventative equipment maintenance schedule. Your knowledge of common equipment problems will help you decide which areas to target during which intervals. Your owner’s manual will come in handy during this time. Check to see which maintenance tasks are recommended at which intervals—then plan to stick to them.
- Learn how your equipment works: Your next goal is to understand how the machinery or equipment works. Learn how to safely operate the equipment and how each feature performs.
- Train employees in use and maintenance: Now that you know how to safely operate your equipment, you can train (or hire experts to train) your employees. Go over safety practices (including required safety gear), operation and preventative maintenance tasks they may be responsible for performing. It’s also helpful for them to understand the signs of imminent malfunction.
- Keep detailed maintenance lists: Once you have an equipment maintenance schedule, remember to thoroughly document your service history. This goes for any maintenance you, your staff or equipment contractors perform. Not only will this ensure your equipment is well cared for, but it will be helpful if an issue with the warranty arises. The more documentation, the better.
- Stick to factory recommended maintenance schedules: Finally, make sure you stick to factory maintenance schedules. It’s one thing to create a schedule, and another to make sure it’s carried out on a regular basis. Again, this will ensure you’re protected under warranty. It will also help preserve your equipment’s lifespan and longevity, which saves you money and time over the long run.
Understanding how to care for your equipment is just a matter of understanding the machinery, following guidelines, sticking to the schedule and documenting it appropriately. The time you take to plan at the outset will be well worth the effort. Best of all, the better your equipment is maintained, the more resale value is preserved.
When you need to purchase equipment, make sure to visit or call Central Equipment Company. We specialize in equipment rental and sales for businesses and consumers alike.