Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/662812
EquipmentWorld.com | April 2016 35 • EEM. Early Equipment Management deals with the proper selection and design of new equipment and facilities to minimize lifecycle costs. • Equipment ranking. Not all equipment is of equal value, so when planning the order of main- tenance activities, this must be considered. Equip- ment is sorted and classed by its impact or risk lev- el to the organization. For instance, a paver would have a higher classification than a light tower. • Key Performance Indicators are metrics or measures that reflect how well you are doing, iden- tify what areas require improvement, and measure the impact of those efforts. The adage is, "What gets measured gets done." • Vendor control. Often overlooked, vendors can become a weak link in your maintenance processes. By rating them on performance, deliv- ery, customer service, quality and pricing, you can improve results and sometimes lower costs. In your scorecards, also figure in any innovations or unique services they bring to the table. "If they are defi- cient in some areas, set them up on a corrective ac- tion plan so they can get back in line," says Ingalls. Also, set up a process for evaluating and vetting new vendors. • Inventory control. Having the right part at the right time is key to efficient maintenance. "But, inventory control also means not keeping one of everything – because you can't afford it," Ingalls says. "In this country, it costs about 30 percent of the value of that inventory to keep that inventory in a manned storeroom, and 16 to 20 percent in an unmanned storeroom. So, to keep $100,000 in inventory, it's going to cost your company about $16,000 to $30,000 in storage costs, theft, pilferage, obsolescence, utilities, personnel and taxes." • Precision maintenance is simply the art of making sure each of your machines is in tiptop shape. Make sure your truck frames are aligned so you're not constantly scuffing the tires. Tighten the fittings on buckets and booms so that the digging arms on your excavators aren't rattling and causing operators to slow down. Make sure the tracks on crawlers are correctly tensioned to prevent slip- pages and reduced power to ground. Replace worn fasteners. Also, align pumps in plants. • Lubrication excellence. No one thing can do more to extend the life of your engines and save money than to have a good oil analysis and lubrica- tion program.