What is Heavy Equipment Maintenance?
Heavy equipment maintenance refers to the specific processes and tasks required to keep larger equipment in good shape. Heavy machines like combines and excavators handle tough tasks in harsh conditions, so without proper heavy equipment maintenance, they’re more likely to break down. This can lead to repairs that cost a fortune and cause major project delays. Regular maintenance maximizes your equipment’s uptime, boosts your ROI, and ensures your work stays high in quality.
The Value of Preventive Maintenance
Safety is a top priority when working with heavy machines, and proper equipment maintenance helps prevent accidents and other workplace hazards. Research shows that in 2021, there were 705 fatalities and 196,140 injuries related to heavy machinery in the US, with approximately 1 in 10 construction workers injured on the job. Therefore, the importance of preventive maintenance lies in doing your due diligence of maintenance checks before accidents occur.
Another issue with poorly maintained equipment is the cost. In the construction industry, repair costs can range from $500 to $5,000, while major repairs may go up to as high as $30,000. If the damage is too severe, you might even need to replace the entire piece of equipment. This doesn’t even account for the money lost from potentially delaying your project or resorting to cheaper equipment, which can lead to lower-quality results. That’s why proper preventive maintenance is so important—it can even cut your machinery repair bills by up to 25%.
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Common Heavy Equipment Maintenance Guidelines
Maintenance checks are more than just putting a little grease on the gears. You need to follow a set of guidelines to identify potential problems and ensure that all parts are properly maintained.
Here are some heavy equipment maintenance tips to follow:
- Perform Regular Equipment Inspections – When doing heavy equipment maintenance inspections, you need to be thorough and know your equipment inside and out.Keep in mind that different machine types require specific checks based on their usage.
- Record Your Logs – A common mistake that’s easy to prevent is incorrect and inefficient record management practices. Make sure to keep a record of all your different kinds of maintenance logs like warranties, equipment history, operational logs, and audits in an easily accessible place like the cloud for convenience in case of sudden emergencies and issues.
- Keep Spare Parts Nearby – Not every equipment failure means a full repair; sometimes, it might just be a small part that can easily be replaced. That’s why keeping spare parts on hand at your workplace is key, as doing so helps save up on costs, time, and valuable downtime.
- Train Your Staff – As the ones regularly exposed to heavy equipment, operators not only need to know how to properly use heavy equipment, but they must also know how to inspect and fix it. Training should be provided to operators of all ranks to ensure they stay aware of what to do in case of an emergency or accident.
- Know The Safety Protocols – Having safety procedures in place is crucial when working with heavy equipment. Daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance routines should be followed, along with the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance downtime and schedule.
By following these simple guidelines, accident prevention and machine safety will be standard procedure, creating a much safer environment for everyone.
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How Technology Can Improve Heavy Equipment Maintenance
Technology is transforming all industries, including equipment manufacturing. Contractors are now using heavy equipment technologies such as maintenance software, remote-controlled machinery, drones, 3D printing, and virtual reality. These innovations are revolutionizing the industry by streamlining the systems, reducing machine risk, and cutting unnecessary costs.
When it comes to equipment inspections or recording logs, a digital checklist can work wonders. It helps you stay organized and track parts and equipment without all the hassle of paperwork. Digital solutions like SafetyCulture also offer training courses on equipment and manufacturing, which can be shared across the organization for consistency and efficiency.
Industrial sensors and QR codes can speed up maintenance by ensuring everything stays up-to-date. Vibration sensors can detect equipment issues, while temperature sensors adjust the machine’s temperature to prevent overheating. QR codes also allow inspection data to be shared across the company instantly, keeping everyone informed in real-time.
Rafael Villamor
