It's not uncommon for managers and owners at manufacturing companies to feel tempted to overlook regular equipment inspections to improve their bottom lines. However, failing to regularly inspect equipment is likely to lead to huge financial setbacks down the road.
If you're foregoing inspections to save time and money at your facility, you're probably overestimating the costs and underestimating the value of equipment inspections. Experienced manufacturers should realize that equipment hardly ever fails without giving signs beforehand. Picking up on these signs can prevent catastrophic equipment failure and save money on repairs and replacement.
The following are four things you should do to create an optimal inspection routine that allows you to achieve the full potential of manufacturing equipment:
- Conduct a risk assessment- If you don't yet have an inspection routine in place or if you want to improve the one you have, you should start with a risk assessment. This risk assessment should analyze the equipment you have and consider any potential problems. Factor in the age of equipment and any common problems that are seen with particular models you're using. Then, factor this information into your inspection routine.
- Put your routine down in writing- You should write down the inspection tasks you wish to carry out regularly in the future. Your inspection routine should include daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly inspection practices that are spaced over time according to their importance and how much time they take out of your workers' schedules.
- Designate which employee(s) should be responsible for inspections- Obviously, you need to have an employee who is familiar with both mechanics and the operations of your equipment to carry out inspections.
- Evaluate your inspection regime over time- After a year has gone by, evaluate your routine by considering any possible equipment failures you've had and how or if they could have been avoided with inspections. Then, make any necessary changes to your inspection routine.
If you're looking for inspection equipment, contact the skilled team at Iridium Manufacturing. From precision machining to various manufacturing equipment, we are your leading source for special equipment manufacturing. Contact us today!