Every manufacturer knows that efficiency and quality are two of the most important aspects of success. For processes to run efficiently and businesses to create high-quality products, you need to take care of your machinery and equipment. Minutes of downtime can cost thousands of dollars and broken or inoperable machinery can quickly become disastrous. So, what can manufacturers do to ensure they don&#;t incur a loss in time, money, and product?
One of the most important precautions to take has to deal with cleaning and maintenance. Addressing the wear and tear on machinery means taking care of problems before they arise. Below, we&#;ll delve into the importance of cleaning manufacturing equipment.
It Can Save You Money
As we mentioned, the downtime that comes with repairing inoperable machinery can end up costing you loads of money. However, when you consistently clean the equipment, it can help prevent these machines from breaking. For example, if there&#;s a bunch of gunk or grime in the equipment&#;s gears or bolts, this can cause multiple problems that will lead to expensive repairs. But, if users clean the equipment properly&#;and consistently&#;then they can minimize the risk of pieces faltering.
Though it might take you a bit to sort through what sort of cleaning equipment will work best for your machines, it will save you money in the long-run. For example, there are several differences between sand-blasting or shot-blasting machines, and as such, you&#;ll need to research what products and techniques are best for your type of equipment. Once you determine what you need, moving forward, you won&#;t have to worry about spending extra money on inevitable repairs or cleaning services.
It&#;s Safer
Once you decide which cleaning techniques to use, you can implement regular cleaning practices, making your machines safer to use. A machine cleaned with the right products and methods will help ensure fewer machinery parts break, which oftentimes means fewer instances of injury.
Think of it this way&#;you feel much more comfortable using something that&#;s new and well-cared than you would if you used something old and rusted. The same goes for your employees&#;make sure they&#;re trained to recognize when a machine is starting to malfunction. This can help prevent them from becoming injured during operation. Plus, the sooner the problem is caught, the less time and money may be needed to fix the equipment.
It Makes Them More Efficient
Lastly, in tandem with the two points above, regular cleaning makes machinery more efficient. In fact, this is one of the most important reasons to clean manufacturing equipment. In industrial environments, efficiency is often essential to success. When machinery inhibits efficiency, all other areas break down. However, if businesses clean, lubricate, and check-in on their machinery, it ensures success for all.
The more you follow through with standard equipment cleaning processes, the better off your operations will be. It will lead to a safer, more efficient work environment for everyone involved.
You expose your construction equipment to the harshest environments. It accumulates layers of dirt and debris each day. The nature of your work means you can&#;t always keep your machines looking new, but you can keep them clean.
Regularly washing your equipment helps extend the performance and lifespan of your machines and promotes job site safety. Clean machines are also less likely to experience operational failures or accidents caused by obstructed vision or compromised functionality. In addition, keeping your construction equipment clean contributes to your company&#;s image and reputation.
Here are six benefits of keeping up the appearance of your construction equipment.
Construction equipment is often exposed to harsh environmental conditions, including dirt, fine dust, sand and grime as well as corrosive substances. Regular cleaning as directed by the operator&#;s manual will provide several benefits. Corrosion, rust and clogged filters can be avoided by maintaining a clean exterior and interior of your equipment.
Make time at the end of each workday to clean out debris that can contribute to buildup. Removing materials promptly helps prevent damage to components and premature wear.
Clean construction equipment is essential to ensure the safety of you, your operators and others on the construction site.
For example, regularly cleaning equipment surfaces: steps, grab bars and handrails enhances safety by ensuring a solid grip and footing when using three points of contact to enter and exit the cab. Don&#;t forget to wash equipment lights to help increase visibility. DEVELON offers additional lighting kits and rotating beacons for enhanced visibility.
Advanced features work better on cleaned construction equipment, playing an important role in enhancing job site safety. Object detection on DEVELON wheel loaders significantly improves awareness of your work area, especially in machine blind spots. Equipped with sensors, this system emits a sound when the equipment is in danger of colliding with an object. The intensity or frequency of the sound may increase as the machine gets closer to the obstacle.
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These sensors are often complemented with a standard rearview camera that allows you to see what&#;s behind you as you&#;re reversing. Its purpose is to promote safe maneuvering around objects or other people within your line of sight. By pressing a button, you can activate the camera view, which is displayed on the LCD monitor in the cab.
Pro tip: Don&#;t overlook the importance of wearing proper clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE). It can significantly help enhance safety protocols. Hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility vests, gloves and steel-toed boots all help protect against potential risks and injuries.
Cleanliness speaks volumes about your construction company&#;s professionalism and attention to detail. A fleet of clean, well-maintained construction equipment sends a powerful message that your company values quality, safety and reliability. It can set your company apart from competitors.
Pro tip: Take the time to make simple repairs to panels (or replace them if needed) as well as repairing scratches or dents on your machines. It can go a long way toward impressing your customers.
Regular cleaning allows for easier maintenance and inspection of your equipment. Every machine you own should have a maintenance schedule, which you can find in the operation and maintenance manual. Following this schedule is a great way to get the performance you expect from your machines as they age.
If you don&#;t have the manual, ask your dealer for a copy of the maintenance schedule. Your dealer can also help with maintenance and is a good resource for DEVELON genuine parts and service.
MY DEVELON fleet management is offered as a standard feature on most equipment, making it easy for you and your dealer to remotely monitor and maintain your machines. You can see the health, location and productivity of your machine &#; all from a user-friendly mobile app and website. The telematics system also shows equipment status and can send notifications when it&#;s time for service to minimize machine downtime.
Pro tip: DEVELON offers a subscription-based monitoring service, called Smart X-Care&#; machine monitoring, where a team of DEVELON employees at a centralized location track your equipment: watching for critical machine fault codes, upcoming and overdue service and warranty expirations.
Following a cleaning routine can boost your equipment&#;s resale value, making it more appealing to potential buyers. A clean machine signals that it has been well maintained and serviced regularly throughout its lifespan, which can make it stand out on the market. Buyers may be willing to pay a premium for a machine that appears to offer more value compared to similar options.
Clean equipment tends to attract more attention and interest from potential buyers, leading to quicker sales. A faster sale can lead to a better resale value as it prevents the equipment from sitting idle and potentially depreciating.
Keeping equipment clean often goes hand in hand with proper record-keeping and maintenance documentation. Having a history of regular cleaning and maintenance can provide buyers with tangible evidence of responsible ownership, leading to increased trust and potentially a higher resale value.
Some industries regulate equipment cleanliness to meet compliance standards set by such regulatory agencies as the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). These agencies require businesses operating machinery in specific industries to maintain clean equipment, free from excessive dirt, dust, debris, oil and grease. This requirement aims to create safer working conditions for employees and operators.
Failure to comply with these appearance guidelines and safety regulations can lead to penalties, legal consequences and potential project delays. Regular cleaning helps ensure that your equipment remains compliant with these regulations.
At the end of the day, appearances do matter when it comes to owning and operating construction equipment. By recognizing its importance, you can improve your operations, enhance your efficiency and be more successful on your next job site.
Want more construction equipment tips? Read other informative articles on the Cutting Edge blog.
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