Minimizing Equipment Downtime – Turn The Unexpected Into The Exception Rather Than The Norm
Let not Murphy’s Law dominate equipment down time. In other words, do not plan on the concept of what can go wrong will go wrong. Rather learn to allocate equipment maintenance and services on your own timetable. Make the unexpected into the exception rather than the norm.
Sure. Project complications happen. But most contractors learn how to expect the unexpected… especially when operating on a tight project schedule. In fact, the tighter the schedule, the greater the demand for precision controls. And that seems often the catalyst for downtime with people and equipment. In a business so often tempered by change orders and variation processes, contractors grow familiar with an “emergency” mode of operations.
But why let change orders, tight project schedules and other pressures promote cost overruns and excessive equipment downtime? Learn to avoid the obvious. Don’t get caught in a situation wherein overworked equipment grinds to a sudden and unexpected halt. Focus on proactive scheduling. The steps are simple:
- Be aware of the current status of your equipment
- Schedule routine upkeep with an eye toward the dependencies in the overall project schedule
- Follow pre-defined procedures, tracking, testing and confirming all equipment maintenance programs
- Communicate essential expectations, time schedules and equipment compliance reports.
When change does happen and unassociated project delays open opportunity for stepping up the scheduled equipment maintenance timetable, make the rushed upkeep just another component of your precision operations. In other words: Make good use of overlapping gaps in the project timeframe.
Simplify The Process of Tracking Equipment Maintenance Compliance
When operating equipment maintenance against a tight project schedule, the cost of downtime cannot be overstated. Yet skimping on upkeep poses an increased risk of equipment failure, decreased revenue generation and missed project schedules. Contractors outlay $million per year on workforce and asset allocation yet failure of critical equipment can bust the budget and the schedule.
And with an improved economic outlook, more and more new buildings, highways and other points of infrastructure are coming on line. Contractor maintenance crews get tasked to keep equipment running with better efficiency for longer periods of time. Likewise, every time your mechanics engage in avoidable equipment repairs, you lose money and opportunity.
To reduce to costs and avoid the unnecessary downtime, efficient contractors must optimize the entire process of equipment maintenance operations. But minimizing equipment downtime requires real-time feedback on maintenance scheduling, maintenance compliance to the schedules, and a rapid capacity change in the process.
Assignar software for construction contractors can help your firm better manage the equipment maintenance program… even if you are operation on a tight project schedule.
