With 2010 quickly coming to a close, now’s the perfect time to get your facility in shape for the new year. A well-maintained facility will help prevent equipment failures and minimize costly repairs. There are a few, easy-to-follow steps to a creating and following a successful preventative maintenance program.
Step 1 – Inventory and Assess – Every preventative maintenance (PM) program should start with a thorough facility inventory, including basic information on conditions, systems, components, and equipment. Your system inventory should include each component’s condition and performance, as well as equipment’s age, usage, location, the warranty, and the model. An up-to-date list of systems and components to check and maintain, will prevent crucial systems being overlooked.
Once your inventory is complete, it’s time to conduct your assessment/inspection. Frequency of your assessments and inspections should be determined by the type of your building, the systems you use, and how well things are working. It’s not economically feasible to include every piece of equipment in your inventory. Determine what equipment is the most critical or most difficult/expensive to replace.
Some of the systems to regularly inspect are: roofing, HVAC, electrical, lighting, fire- and life-safety systems, and parking/garage surfaces. Thorough inspections can help prevent equipment down-time and potential injuries.
Step 2 – Streamline PM with Software – Your preventative maintenance programs can be streamlined with software specifically designed to organize PM programs. Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMSs) can focus your preventative maintenance into one package. Software can help organize and track inspection, jobs, checklists, and many more components of your PM program.
Step 3 – Get Everyone Involved – All qualified employees should be trained on, and know how to safety complete each aspect of your PM program in case of emergencies. The Department of Energy (DOE) encourages consistent execution of PM practices as an integrated-team approach to operations and maintenance. The people that work in your facility can be used as the eyes and ears of the building, and can inform you of issues that need to be addressed.
Preventative maintenance is a crucial part of maintaining a safe, cost-effective facility. Regular inspections can keep your business on-track for productivity and safety. Be sure to repair or replace the products and equipment that don’t meet inspection standards. Give our Technical Support Reps a call at 800-631-1246 with your questions about how our products can help with your PM program. They’re here to help you.
Source: www.buildings.com