Preventive maintenance is routine maintenance to keep equipment running by preventing unplanned downtime and costs from unanticipated equipment failure.
The importance of a successful preventive maintenance program is to avoid equipment failure, unplanned downtime, reduce the need for repair and/or replacement and plan machine maintenance in advance.
Preventative or preventive maintenance is regularly performed on a piece of equipment to reduce the likelihood of failure. An asset with a time-based preventative maintenance program schedule means that time is the maintenance trigger and this would be planned maintenance scheduled in advance.
The primary goal of a preventive maintenance program is to prevent equipment failure before it happens. Regular preventive maintenance increases the lifetime of assets and reduces repairs and replacement.
The difference between Preventive Maintenance and Predictive Maintenance is that Preventive Maintenance is done when the machines are down and Predictive Maintenance are done while the machines are running in production.
Preventive maintenance typically involves regularly scheduled inspections and routine tasks (tightening, lubricating, replacing parts, etc.). This can help prevent expensive equipment breakdowns and reduce maintenance costs. Instituting a proper preventive maintenance strategy can help you ensure that your equipment keeps working effectively and minimizing the risk of unplanned stop and production loss.
Modern food processing and production equipment is more advanced than ever before but while that means increased production capacity and yield, it also means more complications when something breaks down or goes wrong.
Operational efficiency. A well-maintained machine is a top-performing machine. With fresh lubricant, better calibration, and cleaner systems, your equipment will be able to keep your plant running smoothly.
Functional performance. In addition to operating faster and with fewer interruptions, the quality and consistency of the products you produce will also improve, such as more constant performance in time.
Food safety. Better-maintained equipment also means to keep higher quality standards of your products. Poorly maintained equipment is more likely to break down during manufacturing, compromising the quality of your products or leading to false alarms, production interruptions, process malfunctions or bypass on important factors as temperatures or pressures.
Documentation and traceability. Adhering to a maintenance schedule helps you keep better tabs on the performance of your facility, aiding in root cause analysis should something go wrong, and giving you proof of maintenance in the event of a third-party audit.
Repair costs. Just as maintaining your car regularly can save you money on more costly repairs down the line, maintaining your equipment on a fixed schedule can help you make the most of your equipment investments.
With these standards in place, you’ll have better-maintained equipment, and your facility remains in top condition.