Part 2: Executing a Proactive Maintenance Strategy for Maximum Impact

Author: Bill Welch, EVP of Operations, MINER

If your equipment never, ever broke down, you got lucky. In Part 1, we discussed the rationale behind a proactive maintenance program, one that showed how a small breakdown can have large and lasting effects on your operation. In Part 2, we take a free fallin’ deep dive into how to put a proactive plan into action.  

Do It Like That: Predict, Prevent, Perform

Quick: How does your facility get ahead of potential breakdowns by taking a proactive approach to resolving issues with essential equipment?

Many companies don’t have a great answer. As a result, the default strategy becomes “waiting until assets fail and crews need to perform emergency repairs.” This reactive approach isn’t a strategy at all. It’s more like a state of anxiety. One that saps assurance while adding uncertainty. It’s only a matter of time before something goes kaput. But when? And where? And for how long? The waiting—for something to go wrong––really is the hardest part.

Now consider comparing the cost of reactive fixes against the predictable price of proactive maintenance. It’s more cost-effective to have a proactive maintenance plan. In fact, companies typically save 12%-18% on total maintenance costs with a proactive strategy. Equipment lasts longer and is much less likely to break during operation. When you add in the value of peace of mind, team morale, sustained production and more, a proactive strategy is a no-brainer.

So why don’t more facilities take a proactive approach? Sometimes it’s a matter of management philosophy. Or the day to day is just so busy that implementing a whole strategy appears to be prohibitively time-consuming and logistically complicated. Or it’s too difficult to find a maintenance partner who understands and can handle all maintenance facets of your operation to make it pay off.

Good news. The proactive strategy doesn’t need to be a complicated all-hands-on-deck endeavor like the moon landing. With the right partner and tools, it’s a common sense, why-didn’t-I-think-of-this-before seamless solution. And the even better news is MINER can help with all of it. As a national service provider that offers reliable, proactive maintenance, you can escape a cycle of unpredictable breakdowns, costly repairs and when-will-it-break-down anxiety.

Start with a Proactive Shift, and Don’t Back Down

Implementing a proactive maintenance strategy is a shift that puts you in more control of cost savings, safety and operational efficiency. Once the shift is made, the value and ROI of proactive maintenance cascade from several sources at once, mitigating and eradicating unplanned breakdowns that harm a facility’s bottom line in numerous ways. 

Working with an expert national service provider like MINER is a way to maximize proactive maintenance, putting a team of expertly trained technicians to work inspecting and caring for your most vital assets. More than just a once-over, eyeballing equipment or kicking the tires, proactive maintenance should run the comprehensive gamut that leaves practically nothing to chance.

For example, MINER’s SafeACT proactive maintenance program ensures you perform right-on-time maintenance, to tune up and optimize assets based on their age, condition and wear.

Taking a closer look, these categories of benefits from proactive maintenance really make a difference when implemented the right way:

Warehouse and loading dock maintenance

Deliveries. Shipping. Storage. Logistics. Proactive maintenance is a must for a modern warehouse operator. A MINER partner reviews safety awareness issues on the warehouse floor, assesses the productivity loss that comes with unplanned downtime, and builds a plan to solve a variety of issues at one time. 

Whether it’s a simple manual dock plate or a sophisticated high-speed door, all warehouse assets are included in a comprehensive, proactive maintenance strategy. These assets will naturally degrade at different rates, depending on their types and usage patterns. MINER can use data to analyze the rates of decline based on this usage.

Speaking of data, a partner that can access and assess information is key to developing an accurate proactive maintenance strategy. MINER goes beyond a basic scheduled maintenance approach with a more precise and effective data-driven execution. MINER’s SafeCheck app-based program digitally documents data to create an intelligent schedule for maintenance, blending stats and instinct to develop a plan that keeps each asset operating at peak condition for as long as possible. 

A well-maintained facility is a better environment for workplace and distribution employees. Morale is higher and confidence is stronger as they have the assurance their equipment works as intended and there are few, if any, downtime surprises in their workday. Plus, effective proactive maintenance is a good way to ensure the building complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements that state employers are responsible for creating secure working conditions. 

No Waiting: What You Need to Know Now

Taking a proactive maintenance approach now lets you consider potential problems before they strike, perform right-on-time maintenance, and tune up and optimize assets based on their age, condition and wear. 

What you don’t know can hurt your bottom line. A partner like MINER is vital in revealing unseen damage–– or potential for damage–– in facility assets. By uncovering potential hidden risks, it’s possible to determine a priority list for repairs. Plus, you’ll better know your equipment’s ROI and total cost of ownership. This added knowledge puts you in control while saving time and money right from the start.

Be more proactive and worry less. Schedule a SafeCHECK safety assessment and site survey, and see what areas of opportunity we uncover for your facility.