Manufacturing activities require the use of machines and equipment to perform different tasks within production processes. Regular maintenance is a crucial factor to guarantee durability, avoid failures, and maximize the efficiency of the machine. Surprisingly, some of the most critical components are often ignored in their inspection or during the period of routine maintenance schedules.
Thus, ignoring these components can result in machine downtime, higher expenditures on repairs, and sometimes even danger. This article aims to shed light on indirect expenses that might be associated with various elements that are not always taken into consideration in industries.
Small Components with Big Impacts
Most industries likely have large and prominent pieces of equipment at their core. However, there are small but essential parts, including rigging parts, which are highly important in the overall performance of the equipment. Lifting accessories such as slings, shackles, and lifting hooks are critical facets necessary for the transportation and handling of loads. These components last for long and experience very high stresses and thus require to be checked periodically for damage.
Lack of adequate care in the parts of rigging can lead to outcomes such as accidents, damaged equipment, as well as crucial downtime. Although these problems may appear inconsequential when viewed on a larger scale, failing to address rigging parts can be expensive in terms of safety precaution and efficiency.
The Importance of Seals and Gaskets
One of the most overlooked elements of industrial equipment is seals and rubber gaskets while usually, they perform the vital task of stopping leaks and maintenance of the pressure in diverse systems. One of the most common uses of rubber parts is gaskets, which are applied to connected parts for tightness. They can wear out due to the effects of heat, chemical agents, and constant use on the working surface.
Damaged gaskets lead to undesired situations where machines develop leaks that influence their performance, and energy usage, and sometimes dangerous situations may arise. The maintenance of these small but critical components is a way to avoid system failure and maintain the durability of your machinery.
Bearings and Lubrication Systems: The Heart of Moving Parts
Bearing is also very essential in the management of friction within the machine to enhance its working. Still, they are not easily recognized until a machine starts developing some problems or malfunctions. If lubrication is inadequate, the temperature will rise, friction will increase, and in the end cause the bearings to fail.
Lubrication and checking of bearings are crucial to prevent unnecessary breakdowns and also to make sure that everything is working fine. Adopting a maintenance plan, that targets lubrication systems in particular, substantially decreases the chances of random equipment breakdowns.
Filters: Keeping Systems Clean and Efficient
Another element that many people never even think about about products they use is filters and yet they are vital for maintaining efficiency in industrial equipment. An air filter, oil filter, or hydraulic filter is designed to clean the air, oil, or hydraulics respectively to prevent contaminants that may harm internal mechanisms from passing through the engine.
In time filters accumulate debris which reduces their efficiency and puts additional stress on equipment. Replacing the filters is one of the best ways of avoiding breakdowns in equipment and at the same time ensuring production efficiency. Neglecting to replace filters can also lead to increased operating costs due to inefficient energy consumption and elevated frequency of repair.
