Most manufacturing plants do not give much importance to their conveyor belts. This usually leads to unexpected breakdowns that usually cause pile up. While repairing such belts and resuming production is still an option, some breakdowns can be too extensive to repair within a couple of hours. Fortunately, with proper maintenance, you can keep your conveyors working at optimal efficiency. What mistakes should you avoid when maintaining your conveyors?
Failure to Inspect
Inspections ensure that your conveyors are running properly. Whether you have a small table top conveyor or a complex one, you should inspect it closely to identify potential problems. It is critical to check underneath the belt for any dust-like shavings. If any, it is proof that your conveyor is wearing unnecessarily and that it is on the verge of extensive damage. You should listen for squeaks and other unusual sounds. Such sounds are the most obvious signs that something is wrong. For best results regarding inspections, consider hiring an expert.
Delaying Maintenance Practices
Inspecting your conveyors conclusively would not mean a lot if you would not address prospective problems immediately. If you would need parts, you should know that some of them might not be readily available. Ordering them as soon as you notice a problem with existing parts helps avoid extensive downtime. It pays to keep key components such as photo eyes, motors, and line shaft couplings on hand all through. If your conveyor has a plethora of issues and you cannot afford to handle all, it is advisable to address one problem at a time.
Failure to Keep Maintenance Records
There are many things to keep an eye on around your manufacturing plant. Assuming that you can keep a mental record of the maintenance practices conducted on your conveyors would be a mistake. You ought to keep an updated maintenance log near your system that shows all the practices that have been performed already. The log should also highlight any other concerns that need monitoring. Maintenance records also make it easier to keep track where there is a constant change in personnel.
Ignoring the importance of Employee Training
Your employees would be in direct contact with conveyors. If they have proper training, they would know how best to use the conveyors. Most importantly, they would be able to identify maintenance issues and alert the relevant experts. This would help avoid breakdowns that can mean stopping of operations.
Overlooking Difficult-To-Reach Places
Chances are high that there are difficult-to-reach places around your conveyor, especially if your plant is congested. Whatever you do, do not ignore such areas because they can mean extensive operational issues later. If such places need lubrication, for instance, failure to do the same would expose you to expensive repairs later. Do not assume that your inspection and maintenance experts would attend to such places, especially if you prefer outsourcing work.
The worst mistake you can make is to assume that any conveyor that is still working does not need your attention. It would also be a mistake adjusting to a dysfunctional system. If a conveyor is not operating as it should, you should do something about it immediately.
