MRO Solutions - November Edition

Some other keys maintenance areas you may want to tackle this summer:
Plant
Shutdown
Protecting Against Common Risks with
Preventative Maintenance
Article by
Vince Cartia
QLD State Sales Manager
RS Components Australia
Summer shutdowns, when facilities stop production
during the warmer months to complete
maintenance tasks or upgrades, takes preparation
and planning. In a facility with a variety
of equipment and process, it’s critical to stay
focused if all the required maintenance tasks
are to be completed within the shutdown time
frame.
A plant shutdown, or turnaround, is a temporary
closure of a building to perform maintenance.
The main activities should be preventative in nature
with the focus on equipment inspections.
This is the best time to replace worn-out or broken
process materials and equipment at their
useful end-of-life. An effective plant shutdown
should result in reduced unplanned downtime,
reduced overtime, and greater operational efficiencies.
At RS we understand the complexities around
pre-shutdown tasks, cost management, site logistics,
safety plans and more.
Though some work during a shutdown may be
routine, other tasks may be unexpected, such as
when the extent of wear and tear on a machine
isn’t realised until the equipment is opened for
maintenance.
Proactive, regularly-scheduled work is a necessary
component to keeping equipment operating
efficiently and extending their useful lives.
These large-scale “spring cleans” can have a
great impact on your plant, but it’s important
to create a plan that suits your team and operational
needs.
Infrared thermography is being used by many
of our customer for the predictive maintenance
of a wide range of applications, including mechanical
systems, electrical systems, and building
diagnostics – making it a smart investment
for its versatility. Many of our customers are seeing
favourable ROI by investing in an Infrared
Camera as the technology enables them to take
corrective action before problems occur and
avoid costly third-party contractors. Our range
of thermal imaging cameras covers all the leading
brands including Fluke, Flir and our very
own RS PRO and they offer a range of thermal
sensitivity, making them a valuable companion
to the service and maintenance engineer.
MACHINE GUARDING
Regular maintenance of machine
guards can prevent worker’s body
parts from making contact with
hazardous machine equipment and
flying debris – helping to protect
workers from serious injury.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
more than two-thirds of electrical
system failures can be prevented by
a routine preventive maintenance
program. The failure rate of electrical
equipment is three times higher
for components that are not part of
a scheduled preventive maintenance
program as compared with those
that are.
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
Use the summer shutdown to review
which machines need to use a lockout/tagout
procedure and ensure
that locks and tags meet OSHA standards.
It’s also important that LOTO
procedures be followed carefully
during a summer shutdown, when
maintenance may be performed on
machinery and equipment.
CLEANING AND CHANGING
LIGHTS
Light fixtures can get dirty and
reduce the light reaching production
areas. Bulbs that burn out need
to be replaced to ensure that there
is adequate light in the warehouse,
distribution centre, and manufacturing
areas.
HVAC MAINTENANCE
Air conditioning and heating systems
should be regularly and routinely
cleaned and checked to ensure
energy efficiency and healthy
air flows throughout your offices
and manufacturing facilities.
BELTS
Belts may need to be changed on
conveyors and other equipment.
Belts should be inspected frequently
for signs of wear and changed before
they break.
CALIBRATION OF INSTRUMENTS
Delicate instruments may need to be
re-calibrated after a certain number
of uses.
PLUMBING
Prevent small problems or outdated
plumbing from becoming bigger
issues in the future. Plumbing problems,
depending on where they crop
up, can lead to expensive repairs
and cause lots of damage.
SITE SAFETY
Evaluate all your site safety and
security systems & procedures including
injury reporting, evacuation
plans, hazard control plans, and
safety training.
PPE
A summer shutdown is a good time
to ensure that personal protective
equipment is in good repair.
Keep your production plant, machinery
and safety equipment well maintained
with our range of components, tools and
equipment. We can help you to minimise
the risk, stay compliant and ensure the
safety of all your onsite employees.
Contact us to discuss how we can
support your maintenance plans