Maintenance strategy

Maintenance is a series of progressive organized steps over time to improve operational effectiveness. The key step is the transition to proactive working, tells Gaurav Bandish, Sales Manager, Muller Martini (India) Private Limited. Strategy objectives should be result oriented with a ‘product’ of improved equipment reliability, productivity and assets preservation delivered through maintenance services in co-operation with production. The desired results should be defined along with measurements of target improvement.

Gaurav BandishExample:

– Maximise production capacity and consistent quality.

– Minimum scheduled and no scheduled down time.

– Minimise total production costs and materials waste and accidents.

– Optimise maintenance costs.

A basic strategy should begin with an audit to define current plant status and identify the factors that limit performance. Prioritise the key performance gaps to be reduced over time. Adapt strategy to the age and technology of equipment, operating hours and type of work. The difference between better and poorer performing companies is that the best ‘do it’. It is no good having good plans and strategies unless they are put into operation.

Key factors for success

• Senior management champion: Effective maintenance needs support that is visible, vocal and continuous to motivate staff at all levels for a successful mid to long term strategy.
• Planned time: Access to equipment is the biggest problem. Maintenance should be planned as part of production scheduling that respects times, priorities and procedures.
• Adequate staff, training and tools: Continuous training is an absolute requirement to optimise plant performance and profitability. Ensure each department has adequate tools and manuals that are available 24 hours a day.
• Involve all key departments: People are more than half the solution. Recognize their efforts and ensure effective teamwork between operations, maintenance, planning and finance.
• Documentation: Clear maintenance checklists for each equipment line and each time period, that are signed-off by the individual who completes the task.
• Stock key parts: Anticipate life of wear and tear parts to avoid press time lost from parts not in stock. Build a parts consumption database. Suppliers can also provide parts lists.

Muller Martini sales and services provides comprehensive life-cycle management that ensures the lasting cost-effectiveness of equipment and extends its economic lifetime by means of affordable investments. Operating costs are optimised and profitability is increased. The comprehensive knowledge and skills of their qualified service technicians and engineers not only ensure short commissioning times, but also mean that equipment can be optimised for maximum efficiency and reliability, right from the start. Please do contact for any requirements for post press machines, sales and after sales support at gaurav@mmindia.com, Mobile: +91 9871594098.