The maintenance area of companies is much more complex than it may seem. It is not limited to simply responding to requests and solving problems.
However, the area is far more complex, involving planning, management, and its own quality indicators. In fact, for optimal performance, processes must be well defined in order to be carried out assertively and efficiently, using the fewest possible resources.
To better explain this, we created exclusive content to help you improve maintenance productivity. Check it out!
To understand how we can optimize productivity in maintenance, it is essential to know the most widely used maintenance models adopted by companies.
Maintenance is defined as the set of actions aimed at restoring equipment to its original functions. There are three main ways to manage this set of practices.
Corrective maintenance is the most well-known. It is the type in which we wait for equipment to break down before repairing it. It can be either scheduled or emergency-based.
In emergency situations, failures are corrected quickly. When scheduled, there is a predefined date for repair, regardless of the day the equipment actually stopped operating.
Preventive maintenance, on the other hand, is based on studies of machinery and defined inspection intervals. This ensures that small failures are corrected before they cause a breakdown in a specific component.
In addition to these two, there is also predictive maintenance, which is less commonly practiced but highly recommended. It involves continuous monitoring, either through the use of equipment or the professional’s own sensory perception.
It is not uncommon for some people to think that productivity in maintenance cannot be measured, but it actually can.
The calculation of this index is simple, and we will show it. First, divide the time your employee actually spends performing their duties by their total working hours. This does not include preparation time, such as finding tools or traveling to the location.
If the result is less than 30%, this is a point of concern. It means that only 30% of the time is spent effectively working. The rest of the time is poorly utilized, which clearly affects productivity and the overall performance of the plant.
There are some key indicators, such as the time required to perform a task, to obtain parts and equipment, and even the time required to travel to the equipment location. Controlling all this data is essential, as only then is it possible to ensure the best possible use of available resources.
Today, it is possible to rely on specific automation software for maintenance, which are extremely useful when it comes to equipment management and improved time utilization. There are even maintenance applications that, in addition to assisting with management, facilitate mobility.
With automated systems like the ones mentioned, it is possible to maintain an inventory of all available spare parts in stock. In addition, it is also possible to manage maintenance schedules that alert when predefined dates are approaching and identify which areas require the most attention.
This way, your team receives a checklist of what needs to be done and where to find the necessary materials for the task. It is even possible to maintain direct communication with the company’s warehouse, and the entire parts request process becomes much more efficient.
When the sector prepares in advance and plans its routines, maintenance productivity increases significantly. This is extremely advantageous for companies. With reduced maintenance costs and better resource utilization, the business gains time and resources to invest in priority actions.
