How to Establish a Maintenance Program

Worker doing maintenance work on a bridge.

The need for establishing a maintenance program is significant. The cost of equipment and facilities breaking down can be devastating to a company's budget. Individuals must have the knowledge and skills necessary to inspect and readjust equipment to avoid decreasing quality and slowing down production. Establishing a good maintenance program involves several components.

Things You'll Need

• Maintenance Manual
• Inventory and Record Sheets
• Budget

Instructions

1. Take inventory of all equipment and facilities that must be maintained. For example, if you have a business, you must inventory computers, copy machines, telephones, desks and chairs in addition to stock items, such as staplers and 10-key calculators. This will help categorize all items for maintenance considerations.

2. Record sufficient information on every item, including serial number and manufacturer. Do this for each piece of equipment. Check reference manuals and user guides for information. This data can be used to establish a file system for each item that needs to be maintained.

3. Separate all equipment. For each piece of equipment, list parts that require maintenance. Refer to product manual and literature for part names. For example, on a computer, list the type of mouse, keyboard, monitor and hard drive. These parts often malfunction and need to be replaced at one time or another.

4. Establish a list for spare parts, especially the hard-to-find items. These items need to be accessible or available when needed. Ordering rare parts can take a long time. Therefore, having these parts on hand is vital. Unavailable parts can interfere with the workflow, resulting in lost productivity or unsatisfied customers.

5. Determine the type of maintenance needed. There are two types of maintenance: routine and preventive. Routine maintenance involves periodic inspections to ensure the constant ability of the equipment to provide service. Equipment is checked several times daily or weekly. Preventive maintenance is designed to avoid major breakdowns in equipment. It involves examining a system for defects and replacing parts before a major problem occurs.

Tips & Warnings

• Good maintenance requires regular equipment inspection, adjustment and scheduling. All departments within an organization must share and coordinate equipment with sufficient knowledge of how to operate and maintain the equipment. Staff also must know when and how to contact the appropriate individuals responsible for fixing the equipment.

• Avoiding major equipment breakdowns and costly repairs and confusion is a must if organizations desire to save money and reduce emergencies. All major equipment should be given priority and constantly tested to avoid problems that could further damage equipment.

References

• Water Digest: Establishing Maintenance Program
• Northern Arizona University: Operation and Maintenance
• Stedi-Power: The Basics Of Total Production Maintenance