Commonly known as turnarounds, shutdowns are one of the most crucial times in the operation for a business.
It is time for all kinds of activities to cease operation for the necessary repairs, maintenance, equipment replacements, and internal maintenance to be performed. In other words, it’s the perfect opportunity for conducting maintenance and internal inspection for your equipment – which can only be done when regular business operations are put to a stop.
If poorly planned or carried out, it may negatively impact the business bottom line in the future. Hence, it is extremely vital to ensure the scheduled maintenance shutdown runs smoothly to prevent any losses.
Below, we will explain the following tips which will aid you while your business is undergoing your annual scheduled maintenance shutdown.
Review equipment materials
First things first – it is necessary to have a thorough check done on your previous equipment documents. They’re crucial to informing you of your equipment’s condition.
That means you need to obtain several pieces of vital information; when was the last time it was serviced or repaired? For how long have you owned this piece of equipment? How has your equipment been performing recently?
For instance, if you’ve noticed any signs of deterioration in your generator – it may be time for generator rewinding or a replacement; depending on the situation. At times, there may not even be a need for a complete replacement – and here’s when generator overhauling comes in to assess the health of your equipment clearly.
Only then will you understand what kind of action is required to be taken. It’s highly advised to do this months before the annual scheduled maintenance shutdown so your engineer can come in early to arrange for an inspection.
Order spare parts in advance
Once the engineer has determined the state of your equipment after the inspection – you’ll find out if there is a need to replace the entire equipment or just one part of it. Afterwards, you’ll have to start ordering spare parts for the upcoming maintenance.
More importantly, you have to do it as early as possible as your maintenance shutdown might clash with other businesses. Just like yourself, they may be scrambling for spare parts – this will mean that there will be a high demand during that period.
The bottom line is to make sure you are readily prepared, so you have everything you need during the shutdown.
Anticipate unexpected incidents
No matter how ready you are for your annual scheduled maintenance shutdown – unpredicted incidents may still occur.
It’s important for you to keep a cool head and think of the best possible solution in case such a situation does happen. What you can first begin with is by having a backup plan or putting precautionary measures in place to stay prepared.
For example, having a storm happen on the scheduled maintenance shutdown day may result in a risky work environment. What you can do for your buildings’ interiors is to place absorbent mats or scraper mats right in front of your entrances to remove water from shoes to prevent moisture and puddles from forming on the floors.
Pre-planning for future issues
It is common knowledge that your equipment will have to be monitored regularly – so that you understand its current state.
When you do so, you are able to pinpoint any errors and rectify them immediately; whether it’s through a repair or replacement. On the other hand, you will also be able to plan for future repairs in the next shutdown, if at all necessary.
Your scheduled maintenance shutdown is a lot more important than you might think. It’s when all your equipment is checked thoroughly – and their condition is directly related to your business.
For your business operations to run smoothly – your machinery has to be in tip-top condition. And that’s why it’s crucial to guarantee this fact during the scheduled maintenance shutdown.
