Avoid These Mistakes & Save Money

It’s inevitable. Your equipment is eventually going to break down. No doubt, it takes a beating, so how can you reduce the impact a breakdown would mean to your operation?

It should go without saying that preventative maintenance is key for optimal performance. Would you agree? Do you follow a routine schedule? My guess is that when time becomes limited and productivity is imperative, the scheduled maintenance is the first thing to get pushed to the back burner. After all, things may appear to be working fine. “If it ain’t broke…” as they say.

You might be counting on your operators to recognize any early warnings of issues and react accordingly, before it’s too late. Realistically, though, early signs of a failing machine function often go completely unnoticed.

It’s important to keep that preventative maintenance among your top priorities no matter where it falls in your business season. If you’re busy and want to stay that way without major interruption, the routine stuff may actually help in picking up on the small stuff, so as not to allow it to turn into big stuff! A quick time out and an inexpensive fix here and there can ultimately save you from something far more catastrophic and costly.

While we’re on the topic of maintenance, don’t get carried away. Too much of anything is never good. The same can be said of equipment maintenance. More than necessary will just drive up costs and parts use while also creating unnecessary wear in those areas being frequently accessed.

By adopting a “just enough and not too much” attitude you will be able to control things such as costs and downtime. You’ll be able to improve safety assurance and ensure that your equipment operates at peak productivity levels.

Another avoidable mistake is user error. If you’ve got various operators handling the equipment, you need to be sure that they are appropriately trained in all aspects from operation to troubleshooting. Emergencies will happen, as will staffing shortages, so it’s best to have a plan in place for dealing with any issues that may arise while an operator with less experience is handling the machine. One way to avoid this is to make sure all of your operators are cross trained and able to handle what circumstances may come.

With appropriate training and expectations, hopefully your team will be cool under pressure.

When it’s crunch-time and something isn’t performing to its full extent, then it should be addressed. Like preventative maintenance, putting things off can do way more damage than you wanted to deal with.

And no, duct tape will not suffice until the dust settles.

One last thing, how are you keeping track of everything that goes on with your equipment? You do know every little thing about your machine, don’t you? Of course you don’t! Even the best of the best are bound to miss something. That’s why you don’t want to neglect the use of telematics.

Modern technology has gifted you the ultimate insight to what’s happening with you machine. When you have a monitoring system like Volvo Construction’s ActiveCare Direct, your machines are being watched twenty-four/ seven, reporting and being analyzed in real time. Something wrong? Your dealer receives notification to jump in and handle it. Owners get monthly reports that are easy to comprehend so you can spend less time deciphering details and more time doing what you love.

When you’re avoiding costly repairs a monitoring system, a maintenance plan, and a well trained staff will be your best lines of defense.

Want more information on telematics for Volvo CE or Bobcat products, or want to schedule an appointment with our award winning service department? Contact us at one of our four locations today!