Looking at the bigger picture
January 1st 2012 Effective maintenance comes not only through establishing
a regular,practical routine but by periodically taking a step
back and evaluating the different ways in which it can be
provided. Nigel Ord, general manager of fluid power at
ERIKS, outlines the benefits a specialised partner can bring
Asuccessful engineering operation
needs to establish a strong,
methodical approach to the regular
maintenance of machinery in order to
maximise productivity and efficiency.
However, there is always more than one way
to tackle any given problem and it pays to reevaluate
your processes from time to time.
For example, is it more efficient to manage
maintenance using your own staff, or to use
outside help and potentially reap greater
rewards by capitalising on your partner's
added knowledge and experience?
Certainly, if you are considering using
outside help from a supply partner, it is
important to make sure that you are getting
a good deal, and that means enlisting the
help of an organisation with the expertise,
experience and capability to add value to
your business by suggesting ways to refine
your systems and make real cost savings.
For example, ERIKS has identified a series
of significant savings for a major automotive
manufacturer in 2012. A comprehensive
programme has been put together to
encompass a number of initiatives, from
condition monitoring and analysis activities
that form part of the preventative
maintenance schedule, to the provision of
improvements and upgrades to equipment
included in our range of savings projects.
The total savings value of our optimisation
programme is estimated at £250,000.
That kind of saving makes fast payback on
the cost of using a partner and soon starts
pumping the savings back into the
business. The best way to achieve this
kind of benefit is to ensure that your
partner offers a depth of expertise in
your specific industry and range of
experience in others. It is also important
that your partner offers both a variety of
high quality supplies and a strong repair
and maintenance service; a partner with
limited capabilities may be tempted to suggest
solutions that benefit their own limited parts
and service offering but a more experienced
organisation with a broad range of products
will have no need of this and, instead, simply
select the solution that is best for you.
A good partner can make positive changes
fast; high-risk, performance-critical areas will
be analysed first and changes in the repair
and maintenance regime implemented.
Once short and medium term issues have
been addressed, your partner can then
investigate and evaluate your entire system as
part of an on-going process to identify new
opportunities for savings and improvements.
Case study
Big savings can be made right from the start
of the partnership, as ERIKS proved when it
came to the aid of a well-established
company in the food and beverage sector.
On this occasion, we identified a problem of
which the company was not previously
aware: a series of air leaks in compressed air
systems. Using ultrasonic technology, the
leaks were detected in just two days, with no
disruption to production. Our survey data
was compiled and presented in detail, with
an actual financial loss related to each leak.
By acting on our data and implementing our
suggested remedies, the company achieved
savings of £86,000 a year.
This particular case study illustrates an
important point when considering whether
to opt for assistance with MRO: the factory's
compressed air installation was by no means
poorly maintained or specified, it was regularly
maintained and in reasonable condition.
Nevertheless, the use of ultrasonic technology
by expert engineers trained in its use revealed
a whole series of potential savings. More articles from ERIKS UK: | 
