Choosing a reliable, cost-efficient maintenance contractor
for your loading bay can be a minefield and it’s easy to get it
wrong. Stertil Stokvis suggests some of the factors that
need to be considered

Maintenance is an easy target when
managers are under pressure to cut
costs. Some may wonder whether
there is such a thing as a maintenance
contractor who is reasonably priced and who
will ensure your compliance with all
necessary health and safety legislation.

So, what are the key areas for
consideration?

Value
Cost is usually top of the list, but it’s value
that’s the key. Making decisions on cost
alone is often the reason people get it
wrong: cost has to be balanced by the
benefit to the business, in order to get a real
value. Saving a few pounds, or even a few
hundred pounds, on your routine
maintenance is a false economy if your
equipment suffers more frequent expensive
breakdowns as a result.

Breakdown Frequency
This is the single most important factor in
determining maintenance. How much does
equipment breakdown actually cost your
business? What would it cost you to lose the
use of a loading bay for a day? The answer to
this question should drive your decision on
the frequency, quality and, ultimately, the
value of your loading bay maintenance.

Time to Fix
Even the best-maintained equipment can fail,
so it’s vital that it can be repaired quickly. But
quick response isn’t any good if an engineer
can’t repair the fault there and then. An
engineer who arrives in minutes but can’t get
hold of the necessary parts for weeks is not
going to help your business minimise its
downtime. Look for a company which can
respond quickly 24/7 and which holds parts in
stock for your equipment and can complete
the majority of repairs in just one visit.

Every business and every site is different
and each company will have its own
particular requirements. Beware of ‘one size
fits all solutions, which may not take into
account the specific needs of your business.

Identify what those needs are and look for a
supplier who is flexible and can tailor a
maintenance package to suit you.

Stertil Stokvis is one of the companies that
offers a wide range of maintenance options
and offers a free, no-obligation site visit.