Not only should employees be trained frequently on operational procedures, but you should also consider creating your own handbook for each piece of machinery. Most pieces of equipment come with its own handbook, but even if they do, it never hurts to create a small document of relevant information that’s easy to skim. That way, your employees can quickly access the most important information when they’re on the job.

If you keep a detailed set of guidelines, then your employees will always know where to look for answers when they have questions instead of having to guess. Standardized rules will keep your employees and your equipment safe.

Perhaps the most obvious way to keep your equipment in good condition is to clean it often. If equipment builds up too much grease and grime, it isn’t going to function properly—and the grime will wear down your equipment’s components faster, possibly taking years off your equipment’s lifespan.

If circumstances are severe enough, too much dirt can actually end up damaging your equipment permanently. It’s much easier (not to mention more financial sound) to keep something clean than it is to have to replace it. Make sure you check your machinery’s condition regularly and have a schedule for when each machine should be cleaned.

If one of your machines starts making a funny noise, you have three options: ignore it, track it to see what happens or take it to the mechanic. If you’re not ready to take the machine into the shop yet, you can instead make a record of the new noise: write down what it sounds like, what conditions it manifests in and when it began.

It’s a wise idea to keep a record of any issues you have with the equipment. That way, your employees know when a machine has changed for the worse and can alert you to the problem. Additionally, when your maintenance crew checks on any given piece of machinery, they will be able to better understand the history of the machine. This could greatly impact the repairs that they have to perform, so make sure to be detailed in your record keeping. Your maintenance specialists will thank you for it!

If you have any questions about your heavy machinery’s needs, don’t hesitate to ask an expert. Reach out to Carolina Hose & Hydraulics for more information and service when your machines need it.