Maintenance Recommendations, Part 2

Making smart decisions at the system level improves maintenance outcomes while lowering costs. Previously, we discussed standardizing practices and procedures. But how do you get everyone actually using them as intended? Written procedures are good, but they leave room for misunderstanding. Use technology to supplement and clarify. For example, produce short explanatory videos.

You can use technology to fill other gaps, also. With Wi-Fi enabled devices now so affordable, the capital needed to break the chains of paper procedures (and drawings) is available to most maintenance departments.

What if you equip each maintenance tech with a wireless-enabled tablet? If you choose to do so, you should benefit from these advantages:

• Keep documents in a central electronic repository and nobody ever uses outdated drawings or procedures again.
• Hyperlink procedures to resources such as how to videos.
• The resident expert on (whatever equipment) can videoconference on demand with those who need help, even from across the plant.
• Photo-record and compare “job start” and “panels closed” tool counts (your busbars may thank you).