The maintenance of a company is a crucial part of keeping systems updated and functional. Although there are various types of maintenance: corrective, preventive, routine, etc.; it is always necessary to develop a basic schedule for proper maintenance, otherwise, we might face irreparable consequences.
Any type of maintenance is designed to help equipment, machines, and buildings operate effectively. These tasks can be completed daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, depending on the type of treatment and the nature of the company. If you currently do not have an active review program, it is time to create one.
Maintenance schedules are operational and informational guides that also allow us to keep control and maintain regular attention necessary for any business, referring not only to equipment but also to facilities.
No planning works without a well-thought-out and organized schedule, which is why we have brought you this article. In this post, we will help you understand why you need a preventive or corrective maintenance program for your business and what you should include in it.
At Optima Retail, we pride ourselves on offering comprehensive maintenance services for the retail sector, ensuring that facilities are kept in impeccable condition to meet our clients' demands.
Todo sobre el calendario básico para un buen mantenimiento
More than 90% of specialists in corporate preventive care maintain that having a basic maintenance schedule on hand is key for any type of business. This increases, for example, the reliability of operations and the optimal functioning of the company.
It is necessary to schedule regular maintenance of equipment whose operation is intensive and crucial for a company.
When maintenance is routine, it can be scheduled daily, allowing a company to maximize the use of its resources.
Some equipment requires monthly or quarterly inspections. It all depends on the equipment's handling instructions.
There are also companies that require annual preventive maintenance. This type of care prevents risks and ensures the regular functioning of the company.
We talk about a basic maintenance schedule that is flexible and organized because unforeseen events may arise that need immediate attention and are not included in the schedule. However, this is part of the same considerations that must be taken into account in any company: the unexpected.
Benefits of Having a Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance programs help employers stay updated on the status of their work environment, machinery, commercial vehicles, facilities, and equipment.
While monitoring company systems and equipment can reduce workplace accidents by more than 80% on average, it is also an effective way to manage costs. Implementing a maintenance plan saves your company money and also:
Promotes the inspection of equipment, machinery, and facilities, extending their lifespan and keeping them functioning at maximum capacity. This reduces downtime for commonly used machinery.
Ensures regular attention to the most important components of specific systems and provides the opportunity to detect any other potential lurking issues.
Identifies small problems before they become larger, more expensive issues.
Extends the lifespan of equipment, vehicles, or machinery.
How to Create Your Maintenance Schedule
To create an effective maintenance schedule, you need to conduct an inventory, plan carefully, research, and establish a routine that is easy to understand. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when creating your plan:
Conduct an Inventory
The first step is to conduct a careful inventory of your machinery, equipment, resources, and vehicles that require regular attention.
Walk through your workspaces, construction sites, stores, call centers, and other work areas, and make a list of all the equipment needed for your business to operate effectively. An effective preventive maintenance plan starts with a clear understanding of what needs to be maintained.
Priorize maintenance
Once you have a list of all the equipment that requires regular maintenance, the next step is to decide exactly when each one will be serviced. Consider the equipment that has the highest return on investment and the equipment you use most frequently, as well as the country-specific regulations for mandatory maintenance to avoid fines for non-compliance.
Once you know which machines need inspection and maintenance, you can start building your plan.
This is an important step because it allows you to focus on the most critical assets of your business. You can avoid scheduling too much time for evaluating equipment that does not play a vital role in the productivity and profitability of your business.
List Specific Maintenance Tasks: Create a Schedule
Start at the top of your list and create detailed processes and procedures for the regular preventive maintenance of each piece of equipment.
Clearly indicate how often this maintenance should be performed and create a space where questions, observations, and comments can be noted and saved for future reference.
This is a good time to talk to the people who use the equipment regularly. Get feedback from workers on how the machinery or equipment operates, their specific working conditions, and gather information about the frequency of breakdowns and malfunctions of specific equipment.
Once you have this information, consider creating a comprehensive maintenance checklist for your entire facility and for each piece of equipment.
Digitizing this checklist can make it easier for your field employees to complete it while allowing you to keep detailed records of the entire process. It is recommended to consider having some maintenance management software, either your own or from your allied facility management company, to ensure more effective coordination and synergy in the execution and control of scheduled maintenance.
Tracking and Modification
Creating and implementing a maintenance program is a smart business move for your company. However, if you are not monitoring it, you might be missing something.
If you notice that a machine does not experience a single breakdown within a specific period, you can adjust your schedule to avoid wasting time inspecting equipment that seems to be running well on its own.
If you notice that another machine is experiencing regular failures despite regular maintenance, you can investigate further to see why it is constantly having problems; then update your plan accordingly.
Always remember that there are expert facility management companies that can help you achieve greater control and reduce maintenance costs while ensuring your establishments deliver the best shopping experience to customers.
At Optima Retail, we excel in delivering comprehensive maintenance services for the retail sector, ensuring that facilities remain in perfect condition to meet our clients' demands.