If you’re looking to invest in drip irrigation manufacturing machinery, you want to make sure, that you assess the equipments maintenance and service needs. Manufacturing drip irrigation pipe for irrigation systems with minimal scrap and downtime is key to running a successful pipe extrusion business.
Your maintenance process should employ the same lean methodology as the rest of your operation. Set up a system to track drip irrigation pipe making machine maintenance issues and requests so you can identify unexpected problems or equipment causing bottlenecks quickly. This will allow you to implement solutions ensuring that most maintenance is proactive and machines run smoothly without impacting operations.
Training Pipe Production Line Operators:
Whenever you add a new piece of machinery to your plant, an important part of getting up to speed, as well as on-going irrigation machine maintenance, is training machine operators. They should be taught and have clear reference guides on how to set up, adjust, and operate each individual machine. Additional training can focus on common maintenance and trouble-shooting.
If you’re investing in a new machine for your facility, invest in proper training as well. DRTS provides complete training to your workforce to ensure smooth and trouble free operations.
Remote Support & Maintenance:
Newer machines can connect to the internet and can be accessed remotely and diagnosed by the manufacturer. Even when the machine is manual, you should still have access to phone or internet support for your equipment. Often, it is worth the cost of investing in computerized equipment monitoring to address and prevent failures and keep your lines running. Smart maintenance tools can often predict failures, giving you time to order and replace the part on a more convenient schedule.
Most DRTS machinery comes with remote access capability allowing online support for our customers. Similarly, some irrigation machines require regular maintenance. A certified technician can visit your plant to perform preventative maintenance and check for bigger issues. Discuss the maintenance needs of your equipment when you purchase it to make sure you’re getting the right mix of support online and in person. DRTS supports our clients during and post installation and we offer extended maintenance packages and training.
You can project how much money regular maintenance saves by calculating the cost of having a machine down. Even a small increase in machine availability due to regular maintenance and reduced downtime tends to result in a large upside for the business.
Spare Parts:
When a machine has mechanical and electrical parts, some of these will, from time to time, wear out. You should get a spare parts list from the equipment manufacturer that includes a table with the frequency with which these parts will need replacing. There should also be a note for parts which have a longer lead time to replace. The last thing you want to have happen is a critical machine to go down without the part on hand to keep it operational.
You can calculate the cost of machine downtime to determine which machines and which parts to keep on hand. Consider costs of parts, technician response time, the ability to remotely diagnose the machine, and how long it takes, on average, to get the machine running. Use this information to know which parts to keep on hand and when to call in outside help.
Learn More with DRTS
Maintenance and service costs should be factored into the total cost of ownership of a piece of equipment in addition to the initial purchase price. DRTS will help you calculate and understand these costs. Focus on steps needed to keep your machines reliable and reduce downtime as much as possible. This translates to better production for your plant and allows you to meet customer needs just in time, every time. When you purchase irrigation machines from DRTS, we make sure you get the proper training and maintenance schedules and have a good maintenance plan in place.
