Preventive maintenance : Why is it so important ?

Preventive maintenance sometimes simply referred to as PM, is maintenance that is performed regularly to reduce the possibility of equipment failure. Preventive maintenance is performed when the equipment is in good working order, before a failure occurs.The objective is to identify the first signs of failure, in order to minimize the risk of unexpected failure and reduce the need for corrective maintenance.

If you own a car, you probably understand the importance of regular maintenance. Basic things like changing the oil or checking tire pressure can help you spot and correct small problems that could turn out to be serious. The same principle can apply to your company's equipment. It is therefore important to set up preventive maintenance to ensure the durability and reliability of your equipment.

The objectives of and preventive maintenance

The maintenance of production systems plays a key role within a company. It includes a set of tasks aimed at preserving the machines, ensuring quality production and meeting deadlines. This approach has several important objectives :

• Ensure planned production
• Meet production deadlines
• Manufacture of a quality product
• Increase in profitability
• Ensuring the safety and well-being of employees
• Preservation of the environment

Four essential preventive maintenance measures

Preventive maintenance is based on a preventative approach and includes four key measures : Inspection, detection, the correction And prevention. All of these concepts are essential to the success of a preventive maintenance program.

Inspection : Inspections are an essential part of preventive maintenance. They make it possible to ensure the safety of the installations by verifying that the equipment can be used in complete safety. Additionally, regular checkups protect assets by verifying that equipment is performing according to manufacturer specifications.

Detection : Contrary to a "race to the bottom" approach, preventive maintenance allows problems to be detected at an early stage. Managers can take quick and cost-effective action to resolve issues before they become more serious.

Correction : Preventive maintenance is an anticipatory method for plant managers, which aims to correct problems before they occur. If an anomaly or risk is identified, managers act quickly to resolve it before the situation escalates and disrupts operations. This approach ensures business continuity and improves equipment life.

Prevention : Analyzing inspection reports and maintenance notes allows facility managers to learn from past mistakes and correct recurring issues. Preventing asset failure reduces stress and increases team productivity. When equipment is operating in accordance with controls, personnel can focus on preventive maintenance tasks rather than reactive tasks.

When should preventive maintenance be performed?

Preventive maintenance is a necessary measure to preserve the operation and durability of equipment. It provides for the planning and execution of regular inspections, adjustments, cleaning and minor repairs to prevent potential breakdowns and failures.

Critical Transmissions: These transmissions are necessary for the operation of the equipment. They require special attention and should be visually and audibly inspected weekly or bi-weekly.

Normal transmissions: These are the transmissions that are important to the overall operation of the equipment, but are not as critical as those previously mentioned. A visual and auditory inspection of these transmissions is recommended approximately every month.

Complete inspection: This step includes a complete shutdown of the transmission so that a full inspection of all components, including belts, pulleys and other parts, can be performed. It should be done every three to six months.

What are the different types of preventive maintenance?

Systematic maintenance : Systematic maintenance within the operation and maintenance department is aimed at ensuring the regular operation of the machines and guaranteeing their functionality. Its purpose is to reduce downtime by carrying out regular checks to ensure machines are operating efficiently. Through systematic maintenance, errors and breakdowns can be reduced to a minimum, which extends the life of the machines.

Condition monitoring : Condition-based maintenance is a maintenance strategy that monitors the actual condition of equipment in order to decide what maintenance action to take. Under this approach, maintenance is performed only when specific indicators show declining performance or impending failure. Follow-up may include non-invasive measures, visual inspections, performance data and scheduled tests.

Predictive maintenance : Predictive maintenance is a method that uses tools and techniques to analyze data to determine potential breakdowns and failures in the operation of equipment and processes. The objective is that the necessary repairs are carried out before they lead to failure.

Preventative maintenance can be time-based or usage-based, or a combination of these two types of maintenance.

Connected maintenance for an industry 4.0!

Thanks to the Internet of Things and CMMS, it is possible to efficiently maintain production systems and prevent industrial machinery breakdowns. This technology uses a variety of equipment to ensure machines are running optimally.

• The IoT sensor : This type of component measures data and detects certain variations in the environment.
• Sources of energy : Electrical wiring, batteries, energy recovery systems, electromagnetic waves from readers.
• actuator : Element capable of converting numerical data into physical phenomena.
• Connectivity : Short or long distance networks.

From a financial point of view, the affordable cost of connected sensors makes it easier to equip machines. This makes it possible to analyze many factors and avoid possible breakdowns at a lower cost! Thanks to the constant improvement of digital technology, artificial intelligence and the IoT, preventive maintenance is becoming very attractive for manufacturers.

CMMS is an essential management method for preventive maintenance. It is used to avoid malfunctions of parts that could slow down the whole industrial activity. By combining CMMS and IoT, the industry benefits from efficient and convenient online maintenance.

We can therefore distinguish classic maintenance from connected maintenance, a real plus for production systems. It is no longer a question of simple maintenance, but of a total anticipation - thanks to the IoT - of failures and technical problems. Betting on maintenance related to the Internet of Things is therefore a good idea for your industry!

What is the role of a CMMS?

The term CMMS refers to computer-aided maintenance management. In general, it is an IT solution that helps companies' maintenance departments to manage, organize and analyze their maintenance interventions and strategies.

This method of maintenance management is primarily adapted to industry, but it is also applicable to all sectors of activity that need to maintain equipment such as real estate, vehicle fleets, sports equipment, etc.

Maintenance management software not only facilitates the work of teams, but also improves the monitoring and organization of their maintenance activities. It offers the following advantages:

• Complete and updated inventory of equipment to be maintained.
• Follow-up of maintenance work, with cost traceability control.
• Centralization of documents relating to equipment (technical, administrative, financial).
• Preventive maintenance actions (cleaning, lubrication, checks, regulatory checks).
• Spare parts inventory management with restocking alerts.
• Coordination of internal and external maintenance personnel.
• Measurement, analysis and optimization of maintenance activities.
• Process troubleshooting and enhancement requests.
• Making informed decisions on equipment replacement and supplier selection.

What is the life of the belts and how to extend it?

The mechanical transmission belts of your machine are responsible for controlling and synchronizing several organs. They provide movement between the different parts of the transmission mechanism, allowing it to function properly.

These transmission belts can be used to move various components such as pulleys, gears or other mechanisms. They play a crucial role in the transmission of motion and the coordination of the different parts of the machine.

Changing the mechanical transmission belts is a necessary and unavoidable measure to keep the machine running. Although it can be expensive, not replacing these belts can have serious consequences and even more costs.

Mechanical transmission belts play an important role in synchronizing the various components they drive. As the belt loosens or wears, it loses its ability to maintain proper timing. This can lead to problems with overheating, inefficiency, loss of power, and even machine downtime. You may also start to hear unusual noises, which indicates parts of your device are bumping, damaging, or breaking.