Maintenance First

摘要

Although most companies are aware of the correlation between maintenance and prof- itability, there is a tendency to ignore maintenance and view it as an unnecessary expense. As a result, the cost of break-ins or emergency main- tenance is frequently substantial; indeed, unscheduled maintenance can cost three to five times more than planned and scheduled maintenance. In crisis situ- ations, companies are then forced to dedicate more labor to correcting a problem, parts might need to be expedited in and costs rise sharply. However, if managers commit to ensuring that maintenance work is planned and scheduled correct- ly, the risk of equipment failure can be significantly reduced, improving control and reserving resources. Plant managers and executives need to be cognizant of three key steps toward improved planning and scheduling of maintenance, laying the foundations for a cycle of continuous improvement and leading toward tangible bottom-line results.