Maintaining your plant equipment, especially the hardware that is crucial to your company’s day-to-day operations, should be of the utmost concern to any diligent manager. Not only is such equipment vital to the profitability of any manufacturing company, but letting your plant’s equipment fall into a state of disrepair may result in serious workplace injuries. Moreover, letting valuable plant equipment sit idly by is not only a waste of money, it’s a waste of factory floor space, too. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the hidden costs of foregoing regular maintenance on your plant equipment.

Decreased Safety

Equipment that has not been properly maintained over an extended period of time is subject to any number of faults, including temporary or permanent damage. Equipment that has been damaged can malfunction at any time, and injuries that result from damaged equipment are not unheard of.

Less Production

A defunct machine simply can’t produce. If that machine requires an operator, the employee won’t be able to fulfill his or her daily responsibilities.  With that in mind, it’s easy to see how the enforcement of preventative maintenance strategies can actually help maintain production, especially during times of peak production.

Legal Issues

Depending on the industry you are in, there may be specific regulations regarding the maintenance timelines of your equipment. Failure to comply with such regulations can lead to legal proceedings which often result in company fines, loss of benefits or other restrictions. Moreover, legal claims that stem from workplace injuries are not only harmful to your pocketbook, but your reputation within the community as well.

Damaged Reputation

If you have a history of workplace incidents or large employee turnover rates, your industry peers will take notice. Such maladies, more often than not, can be traced back to the lack of preventative maintenance within the factory. Conversely, enforcing a strict protocol regarding the preventative maintenance of your plant’s equipment can go a long way in steering your company to a leadership role within the industry.

Higher Long-Term Costs

One of the primary reasons owners and managers forego regularly scheduled maintenance is due to the high costs associated with the process. While preventative maintenance may seem expensive, the costs incurred are actually much less when compared to that of workers’ compensation claims, decreased production, court costs, fines or the cost of brand new equipment. As such, establishing and enforcing strict maintenance schedules can actually go a long way in saving money in the end.

With locations located throughout the Southeast and nationwide, Automation Personnel Services specializes in providing light industrial employees. Contact our team of recruiters today to help with any of your technical staffing needs.