Periodic Maintenance for Reliable Operations and Reduced Breakdowns

Industrial decarbonisation involves reducing carbon emissions in industrial operations through sustainable practices. While periodic maintenance ensures equipment efficiency and longevity, relying on breakdown maintenance increases downtime and emissions. Transitioning from reactive to proactive strategies minimises unplanned failures, enhancing operational sustainability and supporting decarbonisation efforts by maintaining energy-efficient, well-functioning machinery across industrial processes.

Periodic maintenance, also known as routine or preventive maintenance, involves scheduled tasks like cleaning, lubrication, and part replacements. It ensures optimal equipment performance and reliability. Key features include:

1. Proactive Approach: Prevents major repairs by addressing issues early.
2. Cost-Effective: Scheduled maintenance reduces costs compared to breakdown maintenance.
3. Increases Asset Life: Extends equipment lifespan with regular servicing.
4. Improves Safety: Ensures equipment is safe through inspections.
5. Guided by Standards: Follows manufacturer recommendations and regulatory guidelines.

Periodic maintenance ensures optimal equipment performance and prevents breakdown maintenance. Follow these steps to implement it effectively:

1. Select Key Assets: Start with critical equipment essential for meeting production goals.
2. Review Guidelines: Analyse the manufacturer's MTBF data and historical metrics.
3. Define Maintenance Intervals: Schedule maintenance weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
4. Plan and Track Tasks: Use CMMS or calendars to monitor progress.
5. Perform Maintenance: Ensure technicians execute scheduled procedures effectively.

Periodic maintenance offers numerous advantages over breakdown maintenance, ensuring smoother operations and enhanced equipment longevity:

1. Increased Asset Lifespan: Regular inspections prevent major failures, extending equipment life.
2. Improved Performance: Time-based maintenance ensures optimal operation, reducing energy use.
3. Easy Implementation: Simple setup using manufacturer guidelines and maintenance history.
4. Reduced Downtime: Scheduled maintenance minimises unplanned downtime and boosts asset reliability.

While periodic maintenance offers many benefits, it does have some drawbacks:

• Excessive Maintenance: Over-servicing equipment, especially when not needed, can result in unnecessary costs and waste of resources. Regularly evaluate asset needs and adjust maintenance schedules accordingly to avoid inefficiency.
• Unplanned Events: Even with a well-planned maintenance schedule, unexpected breakdowns can still occur. It's crucial to allocate resources for emergency repairs and unforeseen failures to avoid disruption in operations.

Integrating breakdown and periodic maintenance ensures a balanced approach to equipment management. While periodic maintenance proactively prevents issues and reduces downtime, breakdown maintenance addresses unforeseen failures. Combining both strategies allows businesses to minimise unplanned disruptions, optimise resource allocation, and extend equipment lifespan, enhancing overall operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.