Typically, system backups are thought of as pertaining to computer systems in corporate offices and data systems.
But manufacturing companies need to know that system backups are just as important to manufacturing companies – if not more so – than corporate offices.
In the manufacturing and warehouse environment, where reliable and efficient systems are critical, the slightest power outage can result in hours lost while employees handle the outage and equipment is repaired. In worse-case scenarios, human injury could result due to jammed machinery.
A second result of full or intermittent system failure is loss of climate control or lighting. In industries such as food-handling, frozen food products could thaw, making them susceptible to bacteria.
Lighting failure can lead to workplace accidents, where heavy machinery is in use and can’t be safely navigated around human workers in dim lighting.
Costly Interruptions Need to Be Avoided
Manufacturing owners know that any loss in productivity for any reason is a costly interruption that has far reaching ramifications. When products don’t come off the assembly lines in time for outgoing shippers, customers don’t receive their orders on time.
Delays in manufacturing lead to backorders, and purchase orders can’t be fully processed until the backorders are reconciled. Eventually, the cost of a system failure makes its way down the line until it winds up appearing on a P&L sheet in red.
As the following article looks at, the main point of what manufacturing companies need to know about system backups is that they are not optional if manufacturing and warehouse companies want to stay in business for the long term.
Standby power systems exist that are heavy-duty enough to work for manufacturing companies. They can be linked in to one or more manufacturing systems, and are customizable to suit the needs of any size manufacturer.
Importance of Risk Assessment Tools
Owners can even have access to risk assessment tools that can help them to analyze their ROI when deciding what size and what kind of system backup to invest in.
In addition to sizes, owners can decide between different fuel sources for their system backup.
It’s generally advisable to opt for a different fuel than the primary one used to power the manufacturing plant.
This makes sense because if one power source is down, it may be because there is an external problem in the regional power grid. If that is the case, the problem would affect the backup system as well, unless the backup system ran on an alternative fuel supply.
For example, if the plant runs on electricity (and water to keep machinery cool), the backup system could run on an independent fuel, such as a propane or diesel tank, or natural gas.
It’s easier than one might think to install a system backup for a manufacturing or warehouse facility.
Rather than risk millions of dollars in lost revenue, it’s worth it to take steps now to insure the company investment with a solid backup system.
About the Author: Kate Supino writes extensively about best business practices.
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