Whether you have a production plant that has been closed only temporarily or perhaps has been closed for good, it is still important to maintain the building and its equipment in every way possible. In doing so, you can avoid many problems later on that may be not only inconvenient, but also expensive. As for the best ways to perform plant maintenance in these situations, here are some top tips you can use to keep your facility in excellent shape.
Create a Maintenance and Inspection Schedule
Even when your plant is not running, it is still vital you create and stick to a regular maintenance and inspection schedule. Since the equipment in your facility is worth thousands or even millions of dollars, regular maintenance and inspections are necessary. By doing so, you can still turn on certain pieces of equipment and often discover small problems before they become major issues.
Use Experienced Technicians
Since maintenance and inspection of the building and equipment is so important, always assign a team of your most experienced technicians to this task. In doing so, they will be able to recognize various issues and bring them to your attention. Also, they will be trained in all aspects of spray lubrication systems and other methods used to keep production equipment in excellent condition during downtime.
Increasing Resale Value
If you are maintaining a plant that has been permanently closed, it is vital you not forget that continuing to perform regular maintenance and inspections of the building and equipment will help increase its resale value. By continuing with inspections and maintenance, you will be able to provide potential buyers with detailed service records, letting them see that everything has been well-maintained after the plant was closed.
Use Smart Sensors
While you will still need actual technicians to be on-site so they can perform equipment and building maintenance, you can also take advantage of smart sensors to help with this process. Becoming more and more common in all types of production facilities, these sensors can be used to detect leaking fluid within equipment, roof leaks, smoke that may indicate a fire or chemical leak, and other potentially serious problems. Able to provide information in real-time, they can be linked to mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, giving you instant access to data.
Though at times it may seem futile to worry about maintaining a plant that isn’t running, doing so diligently will eliminate many problems and help you gain more money should the equipment and building be sold.
Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.
