When electrical systems are undergoing repair or replacement, how can facility owners and operations managers streamline operations and increase efficiency?
Simple. Make the most of a planned shutdown.
Below, we provide a detailed review of five ways that you can improve operational efficiency by using downtime to your advantage.
Let’s dive in.
Planned downtimes offer excellent opportunity windows to perform rigorous inspections that would otherwise have proved difficult during normal operations.
With this found opportunity, why not ensure that issues do not carry over to other similar equipment? As each piece of equipment in the inspection checklist is checked off, you verify that every component of the remaining systems is in good working order. If, by chance, you discover any safety concern or motor failure during the inspection, maintenance can be done right away as there's still time.
Although it can be tempting to save yourself money by skipping inspections during downtimes, the risk of fire damage resulting from electrical mishaps is far too huge to ignore. Be sure to inspect all your equipment and keep your customers, belongings, and workers safe from harm.
Conventional wisdom says to check all equipment every three years; however, many devices and components should be checked much more frequently. We'll break down which devices should not go that long, and why, in our guide.
While this might not be time-critical, not taking advantage of downtime to upgrade old equipment could lead to operational inefficiencies and a dip in productivity over time.
A planned downtime gives the maintenance team enough time to install new, better models. Better equipment translates to better production, which goes a long way in growing your bottom line.
A scheduled maintenance period also offers the ideal chance to review internal processes and make any necessary adjustments. Your equipment might be working in tip-top shape, but if the internal processes are subpar, you won't see a rise in operational efficiency. Besides, reviewing the underlying procedures keeps your facility up-to-date with regulations, industry best practices, and equipment technology.
As a property owner or building manager, energy bills can contribute to a considerable portion of your recurring expenses.
The National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (NEECA) projects that when you choose energy efficiency models and systems, you can save anywhere from 5- to 30-percent on your utility expenses. Energy-efficient equipment consumes less power over time, and what better time to install them than during a scheduled maintenance period?
Your next energy upgrade might include adding LED lighting and retrofitting fixtures, adding HVAC controls, integrating renewable energy sources like photovoltaic solar panels, installing low-cost sensors, and more. For example, replacing an old motor with a premium efficient motor or adding a frequency drive to a motor that runs 24/7 will pay for itself and save considerable amounts of money.
The higher the energy-efficiency rating of the equipment, the more the cost savings. Using planned downtime to create more efficiency creates an even deeper savings.
Gone are the days when facility owners used to say, "we'll just operate it until it's worn out."
Equipment can't last forever, but a well-thought-out maintenance plan will increase its service life. Electrical preventative maintenance (EPM) reduces the possibility of failure, improves safety, increases overall equipment efficiency, and boosts productivity. At Lemberg, we highly recommend preventive maintenance for our industrial and commercial clients.
Scheduled downtimes offer a great chance to evaluate your equipment and implement a workable preventive maintenance schedule. Your EPM plan should ideally include:
Before you put your preventive maintenance plan in place, it's prudent first to establish who'll be actively involved in the proactive project.
Depending on the size of the facility, likely choices might include industrial electricians, maintenance managers, schedulers, and planners. Additionally, all maintenance personnel must be fully invested in creating and implementing the program so that the EPM plan can be a success.
If you have an existing reactive or predictive maintenance plan, a preventive approach can still serve as a great complement. This approach provides a solution to an industrial or electrical mishap even before other maintenance approaches can discover it. It's a proven way to boost efficiency and improve productivity in high-risk industrial environments.
Don't have an electrical preventive maintenance plan in place yet? We can help! Click here to read our in-depth guide on how to build one and start detecting problems before they happen.
Identifying technology inefficiencies may lead to a proactive approach on system upgrades or changes. Many project obstacles can be traced back to poor planning, undefined scope or improper out-of-date product-installation practices. So, it’s essential to have an accurate planning tool that walks you through the entire project scope.
Ideally, the upgrade should include possible business data communication operational needs. This should include information outlets, structured cabling, WiFi networks and Building Automation Systems or BAS for short. With a data channel improved in all these key facets, you’ll improve your budgeting and estimating process. Remember if you set yourself up for success, anything is possible.
Installing improved data communication systems is a simple yet effective way to capitalize on a planned project or scheduled shutdown.
If you're wondering what the key considerations are for the accuracy and effectiveness of your next data communication system, here's our blog that offers clarity on that.
While most facility owners and operations managers believe predictive or reactive maintenance strategies to be the most effective way to improve operational efficiency and boost productivity, this is not practical or even desirable in all circumstances.
For offices and buildings that are open often, it can be difficult to keep up with maintenance and that’s where using planned downtime strategically is critical with a preventative maintenance plan.
Ready to get started?
Download our EPM guide today - achieving success in an electrical construction project has never been easier! Let Lemberg be part of your next project coordination team. For more information, feel free to talk to us, and we will be more than willing to assist.