There’s no way to completely eliminate downtime on site, but you can go a long way towards preventing it. Having the right construction habits in place significantly decreases the risk of running into issues that can pose much bigger problems for your organisation.
In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the most effective strategies for keeping your construction equipment up and running as much as possible.
Adhere to maintenance schedules
It’s easy to overlook a construction piece of equipment’s maintenance requirements, especially when it seems to be working at full capacity, and the site is busy. But there are good reasons why manufacturers include maintenance schedules in the first place: they help to catch small issues before they have a chance to become much bigger problems.
In doing so, you’ll be helping to reduce the risk of running into a critical equipment issue right at the time when you need to work the most. After all, it’s a lot easier to schedule planned maintenance at a time that suits you, rather than having to deal with an emergency fix.
Keep spare parts on site
Damage to a small part should be easy to fix, but that can only be the case if you have the piece in stock. If you don’t, then it doesn’t matter how small it is; everything will grind to a halt.
As with maintenance schedules, this one is easy to overlook. Most construction businesses are so busy with other tasks that the idea to order spare parts often doesn’t make it onto the to-do list. It’s generally best to make a note of the parts that your equipment burns through quickly, and make sure that you have a few extra in stock. It’s a small act that can be the difference between getting back up and running promptly and having to wait around for several days until the specialist piece is delivered.
Invest in operator training
Investing in operator training helps to minimise equipment downtime in multiple ways. The first is that equipment that is handled correctly is much less likely to experience a problem. The second is that operators who have an in-depth understanding of a piece of equipment are more likely to know how to handle it correctly. Poorly trained operators might still get the job done, but they won’t necessarily know if they’ve caused the equipment damage.
In addition, well-trained operators are more likely to spot early warning signs that the equipment has an issue. There is, of course, an upfront cost (in time and money) to training, but it’s one that pays off, both in terms of improved output and better-maintained equipment.
Conduct pre-start checks
When a deadline is approaching, the pre-start check is the first thing that is skipped.
But it’s much better to spend a few minutes performing a pre-start check than it is to deal with broken-down equipment. Checking any warning lights, controls, attachments, and tyres before putting the equipment to work can help to flag small issues before they have a chance to bring the site to a halt.
Stay ahead of def problems
Modern equipment is durable and made to last, yet there’s one issue that is surprisingly common, and that’s DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) faults.
If there’s an issue with the DEF system, then equipment can enter limp mode and stop working completely. When that happens, it can be difficult to figure out what the problem is and how to resolve it while you’re still on site, and it’s not always possible to get an expert technician out to fix it.
Staying ahead of potential problems is, therefore, essential. Many construction firms keep extra DEF fluid in stock, while some even keep a Link Belt DEF Delete Emulator onsite so that the risk is removed entirely. They use an easy plug-and-play design that can keep equipment in full operation without requiring advanced ECU programming.
Know what the machine is capable of
Even the most powerful and expensive machines have their limits. Understanding what they are, and sticking to them, is an effective way to prevent their components from wearing out prematurely.
There are some pieces of machinery that can perform multiple roles, but it’s best to clearly define what they are so that you can avoid the issue of operators using whatever equipment they want for a job.
Build relationships with local repair services
When something goes wrong, getting the equipment back up and running as soon as possible is key for preventing downtime and saving money. How quickly you’re able to fix a machine often depends on the strength of your relationships with local repair companies. Known companies often receive preferential treatment over new ones, which means that building the relationship ahead of time really can make a difference to how quickly the repair work can be completed.
Plus, there are other advantages to partnering with a repair company. It’ll give you more confidence that you’re receiving expert advice and that the job will be completed to the highest of standards.
Have a clear backup plan
Even the best construction companies run into equipment failure at some point or another. The best course of action isn’t to assume that you won’t run into issues; it’s to figure out how quickly you can get back up and running when it does happen.
It’s recommended to have a clear plan of action relating to who gets called first, where you can hire replacements, and which aspects of the job can continue while the equipment is being repaired. Once you have the plan, make sure it’s well-known — some construction managers put these plans together but keep them to themselves, which counts for little if they’re not there.
