{"id":5997,"date":"2021-12-13T01:05:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T08:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?p=5997"},"modified":"2025-05-30T13:05:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T19:05:56","slug":"heavy-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/heavy-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide To Heavy Equipment Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heavy equipment is expensive to acquire and maintain. It is also critical for business operations. Since you have to have it, you need a good heavy equipment maintenance program to keep the assets in peak condition, increase their utilization, and extend their useful life.<\/span><span id=\"heavy-equipment\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we&#8217;ll guide you through the most important points you need to consider for the maintenance of heavy equipment. We&#8217;ll also outline how you can establish a heavy equipment maintenance system customized to your needs.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What can we categorize under heavy equipment?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heavy equipment refers to specialized machinery built for a specific task or series of similar tasks. The term is broad, covering multiple industries and uses. Some examples include:<\/span><span id=\"the-benefits\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earthmoving machines like excavators, scrapers, or bulldozers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Construction equipment such as cranes and modular transporters<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forestry machinery, including chippers or stump pullers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Semi-trucks and trailers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mechanicalpower.net\/blog\/agriculture\/oem-parts-for-agricultural-machinery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Agricultural equipment<\/a> such as tractors and combine harvesters<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Railway rolling stock<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term is less about weight than the specialized role for which the equipment is used. These days, such machinery uses sophisticated hydraulics, pneumatics, and electronics to operate. With the critical role of these machines, and the capital cost of acquiring and operating them, comprehensive and targeted maintenance is essential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The benefits of proactive maintenance for heavy equipment<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing maintenance for heavy equipment involves investment, with some operators <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/what-is-breakdown-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">choosing to do equipment repairs only when it breaks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, this is a false economy, costing those operators considerably larger sums in the medium and long term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies suggest cost reductions between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buildings.com\/articles\/27864\/stop-wasting-money-deferred-maintenance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">three to ten times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when using <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/preventive-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventative maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> versus fixing it upon equipment failure. Let&#8217;s look at the benefits gained from regular, planned, heavy equipment maintenance:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5999\" src=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance.jpg\" alt=\"benefits of proactive heavy equipment maintenance\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-768x346.jpg 768w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-451x203.jpg 451w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-554x249.jpg 554w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-93x42.jpg 93w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-540x243.jpg 540w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/benefits-of-proactive-heavy-equipment-maintenance-100x45.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced safety\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As employers, we have not only a duty of care toward our workers; we have a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hse.gov.uk\/work-equipment-machinery\/maintenance.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">regulatory obligation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. When accidents occur, regulators immediately investigate the preventative measures and mitigations the employer had in place. One such mitigation is a well-thought maintenance plan to help ensure machinery cannot degrade to the point of causing injury or death.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining peak equipment performance<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hidden deterioration costs money: bypass valves not seating correctly, leaking hydraulics, dirty heat-exchangers working less efficiently, or dulled blades not cutting cleanly. All contribute to reduced operating capacity, increased wear, reduced efficiency, and reduced working life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each one of these effects sums up to reduced revenue or increased operating and capital expenditure costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reducing the number of unexpected breakdowns<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unexpected outages from breakdowns erode company value. Deadlines are missed, and clients are disappointed. Employees become frustrated, potentially causing safety incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/emergency-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emergency repair<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> costs can be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/reliabilityweb.com\/assets\/uploads\/articles\/11559\/figure1.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">two to three times the costs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of a planned replacement due to expedited freighting of spares, after-hours callouts, and the hire of backup equipment. <\/span><b>When maintenance is planned<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it is carried out at a time and place of the operator&#8217;s choice, without affecting operations, and with all resources preplanned and available.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extending equipment lifespan<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All equipment has a design lifecycle, the achievement of which depends on carrying out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/maintenance-definitions\/routine-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recommended routine maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The amortization of purchase costs across the equipment&#8217;s design life is the basis of rates charged by the operator. When equipment fails to make its design life due to neglect, costs are understated, and contributions to business earnings are lost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/useful-life-of-asset\/#5-practices-for-extending-the-useful-life-of-critical-assets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">numerous ways to extend useful life of heavy equipment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with proactive maintenance and operator training leading the way.<\/span><span id=\"proactive-heavy-equipment\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater equipment availability<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most heavy equipment is on an hourly rate. When the equipment is not operating, revenues reduce, and costs increase. When a job is costed as a lump-sum, breakdowns can impose emergency maintenance costs, extra hire costs, extended time-on-task, and reduced fleet efficiency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The failure to achieve planned fleet reliability rates realistically means a business is losing revenue or carrying increased operating and capital expenditure costs.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-bottom&#8221; kd_top_separator_style=&#8221;skew-left&#8221; kd_top_separator_height=&#8221;separator-height-small&#8221; kd_bottom_separator_style=&#8221;skew-left&#8221; kd_bottom_separator_height=&#8221;separator-height-small&#8221; kd_top_separator=&#8221;true&#8221; kd_bottom_separator=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969576554{margin-bottom: 40px !important;padding-top: 120px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;background: #dde4e8 url(https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cta-laired-hex-4.webp?id=9077) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 0px !important;}&#8221; css_tablet_landscape=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969576554{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}&#8221; css_tablet_portrait=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969576555{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}&#8221; css_mobile=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969576555{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column_inner]<header class=\"kd-section-title col-lg-12 text-center  subtitle-below-title kd-animated fadeIn   vc_custom_1682969598832\" data-animation-delay=200><h2 class=\"separator_off\" style=\"font-size: 42px;font-weight: 500;margin-bottom:30px;\">Checklist for Creating a Preventive Maintenance Plan<\/h2><h6 class=\"subtitle\" style=\"color: #152232;\">Following a consistent Preventive Maintenance Plan can make life easier. Use this checklist to create your own!<\/h6><\/header>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner content_placement=&#8221;top&#8221; kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}&#8221; offset=&#8221;vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-xs-12&#8243; css_tablet_landscape=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}&#8221; css_tablet_portrait=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}&#8221; css_mobile=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454224{padding-right: 15px !important;}&#8221;][vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image source=&#8221;external_link&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; custom_src=&#8221;https:\/\/3975608.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net\/hubfs\/3975608\/Content%20Downloads\/PM%20Checklist%20mockup.png&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to set up a proactive heavy equipment maintenance program<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following steps will guide you through the process of implementing a comprehensive heavy equipment maintenance program. The value you receive from the program will directly reflect the depth of detail you consider during the design and implementation phase.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #1: Choose a pioneer<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have not operated a proactive maintenance program in your organization before, begin slowly. Select one piece of equipment for your pilot program. Once you have implemented the necessary systems to support that machine adequately, it is easier to replicate that template across your entire fleet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your selection should focus on an asset that has considerable operating life remaining, and it should meet at least one of the following three criteria:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its efficient performance is critical to effective operations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It requires intensive maintenance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It has a high failure or breakdown rate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #2: Baseline equipment&#8217;s previous operation<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is difficult to analyze the adequacy of a maintenance program without having historical operating data and diagnostics against which to measure interventions. Where possible, ascertain the operating cost, efficiency, troubleshooting data, availability, and spare usage of the machine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Historical equipment performance and diagnostics, operators&#8217; gripes, and maintainers&#8217; experiences will all provide useful yardsticks against which to measure improvement. Once the maintenance program is in place and settled, you may compare the new data to the old to gauge the program&#8217;s effectiveness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #3: Gather necessary data<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When building a heavy equipment maintenance program, always begin with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/oem-original-equipment-manufacturer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">original equipment manufacturer&#8217;s (OEM)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> data. All heavy machinery manufacturers will publish a list of recommended maintenance tasks and their intervals. Manufacturer\u2019s recommendations will form the core of your maintenance program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next, consider the regulatory requirements you must meet in the jurisdiction you are operating. Most countries have specific maintenance intervals for lifting equipment. Health and safety legislation may impose specific requirements, as will environmental laws which require a regular monitoring of fluids, gasses, and emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, you\u2019ll need to consider what other maintenance tasks you need to add based on company requirements, aftermarket equipment installed, and your specific application:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, your company may use a GPS excavator guidance system fitted as an aftermarket product. The OEM of that equipment will have maintenance requirements that will form part of the overall machine maintenance program.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, your company may require hydraulic and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/oil-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">engine oil testing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The task of sampling the oils, sending them in for analysis, and recording the received results on a trend plot will become a planned maintenance task.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #4: Manage spares, consumables, and special tooling<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heavy equipment maintenance programs require certain spares, to be held in inventory or readily available at the jobsite, from third-party suppliers. Consumables and fluids will also need to be identified, as well as specialized tools needed to execute specific tasks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/planned-downtime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance period is planned<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it is important that all spares, seals, fluids, and tooling are available to support the maintenance process. All specialist tooling that requires calibration should end up on your preventive maintenance program to ensure they are in proper working order before use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #5: Decide on your management system<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, you&#8217;ll have a lot of data. You now need to decide how best to manage that data to call up tasks when due, raise the necessary worksheets, and capture the maintenance results. While you can use manual card systems or spreadsheets, they&#8217;re cumbersome, time-consuming, and require constant vigilance to ensure important things are not forgotten or missed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A modern computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) allows the easy setup of initial data. It looks ahead for upcoming maintenance and creates a work pack for tasks to be completed during the maintenance period. Once completed, the data is updated to show the new status of the machinery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">our <a href=\"\/cmms\/\">essential guide to CMMS<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn how a modern CMMS works and what you can expect from it. Or download the PDF version of the same article directly using the box below.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #6: Develop initial maintenance schedules<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, you need to accumulate all the data gathered above and overlay it to line up the tasks into obvious groupings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The regular maintenance frequency for each task may be based on cycles, equipment hours, miles, calendar time, or a mixture of all. If you have condition-monitoring sensors installed on your heavy equipment, their pressure\/temperature\/vibration readings will drive a lot of your maintenance actions.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More advanced organizations with a lot of equipment data readily available can use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/reliability-centered-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reliability-centered maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/implementing-risk-based-maintenance-in-laymans-terms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk-based maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to decide which failure modes they want to track and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which maintenance strategies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> they need to implement to make that happen.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #7: Monitor and adjust your heavy equipment maintenance plan<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your initial heavy equipment maintenance plan is not going to be perfect. Almost immediately, you will find that you need to make certain adjustments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some maintenance periods may have many tasks to be completed, while others have but a few. In this case, you can schedule some tasks early to reset when they&#8217;re due, smoothing the workload between consecutive maintenance periods and balancing downtime and resource requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you progress, you may find you complete some tasks too frequently. For instance, a filter inspection clean may be unnecessary at the initial frequency you selected. You might choose to lengthen the time between cleans to avoid unnecessary expense and time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The opposite is also true. Some tasks may need a higher frequency due to the ways the asset is used or the conditions it operates in. If you encounter increased wear, failures, or downtime, it is prudent to increase the frequency of specific maintenance tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step #8: Roll out your proactive maintenance program to other assets<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have completed a proactive maintenance program on one piece of heavy equipment, you should have data proving the benefits.<\/span><span id=\"general-advice\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the template in place for your first machine, it&#8217;s not difficult to complete these steps for your other equipment. With a good CMMS, the process is as simple as loading the data and letting the <a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/industry\/heavy-equipment-maintenance-software\/\">heavy equipment maintenance software<\/a> do the heavy lifting for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information, read our full guide on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/the-ridiculously-simple-preventive-maintenance-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to set up a preventive maintenance program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-bottom&#8221; kd_top_separator_style=&#8221;skew-left&#8221; kd_top_separator_height=&#8221;separator-height-small&#8221; kd_bottom_separator_style=&#8221;skew-left&#8221; kd_bottom_separator_height=&#8221;separator-height-small&#8221; kd_top_separator=&#8221;true&#8221; kd_bottom_separator=&#8221;true&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969636891{margin-bottom: 40px !important;padding-top: 120px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;background: #dde4e8 url(https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cta-laired-hex-4.webp?id=9077) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 0px !important;}&#8221; css_tablet_landscape=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969636891{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}&#8221; css_tablet_portrait=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969636891{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}&#8221; css_mobile=&#8221;.vc_custom_1682969636892{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_row_inner kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column_inner]<header class=\"kd-section-title col-lg-12 text-center  subtitle-below-title kd-animated fadeIn   vc_custom_1682969651819\" data-animation-delay=200><h2 class=\"separator_off\" style=\"font-size: 42px;font-weight: 500;margin-bottom:30px;\">The Essential Guide to CMMS<\/h2><h6 class=\"subtitle\" style=\"color: #152232;\">The Essential Guide to CMMS<\/h6><\/header>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner content_placement=&#8221;top&#8221; kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}&#8221; offset=&#8221;vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-xs-12&#8243; css_tablet_landscape=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}&#8221; css_tablet_portrait=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}&#8221; css_mobile=&#8221;.vc_custom_1631866454224{padding-right: 15px !important;}&#8221;][vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image source=&#8221;external_link&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;fadeIn&#8221; custom_src=&#8221;https:\/\/3975608.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net\/hubfs\/3975608\/Content%20Downloads\/CMMS%20Guide%20mockup.png&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General advice for heavy equipment maintenance<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following tips will assist you in fine-tuning your maintenance program to ensure you extract maximum value from each maintenance intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use heavy equipment maintenance checklists<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without a degree of standardization and consistency, it&#8217;s difficult to maximize the payback from your regular maintenance. If one technician misses tasks while the other is diligently doing them, your maintenance is neither controlled nor effective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/preventive-maintenance-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintenance checklists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/standard-operating-procedure-sop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SOPs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are a great way to standardize equipment management tasks and technician performance. They don&#8217;t need to be complicated &#8211; a simple checkbox to show task acquittal should be enough for a properly trained person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more complex tasks, checklists are a great way of highlighting the necessary steps of equipment service, while also adding a method to follow, the tools and spares needed, and providing a space for capturing who completed the task. It can also allow space to record observations that form a good narrative on the ongoing condition of the machine.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you use a <a href=\"\/cmms\/cmms-software\/\">CMMS software<\/a>, technicians will usually be prompted to leave completions noted upon closing WOs and PMs so those kinds of observations will be directly saved in the maintenance log for that specific asset.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use defect logs for equipment operators<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Place a defect log in the cab of all heavy equipment. A log allows the operator to note any concerns, leaks or deterioration, or breakages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6000\" src=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template.png\" alt=\"defect tracking log template\" width=\"640\" height=\"442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template.png 809w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template-300x207.png 300w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template-768x530.png 768w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template-345x238.png 345w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template-423x292.png 423w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template-87x60.png 87w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template-540x372.png 540w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/defect-tracking-log-template-100x69.png 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defect tracking log template. Source: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.excelstemplates.com\/defect-log-template\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free Excel Templates<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure the date is added and the entry initialed. Maintenance technicians can regularly check these defect logs to capture maintenance trends that may be developing. When planning the next maintenance day, all defects should be removed and added to the maintenance work pack for the technicians&#8217; information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All items in the defect log should be considered and addressed, either written off as an item to monitor, cleared as having been rectified, or pending awaiting tooling or spares. This control ensures the operators have feedback on issues they have raised, and no concerns slip through and come back to haunt you in the form of major service concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are using a CMMS, all checked\/addressed problems should be recorded in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/equipment-maintenance-log\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equipment maintenance log<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so you have the complete maintenance history of an asset in one place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1183\" src=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example.jpg\" alt=\"CMMS Equipment maintenance log example\" width=\"800\" height=\"453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example.jpg 1255w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-1024x580.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-420x238.jpg 420w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-515x292.jpg 515w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-93x53.jpg 93w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-540x306.jpg 540w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/CMMS-Equipment-maintenance-log-example-100x57.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An example of equipment maintenance log inside Limble CMMS.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop service packs for standardized tasks<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A service pack is a collection of items needed to perform a particular task. For instance, if you need seals, some lubricant, and new fasteners to complete an inspection, put them all in a sealed pack with a discrete part number which relates to the task.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can either have someone make up the pack before service day or create a part number and put them in stock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the task is due, the service pack is made available (along with maintenance tips and\u00a0 checklists if needed). Such a system prevents technicians from losing time by searching for those items before going out in the field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve work traceability and accountability<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have the technician or operator who completes a specific task sign and date their task. Such traceability allows you to speak to the individual if something occurs in weeks or months ahead. It also allows for an easy follow-up if they were the ones who found defects during <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/visual-inspection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visual inspection<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or other maintenance work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ideally, you should know:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who performed each task<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much time they spent doing it<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which spare parts they used<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing those three things is essential for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-cost-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">calculating your overall maintenance costs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and breaking them down into labor costs, parts costs, and costs associated with each vendor or asset.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure your technicians give \u201ccompletion time\u201d for larger tasks. This doesn\u2019t have to be about checking up on your workers. Alongside cost calculations, it&#8217;s very useful information that allows <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-planner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance planners<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to schedule sufficient time for maintenance (by having a better understanding of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/metrics\/mean-time-to-repair\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mean-time to repair<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for specific maintenance tasks).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major components such as hydraulic rams, pumps, and electronic components will have model numbers and serial numbers. Track these to know what is on your equipment, what is in inventory, and what is out being repaired.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This data will help you decipher how long a component is in operation before repair is required. If one component fails more frequently than others (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/metrics\/mean-time-between-failure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has lower MTBF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), you can isolate that part and investigate the problem, fixing or replacing the component to achieve improved operational life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your CMMS is invaluable here as it automates a significant portion of the data collection and tracking process, as well as allowing you (at least in the case of Limble CMMS) to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/maintenance-definitions\/maintenance-reports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">generate highly-customized maintenance reports<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4347\" src=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard.jpg\" alt=\"Limble CMMS custom dashboard\" width=\"800\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-1024x504.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-768x378.jpg 768w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-451x222.jpg 451w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-554x273.jpg 554w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-93x46.jpg 93w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-540x266.jpg 540w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Limble-CMMS-custom-dashboard-100x49.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limble CMMS dashboard can be populated with all kinds of custom metrics that refresh in real-time<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centralize service information and tooling<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be sure that your technicians are completing the task to your requirements, not their idea of what is needed. There should be only one place to access the service information and the tasks to be completed. No photocopied sheets of paper in people&#8217;s toolboxes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, don&#8217;t allow each tech to have special tooling they&#8217;ve made up to do a job. If it&#8217;s a good idea, get it made and make it available, so everyone can use it. If it&#8217;s not a good idea, it could damage your equipment or injure your technician.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide common data and tools for all to access and use. By controlling the information, the task, and the tooling, you control the safety and quality of work being completed. In this way, you optimize equipment life and maintain peak reliability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, CMMS can be used as your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/asset-inventory-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">asset inventory management system<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, keeping track of tools and equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gather relevant maintenance statistics and metrics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The aviation industry uses metrics such as mean-time-between-unscheduled-removal (MTBUR) and total-time-in-service (TTIS). They help you find parts that are not achieving their intended life or compare parts from different vendors to see which one provides more value for the $$ spent.\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"outsourcing\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An added bonus of tracking such <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-kpi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance metrics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the ability to plan maintenance before failure. This helps you avoid costly breakdowns. Your CMMS will allow you to mine that data, reducing cost and optimizing equipment uptime.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have the budget for it and truly want to optimize your maintenance resources, you will have to install condition-monitoring sensors on your heavy equipment and implement strategies like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/condition-based-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CBM<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/predictive-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">predictive maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should you outsource heavy equipment maintenance to a vendor?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a line. At one end sits the option of doing all maintenance yourself in-house, while at the other end you outsource all maintenance to a third-party organization. There are unlimited options between those two extremes, where you complete some maintenance and have some done by others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6005\" src=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource.jpg\" alt=\"Should you outsource heavy equipment maintenance to a vendor?\" width=\"640\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource-768x276.jpg 768w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource-451x162.jpg 451w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource-554x199.jpg 554w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource-93x33.jpg 93w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource-540x194.jpg 540w, https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/outsource-100x36.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many reasons for outsourcing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may consider that maintenance is not a business you should be in or want to be in, as it&#8217;s not your core competency.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some maintenance may require very specialized tools or skills that you don&#8217;t wish to purchase or train your employees for.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may wish to transfer the risk of maintenance onto a third party who specializes in the task. With <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cio.com\/article\/2438284\/outsourcing-sla-definitions-and-solutions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">service level agreements (SLA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in place, if your equipment availability drops, so too does the maintenance provider&#8217;s revenue.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may wish to reduce your permanent workforce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don&#8217;t have the facilities or ground space to carry out the maintenance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cost of your employees doing the maintenance may be more expensive than having a specialized contractor complete the task.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever your decision, there are some key issues to consider before taking the large step into outsourcing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Retain your information.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you outsource everything to a service provider, who owns all the data that they gather? Where does that data go if you wish to change maintenance providers? Will their control of your data restrict you from changing providers &#8211; effectively holding you to ransom?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you do choose to outsource completely, it is advisable to require them to use your CMMS. For example, Limble CMMS allows you to keep all of your data, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-contract\/#using-Limble-CMMS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">giving contractors limited access to the software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Work Orders can be sent directly to the vendor through our software (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6VZh4W3IE10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">see how this works in practice here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The vendor receives the WOs, performs the work, enters time and spare parts spent, and closes the WO.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This way, you have insight into how the maintenance is being acquitted. You also may carry out audits at your discretion. Should there be an issue with your provider, it is easy to transfer control to a new provider who can continue without an interruption to your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you selectively outsource, you need to be clear in your SLA what data will be provided, in what format, and the timeframe in which you must receive it. An example of selective outsourcing is an electrical maintenance group carrying out specialized tests and inspections or a heavy maintenance workshop carrying out your annual inspections. Require them to upload their data to your maintenance program.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Design a customized SLA to suit your needs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can shift business risk onto a third-party provider through a well-constructed SLA. If you stipulate a percentage of equipment availability in the SLA, you can gain share, and pain share, if the availability is higher or lower. Your <a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-contractor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">maintenance contractor<\/a> gets paid less as your availability reduces and receives a bonus if it improves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be clear on your expectations concerning the use of maintenance information, the application of safety procedures, and the desired outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outsourcing maintenance to a contractor does not absolve you of all responsibility, as you cannot delegate regulatory compliance issues. If your equipment is found to be in breach of regulations, the law will hold you to account. <\/span><b>Implement a strong governance system to audit ongoing contractor compliance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Price isn\u2019t everything<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not base your contractor selection on price alone. Competence, capability, compliance, and compatibility are all factors you should consider. The price of that more expensive contractor may pay back tenfold in increased uptime, reduced inventory, and extended machine life.<\/span><span id=\"recap\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be the manager you were hired to be and think about the big picture.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To recap<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While businesses still exist that only do <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/reactive-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reactive maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they usually do so for specific reasons. The majority of operators now realize that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/proactive-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proactive maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is significantly more cost-effective, especially for heavy equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the upfront administration for implementation may seem prohibitive, you can gently introduce your business, machinery, and technicians to a new paradigm through simple pilot projects. Proactive maintenance coupled with a reliable and modern CMMS will drive greater revenue, greater uptime, lower inventory costs, and improved earnings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re interested in using <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limble CMMS<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as the foundation for your future heavy equipment maintenance efforts, you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/demo-request\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">request a demo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/get-started\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">start a month-long free trial<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row kd_background_image_position=&#8221;vc_row-bg-position-top&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]Heavy equipment is expensive to acquire and maintain. It [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[738],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-industry-maintenance"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Complete Guide To Heavy Equipment Maintenance<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Strong heavy equipment maintenance program will keep the assets in peak condition, increase their utilization, and extend their useful life.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/industry-maintenance\/heavy-equipment\/\" 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