3 minute read
Maximizing Cost of Ownership
In the first of a three-part series, Matrix shares best practices for protecting equipment assets
1. Open and operating in a government regulated manner.
2. Closed due to COVID-related enforcement or owner preference.
3. Preparing to re-open.
Considering that all facilities look to maximize the life and function of all equipment assets, Matrix Fitness Canada would like to explore a frequently asked question, while keeping the above circumstances in mind.
Maybe the more direct question should be: “Do I even need to do anything with equipment that isn’t constantly in use or hasn’t been used in some time?”
For those that don’t know, the answer is yes.
Depending on the amount of time your facility is closed for, here is a list of good practices, along with suggestions on maximizing and taking advantage of the down time.
1. Cardio equipment rotation.
This is a practice that many are unaware of. It involves having staff or a technician safely rotate cardio pieces and physically swap locations to ensure the usage of all machines on the cardio floor are experiencing roughly the same amount.
This is, of course, critical in the value and resale when it comes time to upgrade and especially critical for treadmills, as they have the most amount of wearable parts.
2. Parts that are designed and engineered to move.
There are many parts on both cardio and strength machines (e.g., treadmill roller bearings under running belt tension) that are better off moving to ensure they have a maximized life span.
Another example would be machined bushings, bearings, and cables on select strength machines.
It would be a good idea to have staff that have access during a closure, to go ahead and use the machines for a short time to allow those parts to move the way they are intended.
Most suppliers should have easy access to preventative maintenance guidelines. An example from our Matrix Fitness Learning Center can be found at matrixlearningcenter.com/ca/ owner-manager/
3. Hire a qualified technician if operational budgeting allows.
Nearly every facility has a preferred tech agency, dealer or manufacturer that not only offers brand-specific trained warranty technicians, but a preventative maintenance program that may be set up specifically for your facility.
Having someone come in, if you don’t already have a designated visit rotation set up to go through equipment or to address common issues, would be a wise thing to do.
At worst, a tech may be able to diagnose an issue, and if not covered under warranty, at least provide a budget to have repairs addressed when it is feasible to do so.
The operational hiatus would give the technician(s) all the room and access they need to ensure the on-site time is of good value.
Matrix Fitness has 71 Independent Service Providers (ISP) across Canada, including its own certified staff in Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton. Our interactive map to locate our certified training team is one of Matrix Fitness Canada’s pandemic projects!
4. A deep clean to brag about.
It is very common to have equipment in a state of cleanliness that is sometimes hard to recognize.
Sure, facilities have had equipment cleaning protocols for both patrons and staff elevate considerably and out of sheer necessity due to the pandemic, but how about underneath or inside that climbmill that hasn’t been moved in three years, or the 20 spin bikes that haven’t had the cosmetics removed to clean inside them?
Sure, your everyday member won’t notice anything like this, but the advantage created from a marketing or social media perspective highlighting these efforts can be very rewarding.
All facilities have members that are on the cusp of returning, but possibly need that little extra reassurance that their gym is doing all it can and then some.
We are proud of our Canadian roots and to support Canadian manufacturing, research, fitness education, and innovation.
We owe our success to our local and Canadian partners who believed in our education, equipment and services from the start, and supported our growth across Canada and abroad. As the Leaders in Mindful Movement, we are committed to championing, nurturing, and elevating Canadian fitness professionals and studio owners, and growing the mindbody fitness industry in Canada and beyond.
Article by Ben Mcginn, regional representative with extensive service and maintenance experience in Southern Alberta. Ben.mcginn@matrixfitness.com
For more information on Matrix in Canada visit ca.matrixfitness.com/en
