SNACKS & CONFECTIONERY
How to prepare
for post-COVID success Following a year of global pandemic restrictions, the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the food production industry are starting to come into focus. Months of uncertainty and disruption have led many companies to re-examine their manufacturing resilience, by exploring new solutions for effective equipment maintenance and aftermarket service.
Smarter aftermarket service will ensure manufacturing resilience
R
aj Singh, group aftermarket &
first ensure their original equipment
3. D ata analysis, repairs and digitalisation
services manager at tna, explains the
manufacturer (OEM) provides a
More frequently, food producers and OEMs
rising importance of implementing
comprehensive aftermarket service
are recognising the potential of advanced
an effective preventative maintenance
package that proactively supports their
digital technologies to revolutionise the
approach, and how new developments
operations with both routine servicing
way lines are operated and serviced.
in aftermarket services are offering
and ways to improve overall equipment
Beyond enabling more efficient
manufacturers innovative new ways to
effectiveness (OEE).
maintenance and repairs for example,
increase uptime and profitability.
the data gathered during scheduled Combine preventative maintenance
preventative maintenance checks can
CHOOSING THE RIGHT MAINTENANCE STRATEGY
and aftermarket service for complete
also be used in combination with digital
manufacturing resilience
aftermarket services, such as artificial
The first step towards shoring-up the
1. Training, expert advice and strategy
intelligence (AI), digital twins and machine
resilience of any production line is selecting
development
learning, to proactively monitor and
the most appropriate form of maintenance.
To establish a successful preventative
There are many methods producers can
maintenance strategy, food producers need
employ, ranging from reactive or corrective
comprehensive training from their OEM,
maintenance to proactive maintenance,
covering aspects such as: which factors
PREDICTING FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
which involves taking action early-on to
to monitor during regular inspections,
Over the course of the pandemic, digitally-
manage factors that can degrade equipment
how often they need to be conducted and
focused maintenance strategies and
performance. The preventative maintenance
by whom. Aftermarket training sessions
aftermarket services have moved from
method centres around the carefully planned
like these ensure operators can create a
emerging trends to industry standards in a
monitoring of equipment, regardless of
preventative maintenance schedule and
matter of months. Going forward, the focus
its current status, to reduce the risk of
resolve simple issues in-house, though they
will likely shift even more to preventative
unscheduled downtime or unexpected
must be supplemented by a 24/7 customer
maintenance, data gathering and line
faults. Though a little more complex and
service offering that ensures producers
optimisation - helping food producers
time consuming than other approaches,
can access help quickly in the event of
keep their operations agile and resilient,
the cost-savings offered by a preventative
more serious faults.
whatever the future may bring.
maintenance programme make it the ideal
2. R eplacement parts and
choice for most food producers.
stock management
optimise line performance.
“At tna, as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing our aftermarket
For preventative maintenance to be
service, we have harnessed the power of
THE VITAL ROLE OF AFTERMARKET SERVICES
effective, producers need to keep a supply
augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality
of essential materials close to hand.
(VR) technology to develop tna remote
From spare parts supplies, to training,
Having the right stock of genuine spare
assist – an on-demand virtual repair and
technical advice and repairs - an effective
parts readily available lets producers avoid
advice service that allows users to connect
aftermarket service offering includes
costly downtime, while essential parts are
with expert technicians and receive
everything manufacturers need to keep
ordered. This also helps save storage space
tailored support - wherever they are in the
lines running at peak performance. These
– freeing up more room to expand lines and
world, in complete compliance with COVID
post-sale services are crucial, because even
profit margins. Given its vital importance,
restrictions,” Singh explains. •
with the most sophisticated maintenance
spare parts provision and best practice
schedule, unplanned downtime cannot be
advice on stock keeping should be included
avoided completely. Before implementing
as standard as part of a high-quality
a new servicing strategy, producers must
aftermarket service offering.
18
May 2021 | FOOD RE VIEW
Tna - www.tnasolutions.com
