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BRET KASUBKE PREVENTIVE EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE IMPROVES THE BOTTOM LINE
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clear, creative vision is essential to a successful landscaping project and so is the equipment used to bring that vision to life. When equipment breaks down or malfunctions, the project schedule suffers, the budget suffers and so does the customer experience—and possibly your company’s reputation. Regular maintenance and inspections of equipment such as backhoes, skid steers and mini-excavators are key to protecting the bottom line by preventing unexpected equipment-related downtime. Yet, many landscaping companies under-maintain this equipment, often because they lack the time or qualified technicians to do the work or the expertise to develop and implement an effective maintenance program. Given the payoffs of maintaining equipment per the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines (based on engine hours, mileage or days in use), it’s worth finding a practical, cost-effective solution.
Benefits of Performing Regular Maintenance and Inspections Developing and following recommended maintenance and inspection schedules benefits workers, project timelines and profits. Consider these rewards: Safety: Faulty equipment is potentially dangerous equipment. Long hours of use in hot weather put heavy wear and tear on machines, and worn chains, cables and other parts put workers at risk. Broken pedals or levers and malfunctioning safety lights or audio signals can also result in preventable accidents. Properly maintaining and inspecting equipment can help reduce the number of safety incidents and worker injuries. Productivity: Following manufacturers’ recommendations for equipment inspection, maintenance and parts replacement can improve productivity by reducing unplanned downtime. If equipment fails or malfunctions, work may stop while you arrange for repairs, search for hard-to-find parts or shop for replacement equipment. Even equipment that is underperforming due to lack of maintenance may slow down operations. One delay causes a domino effect, affecting other projects and customers. Financial: Reactive maintenance—fixing machines only when they break—can drive up the total cost of equipment ownership. When equipment must be
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taken out of service at critical moments, the impact on the schedule takes a financial toll. Wages are wasted when workers can’t perform the intended tasks, and you may need to pay workers overtime to make up for lost hours or days. Preventive maintenance, on the other hand, helps keep projects on schedule and within budget. Often, it trims repair costs by addressing small problems before they lead to big ones. It also extends a machine’s useful life, delaying the need to purchase new equipment and preserving the value of the equipment when it’s time to sell.
The Value of Outsourcing Maintenance For small, busy landscaping companies, staying on top of maintenance and inspection schedules isn’t easy, especially in the middle of landscaping season when equipment is constantly in use and moving from one site to another. Retaining skilled mechanics and trained service technicians capable of maintaining and repairing today’s sophisticated equipment is also challenging. Outsourcing maintenance and inspection to a company specializing in customer-owned equipment repair and services can be a smart strategy for owners who want to protect their profits, their equipment investments and the safety of their workers. Top-tier equipment repair and services companies have deep experience
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