Conveyor Health – The Care and Maintenance of Your Conveyor System

We see it all around us. In nature organisms begin to breakdown as they age. The human body is no exception – our organs and systems are negatively impacted by the passage of time. Even facing that harsh reality, we humans continually strive to improve the care and maintenance of our bodies. Some of us are motivated to do it for strictly outside appearances, while others are on a quest to improve their overall health and longevity. Whatever the motivation, the concept at the centre remains the same.

Applying preventative measures, we seek to extend quality of life, thus maximizing our assets for the longest time possible. Conveyor systems, frequently a major component to the success of any enterprise, must, like the human body, be well maintained if we expect them to contribute to improved or even stable results over the long run. Just like people, conveyor systems are large complex systems that are susceptible to failing as a result of attack from outside influences, or internal malfunction. If we study and understand the basic steps needed for conveyor maintenance and identify the most common conveyor problems we can then devise plans to deal with keeping our valuable conveyor production healthy.

As we decide how to implement a proper conveyor maintenance system there are certain considerations we should take into account. We should always be conducting frequent inspections. Experts, mechanics and regulatory bodies should constantly be checking the conveyor products to ensure they are up to standards and functioning properly. Proactive sustainability is a key in the conveyor industry.

Since down time can cost an incredible amount of money, another core characteristic to successful conveyor operation is having a backup plan and back up parts. If for some reason your conveyor or a component goes down you must be prepared to either repair the problem quickly or move to a contingency plan until the issue can be resolved.

Proper staff and proper training will also go a long way to improving conveyor efficiency. A highly capable team of capable minds, and a properly trained workforce will set the stage for the care and supervision that is needed for these complex conveyor operations. With the right conveyor, properly designed, and with a team maintaining and correcting problems, the handling of most of the standard conveyor issues can easily be solved.

Despite there being a wide range of conveyor types, specialty customizations and a vast amount of uses across organizational departments, some of the same issues routinely pop up. Lack of lubrication or fluids is one universal problem most conveyor operators face. Machines need oils and greases to run properly and as much stress as there is put on conveyors this is especially the case in this industry.

The issue of contamination must also be faced by those involved with the care of conveyor systems. There is the constant battle against dirt and grime in conveyor installations in factory settings, but additionally the units also are frequently confronted with products, moisture and temperature fluctuations. Obviously, thorough cleaning can help prevent new problems cropping up.

We should also be checking the timing and tracking of our conveyor components and movements. Parts that become off-track or off-schedule can contribute to serious delay and disruption in the normal schedule. It is imperative that no matter how we accomplish fixing and accounting for the conveyor concerns we confront, we must always be doing all we can to assure the best possible job is being accomplished.

Although it can be seen as a daunting task, conveyor maintenance, when taken seriously, can result in significant rewards and benefits for a company. But, if we clearly identify the issues we need to concentrate on in our conveyor plan, it will go a good way toward the goal of keeping our conveyors working effectively. Both in life and on the conveyor floor the challenge of good health can be a goal that only the greatest attention to detail can help us maintain. Conveyors, these expensive and sensitive work horses of industry will only be sustained in a durable manner in proportion to our ability to give them proper care and maintenance.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Coveyors for more information on conveyors or to order NKC Chain, Dearborn Midwest Pusher Dogs or any other related replacement parts.