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We Can Clean It Up Later

Sept. 19, 2017
Does it increase uptime to leave cleanup for later?

Five machines are down with no repair tech yet assigned. Production management wants to clear that queue because money is hemorrhaging by the minute. However, every available repair tech from your small maintenance shop is tied up on a repair. You’re working on a repair you could finish quickly if you leave the cleanup for later.

Leaving it for later means you do the cleanup “offline” instead of while equipment is down. This looks like a good way to increase uptime, but is it? That depends.

Cleanup before energization should include a tool count. Counting tools after the arc blast defeats the purpose of the tool count. What about addressing safety issues or Code violations? Always do that before energizing. That missing knockout plug is not going to be installed if left for later.

What about picking up wire scraps, greasy rags, and the old parts you just replaced? What about the 50-hp motor you just replaced? Do you leave the old one in the aisle?

Rather than put repair techs in the position of making these decisions, management needs to address these issues. For example, hire helpers for this purpose or arrange for operators to assist with cleanup.

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