Making Time for Real Maintenance, Part 2

Once a plant maintenance department has deteriorated into (mal)functioning in a reactionary mode, there’s no time to do the preventive and predictive maintenance work that stops the problem. But usually, you’re not going to get additional resources (e.g., more skilled people) that would let you catch up. So how do you free up the time you need?

Think of how you manage your household budget. Suppose you develop a hobby that you enjoy but that costs you money. After a while, it affects your ability to pay your bills. So you cut back on that hobby to free up funds. You also look at other expenses, and eliminate unnecessary purchases.

Maintenance is the same way. The “hobby” is typically in the form of projects brought in house where maintenance can do them “for free.” They aren’t free (they are very costly, in reality), but the department with the project isn’t having corporate cut a check to maintenance for the work. Talk with the plant controller about how to charge these other departments, to end the freeloading.