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    Scheduling Repairs

    May 15, 2018
    Today, we have tools that allow us to see deteriorating conditions and schedule a repair.

    At one time, repairs are what you did when your preventive maintenance failed to prevent a breakdown or when equipment reached a certain age or time in service. Consequently, most repairs were unplanned.

    Today, we have many tools that allow us to see deteriorating conditions and schedule an intervention type of repair. One big reason for the investment in predictive technologies and monitoring systems is you can avoid an unscheduled interruption in production. Often, it’s possible to schedule the repair for when the equipment is down anyhow (for example, during a changeover or shift change).

    That’s good, but there are three other big advantages to being able to schedule repairs. And they’re often overlooked:

    1. You have some time to troubleshoot the root cause of the impending failure. For example, a cable must be replaced rather early because of voltage spike damaged due to inadequate surge protection.
    2. You can examine the problem and consider upgrading the equipment.
    3. You can upgrade the repair methods. For example, you need to replace a mounting bracket; new styles of brackets can cut the time in half.
    About the Author

    Mark Lamendola

    Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

    Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

    Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.

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