Generally, repairs are done in response to equipment failure and PM work is done on a preset schedule. That makes sense as far as it goes, but does the following make sense? A machine is down for four hours due to a mechanical failure. Two days later, it’s down again to permit the scheduled PM work.
Would it have made more sense for the PM work to have been done while the equipment was already down? One argument against this is you would have a repair crew and a PM crew getting in each other’s way.
That argument fails to account for several factors, such as the time the repair crew spends waiting for parts (a window in which PM work could be done) and the time it takes to conduct lockout/tagout. On the latter, you could do it only once even if the PM crew must wait until the repair crew is completely done. And in many facilities, it’s the same crew.
If your facility has a good CMMS and wireless connectivity, it’s easy for the crew (or supervisor) to see what PM work is coming up for that particular asset.
About the Author
Mark LamendolaMark 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.