Maintenance of equipment remains important during the current crisis both for essential installations that remain operational such as power stations and water treatment works, and plants where production is at low levels or suspended.
But plant managers must first assess the risks associated to maintain the safety of those on site, the Society of Operations Engineers has stressed, while the Institute of Asset Management also emphasises that maintenance engineers are central to keeping essential services running and ensuring that assets will be ready to perform as usual as demand returns.
“It is vital that plant operators have fully assessed the risks associated with continued maintenance and have a plan in place to ensure safe and best practice on site,” said SOE chief executive Bruce McGill. “If those measures are in place, the monitoring of plant and production equipment is important because operators do not want to face further delays when full production levels resume.”
SOE members are drawn from a range of industries and technical disciplines, with a common factor being expertise in inspection, maintenance and safety-focused engineering. It has professional sectors for engineer surveyors and plant engineers, who are involved in the maintenance and operation of fixed and mobile assets.
McGill said: “Our members tell us that they are doing everything in their power – and within the recommended safety guidelines – to maintain plant and production equipment. Safety of staff remains a primary concern for businesses operating in this sector and across industry, so there are inevitably some shortages of personnel for these required roles. However, our members tell us that, for the most part, essential maintenance work is still taking place.”
However, many organisations are facing difficulties in this area, with the risk than machinery could be run to failure or not available to start up again when restrictions are lifted. McGill said: “The situation is far from ideal, and some businesses simply do not have the resources to fully maintain all machinery. Clearly, that could have negative implications when measures are lifted.” He urged members to help SOE to collate and disseminate practical help: “As a professional engineering institution, we have asked our members to share their solutions to the challenges posed by the coronavirus, as they are shared through the sector and across industry. We would encourage struggling operators to contact us for guidance.”
Institute of Asset Management managing director Andy Watts said that, at the current time of lockdown, there is a critical need to sustain essential services, particularly those supporting the NHS and other critical infrastructure. “The importance of maintenance engineers focusing on clear priorities within a risk-based asset management regime is greater than ever,” he said, adding that the safety and wellbeing of those involved in undertaking this work was paramount.
“The key to this lies in good asset management defining the right activities and plans and doing only the necessary activities to make sure the assets continue to perform as required – and if they are to be mothballed, that they can be restored to full use when needed.” He emphasised that good asset management is risk-based and ensures the right maintenance activities are undertaken to provide value both to the organisation and those who rely on the services provided by the assets.
“The Institute of Asset Management provides guidance, advice and pathways for organisations and individuals to learn and enhance their capabilities in the broad field of asset management,” Watts added. “Throughout the coming months we will continue to share new knowledge though webinars and online publications to support all those sustaining our essential services.”