Companies are leaving themselves vulnerable to a “breakdown backlog” by neglecting routine repairs and servicing. Cutbacks in preventive maintenance in response to the Covid-19 pandemic should be reinstated if companies want their operations to continue running smoothly, says Alfa Laval, operator of one of the largest industrial servicing sites in the UK.
The pandemic has left many businesses with dwindling budgets, and many organisations’ first response is to reduce spending on the maintenance of equipment. Alfa Laval warns that this could be a more expensive route than companies at first realise.
“Businesses might think they’re making the best decision by saving money on maintenance,” said John Smith, Alfa Laval service operations divisional manager for the UK & Ireland, “but time and time again we have seen what can happen when companies don’t implement a serious preventive maintenance strategy. Keeping your machinery in good condition costs a lot less than unplanned downtime or replacing broken equipment.”
Preventive maintenance had been gaining momentum before the pandemic, with more businesses taking equipment maintenance seriously. But under lockdown measures it became more difficult for companies to plan servicing and maintenance. In response Alfa Laval , which carries out maintenance for customers under service agreements, both in the field and at its Camberley service centre, had to modify its operations to continue to function.
Smith said: “We’ve had to adapt our workflow to guarantee clients a quick turnaround while ensuring our customers and staff remain safe.”
With uncertainty remaining over how long Covid restrictions will last, futureproofing operations will help companies to be more resilient. “Businesses must adapt to remain competitive in these harsh times, but cutting preventive maintenance is just asking for trouble, as it is one of the best ways to safeguard against problems that occur down the road. We’d be happy to talk to anyone concerned about the potential breakdown backlog,” said Smith.