Page 65 - AMEFT Journal 2021-2

mitigate system factors which cause wear-and-tear to equipment, and thereby extend its operating life.
The importance of aftermarket services in supporting preventative maintenance
• Aftermarket services include the delivery of predictive main- tenance, spare parts and other value-added services to optimize system uptime.
• In the context of pandemic pres- sures, producers need equipment suppliers who can proactively sup- port their equipment – not only from a service point of view, but also with an eye to improving ove- rall effectiveness.
• From the timely provision and ma- nagement of spare parts, to ope- rator and maintenance training, advising on best practice and re- commendations for modernizing equipment– a 360° aftermarket service offering is critical to the success of any preventative main- tenance strategy.
• Even with the most sophisticated preventative maintenance plan, unplanned downtime cannot be avoided completely. Advanced aftermarket provision, including digital services that can operate effectively even under tight re- strictions, is therefore critical as a supplement to a good preventa- tive maintenance strategy – get- ting equipment back online quic- kly, simply and safely.
Putting it together: 3 smart ways to combine preventative maintenance and aftermarket service for comple- te manufacturing resilience
1. Training, expert advice and strategy development
• The core of an effective preventa-
tive maintenance approach is the establishment of regular, strategi- cally scheduled equipment checks.
• To ensure they are clear on what factors to monitor during these checks, how often they need to be conducted and by whom, food producers need comprehensive
training from the equipment ma-
nufacturer.
• Aftermarket services, like training
sessions and workshops, are vital for ensuring operators gain the know- ledge they need to create a pre- ventative maintenance schedule, optimize equipment processes and reduce dependency on expert engi- neers to resolve simple issues.
• Open communication and custo- mer service availability is also cru- cial in making sure food producers can get in contact with equipment providers quickly should they need expert advice or to report more serious faults – online customer portals offering 24/7 assistance are therefore an important aspect of aftermarket provision.
2. Replacement parts and stock management
• For preventative maintenance to be effective, producers need to keep a supply of essential mate- rials close to hand – e.g. specia- list lubricants or spare parts only available from the equipment ma- nufacturer.
• Spare parts provision and advice on stock keeping best practice should be included as standard as part of a high-quality aftermarket service offering.
• Having the right stock of genuine spare parts readily available lets producers avoid costly shutdowns, while essential parts are ordered and sourced, and also helps save and optimize storage space.
3. Data analysis, repairs and modernization
• Correct preventative maintenance requires a comprehensive log to be kept after each scheduled equipment check. This data can be used in combination with digital aftermarket services, such as Arti- ficial Intelligence (AI), digital twins and machine learning, to proac- tively monitor producers’ servicing needs and assess whether repairs or replacements are required.
• This approach also aligns with the
PROCESSING & PACKAGING
predictive maintenance strategy adopted by some food producers, which uses monitoring data and other factors to continually assess the condition of equipment during operation, calculate the probabili- ty of it developing any faults and take action to prevent those fai- lures through regular corrective maintenance. While they are of- ten used in conjunction, predicti- ve and preventative maintenance are distinct from one another and rely on different principles – e.g. the frequency of predictive main- tenance interventions is based on equipment condition and perfor- mance data, whereas preventative maintenance
• Calls for inspections according to a pre-determined schedule, usually based on the machine’s lifecycle rather than its current condition.
• The COVID-19 crisis has made it difficult to conduct field service in-person, but with advanced di- gital tools such as remote repairs enabled by augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) technology, equipment manufacturers can provide essential repair services quickly and safely.
• The best aftermarket service provi- ders also help their customers stay abreast of rapid technological de- velopments and remain at the fore- front of their respective industries through regular tune-ups and ad- vice on when to upgrade machinery.
As the world enters the post-COVID era, the dramatic leap forward in the adoption of smarter, remote-based services caused by the pandemic is likely to leave its mark. The crisis has rapidly accelerated the adoption of the digitally-focused predictive and preventative maintenance strategies that were already making waves, hel- ping them to become industry stan- dards in a matter of months. With equipment manufacturers now far bet- ter equipped to provide smart, efficient repair services, going forward the focus is likely to shift even more preventa- tive maintenance, data gathering and equipment optimization.
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