Typically, equipment maintenance is essential when running a construction business. Whether you’re using cranes, bulldozers, front-end loaders, or other equipment, they require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. When they’re not well taken care of, they can result in costly repairs and replacements.
Hence, you should take equipment maintenance more seriously as a construction business owner. However, there are instances wherein you can make maintenance mistakes that cause more harm than good.
Read on to learn the four costly mistakes to avoid when conducting construction equipment maintenance.
1. Partnering With Inexperienced Maintenance Providers
Unless you have expert technicians who know how to maintain heavy construction equipment, you probably need to partner with some providers who can service your equipment at a specific cost. However, it’s essential to know that not all maintenance providers you find in the market have the experience and expertise to provide the maintenance services you need.
Hence, if you use inexperienced providers for your construction equipment, you’re committing a costly maintenance mistake for your construction business. When this happens, you waste unnecessary money on hiring costs and increase the risk of damage to your construction equipment.
To save yourself from these unfortunate circumstances, you should look for the appropriate maintenance providers in your area. Check your prospects’ years of experience and track record. For example, if you need maintenance for your crane, it’s crucial to hire a company that offers quality and trustworthy crane service for maintenance and repair. That way, you can rest knowing that your equipment is in safe hands.
2. Failing To Follow The Scheduled Routine Maintenance Tasks
It’s essential to know that following the scheduled routine maintenance tasks is important when taking care of construction equipment. Since they’re used almost daily for any construction project, they must be regularly maintained to avoid premature wear and tear and other malfunctions.
Unfortunately, more problems occur when you fail to stick to your construction equipment’s scheduled routine maintenance tasks. When it’s delayed for an extended period of time, it can lead to worn-out parts, overheating, and other serious issues. All these circumstances will more likely result in a sudden breakdown, which requires costly fixes and, worst cases, replacements.
To avoid this situation, you should take some steps to ensure that routine maintenance tasks are completed on time and without unnecessary delays. These steps can include:
- Employing a construction equipment maintenance manager who will oversee the maintenance tasks;
- Keeping accurate records about maintenance history, work orders, and other relevant details;
- Storing the maintenance records in a centralized location so they can be viewed and checked by any authorized personnel when necessary.
Doing all these things can keep your construction equipment in good working condition and minimize disruptions associated with equipment breakdown.
3. Failing To Provide Training To Equipment Operators
Operating a construction equipment can be dangerous to the operator and the equipment itself. When the operator isn’t trained, they can get involved in an accident which may result in serious injuries or, in extreme cases, death. Aside from this, it can also cause premature wear and tear to the equipment. Unfortunately, dealing with accidents and unnecessary repairs and replacements can be costly to your construction business.
Due to these costly circumstances, failing to train equipment operators properly can be one of the mistakes to avoid when it comes to construction equipment maintenance. Thus, if you want to ensure it’ll not happen, you should provide a training session for all your equipment operators. This session should focus on handling construction equipment safely and taking care of it regularly. Consequently, you can protect the equipment against any potential damage and extend its service lifespan for a long time.
4. Failing To Provide Adequate Storage
Like cars and other vehicles, specific construction equipment should also have proper storage as part of your company’s maintenance efforts. Failing to provide sufficient storage may cause some problems with your equipment. This means that if you leave your construction equipment outdoors, it can suffer some damage.
For example, a piece of equipment exposed to natural elements like rain and snow can more likely rust out over time and damage the alternators, wires, and starters. This can result in more repairs and replacements in the long run.
To avoid this mistake, you should find a storage area to keep your construction equipment out of the rain and extreme weather conditions. Ensure the space is clean and dry to prevent moisture from causing corrosion to the equipment.
ConclusionÂ
Equipment maintenance plays a crucial role in keeping construction equipment in perfect shape. Besides, as a construction business owner, having certain functional equipment is vital for improving productivity and ensuring safety on the construction site.
Unfortunately, costly mistakes do happen when conducting maintenance on your equipment. To help you avoid these circumstances, keep the information mentioned above in mind, and you’ll know what to do to ensure your construction equipment is properly maintained.
