No matter if you’re an engineering or maintenance manager at snack food plants or redistribution centers, you know that even the most well-designed conveyor belts need repairs to prevent breakdowns. You can’t avoid bad performance or breakdowns. This comprehensive guide will show you five key tips for maintaining conveyor belts. Don’t let the poor condition of your conveyor belts stop you from achieving your goals. Continue reading to learn how to keep them in tip-top condition so that you can produce the best possible product every time.
Keep A Set Of Conveyor Spares On The Site
It’s no secret that conveyor belts will eventually wear out. Maintenance is necessary. Your conveyor’s maintenance program will be successful if you have spare parts, especially the most common replacement parts. Production inefficiencies can be caused by even small parts, such as a nut or a section of the chain. You should ensure that you have spare parts such as puller plates and bearings on hand. You will be able to repair any unexpected damage quickly, prevent prolonged downtimes, as well as maintain your plant’s productivity.
Regular Inspection Is A Part Of Your Daily Routine
Chances are, your conveyor belt will have problems within days or even months of it breaking down. If you had been keen to inspect the belts, there is a good chance that problems would have been noticed long before they became serious. It is important to make inspections a regular part of your routine. You should pay particular attention to those parts and sections that are most likely to fail. A checklist can be created that lists the items to inspect regularly, including the following:
- Belts.
- Tension chain
- Lubrication of bearings
- Pulley alignment.
- Vibrations from shafts, rollers, and motors.
- Sensors.
- Guards.
You should immediately report any issues with the belts or tension of the chains to avoid further damage.
Use Preventive Maintenance
It is a waste of time to fix conveyor belt problems when they break down. This will increase maintenance costs and downtime. You should instead adopt a preventive maintenance approach. This requires regular repairs to address issues before they become major problems. Automating your facility is a smart idea. You can set up key indicators to indicate when certain equipment needs maintenance. It will be simple to notice if the boiler is heating up and get the thermostat fixed before the whole system crashes to a halt.
You should create a maintenance plan that identifies issues quickly and addresses them promptly. It follows the recommended maintenance schedule and includes regular inspections, updates, and reviews on the belt’s performance.
Working With Expert Technicians
The women and men who use tool belts are often overlooked heroes in the workplace. Failing to hire skilled technicians or underpaying them is one of the worst mistakes a company can make. Consider this: “Would I choose the cheapest doctor in town?”
An expert plant technician can identify and fix problems before they become major problems. Start by training and hiring qualified personnel. You should also motivate your technicians to make sure they are connected with the plant and work harder towards optimizing production. You might consider having a maintenance unit if your manufacturing plant is large. This will allow you to respond quickly to any issues and repairs as well as production optimization.
Conveyor Maintenance And Repairs
Another important activity is documentation. It can help you identify parts that are consistently failing and provide your workers with the knowledge they need to spot signs of trouble. Documentation can be used to speed up diagnosis and reduce downtime in emergencies. Even sensors can be added to conveyors. Artificial intelligence can also be used for predictive maintenance. To increase the effectiveness and efficiency of your predictive maintenance using AI and machine learning, make sure you have the appropriate program installed.
Conclusion
These tips will help you maintain your conveyor belt hire in peak condition, maximize production, and lower maintenance costs. Always make sure to rent the highest quality belts and parts, and have them installed professionally.
