Conveyor Maintenance Tips to Reduce Downtime

Conveyors are a crucial component of any factory. When operating efficiently, they deliver your products quickly and efficiently to where they’re needed in a timely manner.

It’s easy to take your conveyors for granted as part of the infrastructure of your facility. However, if you have a conveyor breakdown, you’ll realize just how crucial it is to your everyday options. Downtime caused by conveyor malfunctions and breakdowns can have brutal effects on your business, so it’s crucial to stay on top of conveyor maintenance to prevent that downtime from occurring.

Here are a few maintenance tips to help you reduce conveyor downtime in Lubbock, TX.

Be proactive with scheduled maintenance

Conveyor maintenance should be preventative, not reactive. Don’t wait for something to go wrong—stay on top of routine maintenance schedules and you’ll find it’s much easier to prevent major issues from occurring.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the checks and maintenance tasks you should perform and how frequently you should do so:

• Daily: Every day, operators should check the system for signs of dirt or debris while the system is turned off, and clean it off as needed. The belt should be tracking properly and all system controls should work as intended. While the conveyor is running, listen for signs that something could be wrong. Any unusual noises such as grinding, squeaking or cracking should prompt some simple maintenance work.
• Weekly: Examine all motors and reducers and clean the conveyor as needed. Check other parts, including reflectors and photo eyes, for proper alignment and to see if there is any visible damage.
• Monthly: Examine the belt and lacing for any signs of damage, and to make sure the tension and tracking are correct. Lubricate all roller chains and inspect wiring.
• Semi-annually: Check the master control panel, change fluid in gear boxes if required and check torque of the set screws on the pulley bearings.

Stay stocked up on replacement parts and components

Conveyors see a lot of regular wear and tear, so it’s important your maintenance department stays fully stocked with replacement components so you can reduce the amount of downtime you must experience when making repairs. Otherwise, without those items in stock, you’ll have to wait for them to arrive at your facility.

When choosing parts to keep in stock, consider the following:

• The number of each component in the system: Quantity is an important factor to consider. The more of a specific part there is within the system, the more replacements you’ll want to have on hand at any given time.
• Time for restocking: How long does it typically take for you to restock a component when you’re in need? The longer it takes to restock, the more of a particular item you’re going to want to have on hand, just to be safe.
• Function: How important is the component to the operation of the conveyor? The more important the component, the more critical it is to prioritize having spares.

For more conveyor maintenance tips to help you develop a solid maintenance plan in your Lubbock, TX operation, get in touch with the team at M.B. McKee Company, Inc. today.

Categorised in: Conveyor Components

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