Why Wait For Breakdown?

The topic that I want to focus on is Breakdown.  Though this is primarily important for manufacturing units, it may also be taken up by other firms - be it software, finance, trading, small shops, etc. This is because almost every field employs some or other kind of machine. We are very engrossed in day to day running of the business and hence we are not able to plan a shutdown. If there is no planned shut down, then there will be breakdown. When breakdown happens, there is no option but to correct the machine at the earliest and start the work again. 

What happens in Breakdown? Breakdown is sudden. It will disturb all your planning. You have planned everything pre & post production. Especially if the raw material feed to the machine is perishable in few hours. The manpower will also be idle for the time that the breakdown takes to clear. If the maintenance team is in house, then it is easy. But if you have to call external help then it may take time as they are not in your control. The most important thing is your production loss. That cannot be covered. Man hours are also lost. You may have to bear many losses if everything is put together. And the important thing is that you have to start running the show at the earliest. This gives very less time for repair or maintenance and hence the work is not done as it ought to have been done. 

Can these all things be avoided. Partially, yes. Why I am saying partially is because there are certain breakdowns which might be sudden and out of control. But 80% of the things can be controlled by use of Preventive Maintenance. You have to make a list of all the machines and a daily, weekly & monthly plan for those machines. If you have this plan ready, you will plan for the shutdown and many of the production losses that occur during the breakdown can be prevented. For traders, finance, software people also there are computers and other items which need attention. You can keep a record or outsource it to some third party. They will clean your system from time to time and keep it in order.