How To Reduce Equipment Downtime

As the manager or owner of a business, it’s understandable that you want all of your equipment to work well all of the time. When it doesn’t, the downtime can cause a lot of issues such as delayed orders being completed, and potentially disappointed customers. However, it is possible to reduce downtime and realistically help to prevent it. When you use a fixed asset register you can have more control over those downtimes and so much more. As a result, your business could potentially perform better.

If you’re serious about reducing equipment downtime you need to start using a fixed asset register. An asset register will ensure that you can track everything you wish. In other words, you can track machinery, tools, equipment, computers, vehicles, and anything else. If you’re using a register to track fixed assets, bear in mind these are assets that always stay where they are. In other words, your machines, production lines, and so on.

A fixed asset register can help by keeping you up-to-date with how each of your assets is performing. One of the major benefits of using this type of register is that data tends to be created whenever your assets are used. What this means for you is that you have the opportunity to see how your assets are performing. You can also see how your business is running on a whole new level. 

If this is not enough, when you use reliable asset register software each asset will have its own digital profile. To each profile, you can add information such as each asset’s:

• Date of purchase
• Warranty and insurance details 
• The model number and make
• Estimated value
• Estimated lifespan
• User guide/instruction manual
• And any other information that you wish to add 

All of the above information can be read by a user when they access an asset’s digital profile. This can be particularly useful when it comes to accessing an asset’s maintenance schedule. It’s this that can have a huge impact on reducing and even preventing asset downtime. 

Maintenance schedules can make such a difference to each of your assets. Schedules such as these can be set for each of your fixed assets. If you have some non-fixed assets that you wish to track a maintenance schedule can also help. 

When you set up a schedule, you’re ultimately asking your fixed asset register to help you look after your assets. A schedule can help you and your maintenance team to ensure your assets are in good condition. A schedule can be set up for each of your assets so they’re examined and repaired, if necessary. The examination and repair can take place yearly, quarterly, monthly, and so on. 

When your assets are examined more frequently they stay in better condition. They are much less likely to cause you problems and as a result, they can last longer. All that you have to do is set up a schedule for each asset. The next step is to ensure the maintenance team receives alerts and takes action. A direct result of this could mean that you experience less equipment downtime.

Did you know that when you check your assets in and out you go further to reduce downtime? You can ultimately see which member of your team is using which machine. Additionally, you can see where your assets are. This can prove to be helpful if you work in a large building or in multiple buildings. You can see exactly where the machines are. This means you may not have to spend a long time searching for them. 

Additionally, when you check your assets in and out you can see who is using them. You can also see which assets in your fixed asset register are undergoing maintenance. This can help to prevent downtime as it means you can see which assets you can use. In other words, you won’t have to spend time waiting for a particular machine to come back from maintenance. 

The check in and out feature also allows you to book equipment in. You could, for example, book in one of your machines so you can use it when another team has finished. Knowing when a machine is free means that you can use it almost immediately. It’s this that can also help to save equipment downtime. 

When downtime is minimised it ensures that tasks are completed and more deadlines are met. It also helps to increase turnover, while ensuring you can keep your happy customers happy.

Wish to chat with someone knowledgeable about using a fixed asset register to reduce equipment downtime? Contact us now at team@itemit.com. 

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