A thorough and successful uptime-focused plan includes machinery inspection, which is essential but sometimes needs to be addressed. You could wonder, “What is machinery inspection?” in this situation. Machinery inspection refers to routine, intentional, proactive equipment inspections that are meticulously planned to pinpoint potential problems and anticipate required maintenance requirements.
The facility can handle possible concerns more promptly, minimize unexpected maintenance events, and successfully plan for MRO needs and inventory by regularly monitoring machine health. Machinery inspections are crucial, and skipping them can have several detrimental consequences. These negative consequences may include the following:
- More unplanned downtime and service interruptions
- Shortened equipment’s service life
- Exorbitant charges for parts and emergency repairs
- Operation of inefficient and unsafe equipment
What Does Machinery Inspection Entail?
Various tasks for machinery, facilities and applications may be included in inspections. A fundamental machinery inspection should typically include the following:
- A checklist or task list based on a specified inspection approach or intent
- A general inspection of the components and functionality of the machinery
- A safety check that includes failsafe features
- Suggestions for short and long-term maintenance measures to resolve issues found during the machine inspection
- Observation of operations
- Assessment of wear
- Scheduling any necessary urgent maintenance activities found during the machinery inspection
- Documentation that includes report and inspection summary
As you can clearly see, inspecting the health of machinery should be considered something other than an ad hoc task or something done whenever it is convenient. Manufacturers are far better positioned to boost productivity and reduce unexpected downtime by treating inspections as a component of an overall maintenance strategy – something we will cover later in this piece.
On Performing Machinery Inspections
Inspections should be carried out by professionals with the necessary training and certification. The key to carrying out efficient machinery inspections is having a thorough awareness of the machinery at hand, the processes and applications it is utilized for, as well as the objectives and goals of the facility.
The complexity of the duties described above serves as an example of how vital it is to conduct machine inspections with the objective of a purposeful maintenance plan, even though simple inspections can be performed by equipment operators as part of routine maintenance checks. The different ways machinery inspections are usually carried out are:
In-Person
The prospective purchaser of this particular machine, or the purchaser’s agent dispatched on an inspection mission, may conduct a personal machinery inspection. In both cases, the machine is meticulously inspected in person, assuring the customer that there won’t be any unpleasant surprises after the sale. The drawback is that personal viewing of machinery requires planning.
Online
The advancement of technology makes it possible to do machinery inspections in a split second. There is no need to travel to the seller’s location. The buyer and vendor can effortlessly connect online (like WhatsApp or Skype) using any of the video communication options offered by any modern smartphone. With the help of the video chat option, a piece of machinery can be inspected without difficulty.
Online inspection allows the buyer to view the machinery in detail and ask the seller questions in real-time. This feature is helpful for overseas buyers and sellers who place a high premium on their time and money. Online machinery inspection has unquestionably shown to be less expensive than exploring the in-person option.
Frequency of Conducting Machinery Inspections
Under normal circumstances, a thorough machinery check should be carried out at least once a year. Most of the time, a twice-yearly machinery inspection will result in measurable maintenance advantages that can compensate for the expense. Machinery health inspection should be separate from routine daily preventative maintenance operations carried out within the plant. Inspection of machinery is a thorough process with well-defined objectives and targeted outcomes.
Benefits of Machinery Inspections
For your facility, routine machinery inspection can provide several benefits. These consist of the following:
Enhanced Reliability
You will be better able to spot possible machinery issues with routine health inspections, allowing you to handle and prepare for them more successfully. This proactive approach can minimize unplanned downtime and equipment malfunctions, improving the reliability metrics of your machinery.
Increased Output Quality
Machinery that is regularly maintained and inspected will perform at its best more consistently, improving overall product quality , reducing part faults and rejects, and reducing rework and wastage of time and resources.
More Insight Into Repairs And Maintenance
Using a machinery health inspection method can help inspection staff understand each particular machine, including its unique features. This technique can offer the intangible advantages of trustworthy gut emotions regarding maintenance and performance and produce more data points to plan your repairs and maintenance needs.
Longer Machinery Life
Machinery is less likely to malfunction or sustain damage due to maintenance concerns when it is maintained and inspected following a plan. When used as part of a health inspection plan, the conventional well-oiled machine should perform as intended for a significantly longer service life.
Improved Employee Safety
The safety of machine operators and facility staff is put at risk when maintenance requirements go unheeded or unrecognized until they become a severe problem. Machinery failures can put both the facility and the surrounding environment in danger. Regular equipment health inspections may also boost worker safety in some facilities.
Minimized Maintenance Costs
A machine health inspection approach will almost always pay for itself through less unplanned downtime, fewer expensive emergency repairs and part purchases, longer equipment service lives, and more effective inventory management.
Who Can Benefit From Machinery Inspections?
Any industrial or manufacturing enterprise can profit from machinery inspection. Even though manufacturers, applications, and industries can all benefit from machinery health inspection expertise, some of the sectors in which these services can be beneficial are:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Building Products
- Consumer Packaged Goods
- Heavy Equipment
- Paper & Pulp
- Power Distribution
- Tire and Rubber
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of this exciting trip on “All You Need to Know about Machinery Inspection.” The health of any machine depends on quality inspection and careful regulation of the frequency it is carried out. EC Global Inspection offers machinery health inspections to enhance and prolong the life of your important assets, thanks to its more than three decades of experience in industrial maintenance. You can count on EC Global Inspection for the best professional services in the inspection of all your machinery.
