Technology has changed the aspect of truss and wall panel production over the last decade. The continued advancements in technology have also changed the dynamics required to support that equipment. Staffing requirements and staffing abilities vary by Component Manufacturer. In smaller companies, management often takes on the task of maintenance, while larger companies seek qualified technicians to support the array of equipment. We have seen a growing trend in organizations seeking to outsource the service of specialized equipment to qualified companies. Maintenance is no longer limited to mechanical & electrical repairs. Highly skilled maintenance crews must be fluent in mechanical and electrical services as well as electronics, software and information technology.
Let us consider each component of maintenance separately. First, the mechanical aspect: or how something works. The maintenance crew must have knowledge in the design, and mechanical operation of the machine, often including fluid power such as pneumatics and hydraulics. Second, the electrical & electronic characteristics of each machine vary greatly. The staff must be able to read electrical schematics, troubleshoot Alternating Current (AC) & Direct Current (DC) motors and components, Variable Frequency Drives and PLCs. Each component may contain custom programming, settings and firmware. Software is often overlooked as a responsibility of the maintenance crew. When a machine fails to operate mechanically as designed, it becomes the responsibility of the maintenance staff to quickly remedy the situation. The staff must be able to competently operate the software, for each machine, and understand the diagnostics center within each individual software package. Leading to Information Technology (IT) as the final aspect to the maintenance crew’s requirements. While companies may have IT staff or an individual that supports that roll; the maintenance crew will be a supportive player in this field. Software updates from Microsoft, virus protection, organizational software and equipment manufacturers will conflict from time to time. The first call traditionally goes to maintenance.
Square 1 Design & Manufacture Inc. employs engineers, electricians, mechanics, and IT technicians. Continuous training for our staff for mechanical and electrical requirements is essential for the lines of equipment we support. Our staff continues extensive training in a variety of software packages including Spida Machinery Software as well as Mangotech Software. Not only are our specialists trained on equipment by Square 1 Design, Klaisler, Spida Machinery and Mangotech, but inventory an array parts for each brand of equipment.
Our staff supports customers across North America on a weekly basis by providing scheduled preventative maintenance service calls on their time frame. Those customers are realizing greater up time with scheduled machinery downtime versus unscheduled downtime. We can typically service machinery in a single shift and remain on site the following day to provide additional training and production tips that have saved hours of production in a single week. Production staff often “work around” maintenance issue causing lower production rates that are never reported to management. We address those issues during our service calls. Conversely, unscheduled downtime may force a machine to out of production for days or weeks, depending on the severity of the situation.
It’s management’s responsibility to efficiently staff the organization and remain profitable. Consider lowering labor costs and increasing productivity by outsourcing annual or biannual technical preventative maintenance contracts to qualified suppliers. Equipment manufacturers have peak and non peak seasons, travel all corners of North America, and look to fill unscheduled hours while their staff are in geographical areas.