Feature Maintenance managment
Efficient maintenance is key to manufacturing recovery
T
he threat of recession in the UK is over, according to a recent state- ment issued by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). However, as posi- tive as this declaration may seem, the UK’s recovery remains fragile, with manufacturing rising less than econo- mists’ expectations in March of this year owing to a decline in the produc- tion of electrical equipment and durable consumer goods. Figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that the economy grew just 0.3 per cent in the three months to the end of April against economists’ forecasts for a 0.8 per cent increase. Equally, recent reports from the Engineering Employers’ Federation suggest factors such as continuing volatility in financial markets and sharp government spending reduc- tions may have a potential impact on manufacturers and could contribute to a slow down in the rate of recovery. The latest figures indicate that the period of at best modest growth is likely to continue for some time, with the NIESR not expecting UK output to pass its peak of early 2008 until 2013. Although there is no simple solu- tion to this complex issue, there are a number of factors that companies should consider to help them maintain realistic operating margins, without increasing prices. In essence, one key area of focus needs to be on taking cost out of the business, though this is not always easy and the options can be limited as raw material and energy prices continue to sit at high levels. Despite this, there is one proven method of controlling operating costs and that is through extending the oper- ating life of existing plant and equip- ment while minimising servicing costs through efficient maintenance prac- tices. Just as important are the benefits to be had by partnering with a small number of key suppliers who can deliver single source solutions and the specialised maintenance or systems expertise that have often been lost during previous rounds of cost cutting. Take for example, companies such as Parker Hannifin, who are constantly developing their offerings to provide a wide range of cutting edge fluid
Factory Equipment JULY/AUGUST 2011
The threat of recession may have gone, but companies need to remain vigilant and protect operating margins if they are to survive this period of recovery, says Adrian Foster, UK marketing manager for Parker Hannifin. One proven method of doing this is by extending the operating life of existing plant and equipment while minimising servicing costs through efficient maintenance practices
power, electromechanical, instrumen- tation, filtration and condition moni- toring products from a single and trusted source. Combined with the system engineering capabilities of such companies, these well estab- lished solutions are proven to help maximise the performance of produc- tion systems in even the most demand- ing of applications. In particular, the latest generation of motion and control technologies have been designed to help both OEMs and end users alike to enhance the produc- tivity and profitability of their opera- tions, by offering a degree of reliability and quality that has never before been achieved. Similarly, these latest inno- vations are also easy to use and install, eliminating the need for time consum- ing extensive training and costly tools and ancillary equipment.
This includes a high performance range of condition monitoring technolo- gies that are fast becoming a critical element in extending the service life of equipment still further. Indeed, the monitoring of oil condition and the early identification of contamination using products such as Parker’s icountPD particle counter can have a significant effect in helping to cut costs and maintenance requirements dramati- cally, while boosting productivity and improving profitability. Equally impor- tant is predictive maintenance, where critical operating parameters are
Parker Hannifin’s Service Master Plus is the newest addition to its range of
SensoControl diagnostic test equipment
Top left: The ParkerStore network enables businesses to increase their profitability by reducing the need to keep spares onsite
Parker’s icountPD monitors oil condition and can identify contamination in equipment which helps to cut costs and maintenance requirements
frequently assessed to ensure optimum performance and efficiency using inno- vative diagnostic instruments specially developed for fluid power applications. Parker’s range of SensoControl diagnos- tic test equipment, for example, includes handheld devices and com- plete systems for measuring, processing, analysing and storing key considera- tions, including differential pressure, pressure peaks, temperature, flow and speed, for quick and simple trou- bleshooting. The newest addition to this series of devices is the Service Master Plus that offers fast and accurate measuring and analysis of pressure, flow, temperature and rotational speed to identify anomalies before they cause significant damage. Aside from the products them- selves, the steady growth in retail style outlets for pneumatic and hydraulic parts is another element that can help companies to maintain a competitive edge in challenging times. These oper- ations, such as Parker’s ParkerStore network, offer an extensive choice of products, available locally and with expert technical support, enabling businesses to increase their profitabil- ity by reducing the need to keep spares onsite, while retaining the ability to respond to changes in the market. Collectively, the introduction of these latest innovations along with high levels of customer support is enabling companies to access a broad range of invaluable skills and resources that are adding long-term value to the performance and func- tionality of their existing plant and equipment. This important step for- ward is helping to improve productiv- ity and profitability, giving businesses a fair chance of survival and, ulti- mately, success even in the aftermath of the global financial downturn.
Parker Hannifin T: 01926 317887
www.parker.com Enter 304
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