TROUBLESHOOTER Reducing your downtime
Roy Burton and the YES Ltd team tackle the thorny issue of ‘downtime’ in this month’s column – something that all manufacturers want to cut down to the absolute minimum.
B
efore we start it should be pointed out that some of what we will be discussing relates to the
maintenance of machines and in fairness we must point out that we can only speak with authority on SWF machines. We would always recommend talking to your supplier should you have any queries in relation to your machine. Before we discuss downtime letʼs first make it clear exactly what we mean.
Downtime is any time that your production unit is NOT producing. All machinery should be earning an hourly rate according to the investment and if it is not then this has to be made up somewhere else.
There can be a variety of reasons why your machine is not producing and not all of them will be related directly to the machinery. In the past we have discussed how the thread and/or needle can result in stopped production and we have given you ways of establishing which is to blame.
The cause
What is most important is that you discover the cause as quickly as possible so that is can be addressed and your production can be re-established. At the risk of repeating ourselves we always stand by the saying “you get what you pay for”. Buy cheap, pay twice is a truism that can seriously affect your profit margin.
If you know that the consumables you are using are of a good quality then you may feel more comfortable in looking elsewhere for the problem. Good quality needles, thread and backing together with a well digitised design should give you confidence in what you are using and give you a head start on achieving the production figures you expect.
Ironically, when the pressure of production cuts in, one item that is often overlooked is the one that is the easiest to see – the machine.
Although this was mentioned in an earlier issue of this column it is well worth an expanded re-visit as a few simple rules can save a lot of heartache and late nights at the machine.
Cleanliness and lubrication Two areas stand out as being common culprits – cleanliness and lubrication. It may seem obvious to keep the machine clean, especially as your customerʼs garments will be on it, but here
we are talking about the hidden places where the wipe of a cloth canʼt access. The machine may look sparkling but tension changing dirt may be lurking in areas such as the thread tension springs and the bobbin case.
If dirt gets behind the plates that these springs control then the thread tension, top and bottom, will change and may cause either untidy embroidery or thread-breaks. Both of these will increase your downtime. Hopefully you will allocate a set time for cleaning and servicing the machine and when you do it is very important that these ʻhiddenʼ areas are checked as well. With lubrication, most of the areas you need to be aware of are out of sight but hopefully not out of mind. It is one of THE most important operations in the maintenance of the machine. Bear in mind that most of the parts of your embroidery machine are made of metal and are running against other parts also made of metal.
Pump oiling system
Lack of lubrication here will put not only your production at risk, but also the machine itself. Where SWF are concerned they have included a pump oiling system as standard that feeds into most areas of the machine making the job easy and quick.
Where this is not the case then it may take a bit longer but it is no less important and MUST be done.
Even with automatic systems, though, there are places that can only be reached manually. One of these is the shuttle race which is what houses the bobbin case and bobbin.
This is often quite difficult to get at as it lies under the bed of the machine head but a good way to access it is with an
LEFT: The marked oiling point. ABOVE: Using Em-Lube on the hook area.
aerosol can of spray oil such as Em-Lube. This has a long nozzle that allows you to get close to the target therefore avoiding contamination of other areas. For other areas of your machine, if you
donʼt have the benefit of a pumped system, you need to look for the lubrication points. These usually have a contrast colour painted around the edge of the oiling point making them easy to see. Not all parts of the machine need the same regularity of oiling so always refer to your machine manual to make sure that you are following the correct regime.
Longevity
By following the manufacturerʼs recommendations you will not only reduce your downtime but also have a positive effect on the longevity of the machine. One last point where downtime is concerned – we have discussed all of the consumable items and maintenance regimes that can cause this costly state of affairs but donʼt forget the operator. It may be that the problems you are experiencing are really man-made and it may be what we always used to call ʻpilot errorʼ. Make sure your training is up to date so that your operators can be as efficient as possible. Downtime can be very costly but following a few simple rules can limit the risk and ensure your profitability.
■ If you have an embroidery dilemma that you would like to see featured in this column, contact Roy Burton at YES Ltd on 01623 863343.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk February 2013 | 61 |
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88