February 14, 2024
Before you place your next parts order for a mixer, blender or related type of processing equipment, there are a few things you should check to make sure you are getting the right parts – and the most value – out of your machine.
By taking the following steps, you can avoid spending money on parts unnecessarily, reduce your risk of downtime and improve the reliability of your equipment.
- Double check that you have the right part for the right machine.
Before you place your order, it’s a good idea to verify the part number, make/model of the equipment, application and any pertinent dimensions. This will help eliminate the chance of getting the wrong part and having to wait an extra day or more to get the right one delivered. - Consult your preventative maintenance schedule.
Hopefully, your equipment model should have come with a preventative maintenance schedule. If not, you should contact the manufacturer to make sure you have one. Rather than waiting until your equipment fails to make repairs, following a preventative maintenance schedule can help you stay one step ahead, preventing downtime and ensuring you get the most out of your equipment. - Inspect your equipment.
Are you hearing excessive vibration or other strange sounds coming from your processing equipment? Is it shaking? Maybe you are starting to observe some leaking around a seal or dust where it shouldn’t be. Taking the time to inspect your equipment, you may find that to fully address the issue, there may be other parts you need sooner rather than later. - Examine your production process.
In addition to inspecting your equipment, you should verify production has not been negatively impacted. Have throughput levels changed? Has the consistency of the product been altered? Is your equipment requiring more energy to run properly? If the answer is yes to any of these, you may need to take a closer look at your equipment configuration to find out why. - Check your inventory.
In most cases, you won’t need to frequently replace parts. But a good rule of thumb is to keep wearable and consumable items – such as bearings – in stock. Additionally, you should also make sure you have extra parts for items that are essential to operating your equipment, but tend to have longer lead times, such as motors and gearboxes and customized parts. - Verify installation was performed correctly.
Some parts, such as motor shafts, can easily be misaligned when the work is done by someone with limited equipment knowledge. Checking to make sure installation was performed correctly can help you avoid premature wear and tear, which will help you save on the cost of replacement parts and help you avoid unnecessary breakdowns.
Want more education on servicing processing equipment?
Check out these resources:
- Read related articles:
“3 Mixer and Blender Parts to Keep on Hand to Avoid Downtime”
“The 3 Most Common Processing Equipment Installation Mistakes”
