| In a declining economy saving operating expenses | | | | management to manage work. Most importantly, |
| has become a priority for most firms. Predictive | | | | it allows for the early identification of problems |
| and preventive maintenance although similar, are | | | | and significantly increases the life cycle of |
| two different tools used by facilities managers in | | | | equipment, lowers capital expenditure |
| order to save precious dollars. Both maintenance | | | | requirements and allows for better planning of |
| systems help keep earnings (the bottom line) | | | | capital budgets. In addition, when integrated with |
| stable by avoiding costly repairs and maximizing | | | | handheld technologies and a combination of asset |
| equipment up-time. Normally cutting expenses for | | | | management, work order management and |
| operations means fewer support staff, hiring | | | | inspections, work flow efficiencies are increased |
| freezes, and a repair versus replacement | | | | to maximum levels. The data collected through |
| strategy on equipment. But what happens when | | | | this method becomes the building block for |
| the forecast for low or declining sales does not | | | | predictive maintenance. |
| improve or is mired in a deep recession? | | | | Predictive maintenance does have its benefits in a |
| A recent survey conducted by Facilities Planners | | | | difficult economy particularly because it can be |
| and Architects, Inc. of facility managers and | | | | less labor intensive than preventive maintenance. |
| business owners revealed intended reactions to | | | | Predictive maintenance programs are based upon |
| the current economic situation. The survey | | | | the actual condition of the equipment and a |
| highlights are: | | | | determination of when maintenance should be |
| - Limiting capital expenditures to sustainability | | | | performed to minimize costs. New technology |
| initiatives such as more efficient lighting systems | | | | techniques such as ultrasound, infrared and |
| - More plans to reduce square footage | | | | vibration online testing make predictive |
| - Outsourcing non-core services such as janitorial | | | | maintenance a viable alternative in certain |
| services | | | | circumstances. However, for most equipment the |
| - Assessing the condition of the facilities and | | | | complex metrics for making educated guesses is |
| better strategic planning of their use | | | | provided by preventive programs. |
| - Initiating predictive maintenance programs | | | | The goal of a facility manager or business owner |
| Obviously, it is always a good idea to watch your | | | | is to make sure equipment has the highest |
| expenses. The results echoes this and indicates a | | | | possible uptime and to extend the life cycle of the |
| long overdue desire to become more energy | | | | equipment as long as possible at the most |
| efficient, a focus on core responsibilities by | | | | reasonable economical cost. Some predictive |
| outsourcing non-core functions, a strategic look at | | | | maintenance plans will require a capital investment |
| assets and the initiation of efficiency and savings | | | | in higher technology sensing equipment but most |
| programs. The survey mentions predictive | | | | will be built upon the foundation and metrics |
| maintenance as one of the most popular choices | | | | provided by an existing preventive maintenance |
| for cost saving solutions. It should be noted that | | | | program. Facility managers should not rely on just |
| predictive maintenance is not the same as | | | | a predictive maintenance solution to save |
| preventive maintenance. Successful predictive | | | | expenses especially if dealing with high value |
| maintenance starts with preventive maintenance. | | | | equipment or if safety is at stake. |
| To better understand let us take a look at both. | | | | Tough times call for tough decisions as both |
| Predictive vs. Preventive Maintenance: | | | | maintenance programs have their place. The |
| Preventive maintenanceoccurs on a | | | | solution may be a combination of the two |
| pre-determined schedule and is intended to | | | | maintenance programs or it may be dependent |
| increase efficiencies by reducing the amount of | | | | on your industry, type of equipment and survival |
| reactive work and increasing the ability of | | | | strategy. What is your company going to do? |