Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 12

THE IMPORTANCE OF MACHINERY INSPECTIONS M any foundries already conduct daily or pre-shift machine inspections but it is good practice to conduct regular and more thorough machinery inspections with the original equipment providers expert technicians. A thorough “OEM-Inspection” is much more than daily rounds and requires some advanced planning. While daily inspections are necessary and beneficial, these are commonly completed by either the foundry’s Maintenance Technician or the Machine Operator and follow a preset list of inspection topics. These are useful at identifying a problem after the problem has already occurred and before additional or serious damage may result. DAILY INSPECTION BASICS Ensure the original equipment vendor provides a suggested daily inspection sheet as part of their Operation and Maintenance Manual. This should be a preprinted worksheet that an assigned individual is responsible to complete each day the machine is operating. On the next page is an excerpt from a large automatic green sand mold line daily inspection list. This is a two-page list that asks for visual inspection only and provides a short area for comment. This list should be completed daily. Any area marked “Not OK” should result in some additional attention by the Maintenance or Engineering departments. A thorough – OEM Conducted Inspection should not be something to avoid or fear. Inspections are an opportunity to prevent injury and accidents, and to save money. Regular inspections will maximize productivity and minimize/eliminate a catastrophe along with expensive downtime. Foundry equipment is impressive by nature as it is designed to move or handle very heavy loads to millimeter precision in a repeatable fashion. The incredible work foundry equipment does in less than desirable environments, means wear and tear is inevitable. No matter how great the team is with daily inspections, damaged or worn equipment does not always present itself in daily inspections. Regular OEM Conducted Inspections ensures your equipment can continue to be in tip- top condition. The OEM trained technician can determine if small repairs will make a big difference and can suggest repairs to help your equipment run more efficiently. The OEM trained technician may point out details your team might tend to overlook. New machinery builds undergo continuous improvements which in most cases may be retrofitted to older units for increased production, reduced downtimes, and better maintenance capabilities. Regular SCOTT SHAVER Executive Vice President EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. ARTICLE TAKEAWAYS: • Use daily or preshift inspections to identify obvious problems • Consider the benefits of OEM Inspections • Establish a frequency that fits your needs BACK TO BASICS 45 Continued on next page