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How to Survive a Shrinking Maintenance Budget

Maintenance departments face many challenges. One of the toughest challenges is securing adequate funding when money is tight. In this Tip, we discuss several ways to make sure you get the biggest bang for your maintenance buck.

Companies are always on the lookout for ways to improve the bottom line. Reducing costs during an economic downturn has a long history; however, one must be careful which costs are reduced. Those who do not appreciate the value of a maintenance program often seek to reduce expenditures by indiscriminately slashing the company’s maintenance budget.

A directive to reduce maintenance costs need not spell disaster. In fact, it can provide an opportunity to improve program performance by reviewing how maintenance dollars are spent and the value provided by various activities. When times are lean, the following areas can provide opportunities for improvement.

• Review maintenance procedures for effectiveness and eliminate outdated practices
• Utilize predictive and condition based monitoring tools to work smarter, not harder
• Focus on training to ensure that employees have knowledge and skills to work efficiently
• Make certain that maintenance expenditures are charged to appropriate business units

Lastly, be certain to communicate the function and importance of maintenance and to all parties involved. Bad times are always followed by better times and it is important to ensure that companies emerge with a strong infrastructure, a solid workforce, and a reputation for delivering quality products or services intact.

Designing and maintaining an effective infrared inspection program is one of several best practices covered in the Infraspection Institute Level III Certified Infrared Thermographer® training course. For more information, including course locations and dates, please call 609-239-4788 or visit www.infraspection.com.

Additional articles on this subject are available from Maintenance Technology Magazine.

• How to Cut Your Maintenance Budget (Without Cutting Your Throat)
• A Survival Guide for Impending Cost Reduction