Are Your Conveyors Working Properly?
A well-functioning conveyor system can not only boost productivity but also create a safer working environment. Therefore, it’s crucial to regularly walk through a conveyor maintenance checklist to avoid any potential malfunctions or misalignments. By doing so, you can prevent costly breakdowns that can bring your production line to a halt. In this article, we’ll provide a thorough preventive conveyor maintenance checklist to guarantee the optimal functioning of your machinery. Even though some maintenance tasks may only need to be performed every three months or once a year, it’s essential to consistently inspect every component of the conveyor to identify any potential malfunctions or misalignments.
Why Should You Perform Maintenance?
Conveyor systems are a common feature in warehouses and manufacturing facilities and play a vital role in automating the flow of goods and materials. Yet, despite their critical importance, they are often taken for granted, and maintenance is only performed when there is a problem. One reason for the need for more maintenance is the constant operation and extensive network of moving parts in conveyor systems, which require the entire system to be shut down for maintenance. This can result in significant downtime for factory operations.
However, neglecting regular maintenance can lead to minor problems becoming more significant and more expensive breakdowns. To prevent this, it’s crucial to plan and schedule regular conveyor maintenance as part of your plant’s operations. This minimizes planned downtime for maintenance activities and reduces the risk of unexpected downtime due to a breakdown.
Conveyor Maintenance Checklist
Checklists are crucial in ensuring that tasks are not missed and are completed to specific standards. Here is a list of components you should check when performing conveyor maintenance:
- Inspect the entire surface of the conveyor belt for any wear or broken parts.
- Check for misalignment of conveyor belts and unusual peeling or damage on joints.
- Check the belt chain for any extra slack, fraying, buildup, damage, or carryback.
- Check gearbox noise for excessive heat from the motor or the gearbox.
- Monitor the tension to ensure the V-belts and O-rings are not too tight or loose.
- Know the capacity of the conveyor belt and what it can handle. Overloading the belt can cause significant problems in operations.
- Identify subject matter experts with the knowledge and training to fix equipment when it goes down – Mi Conveyance Solutions™ can help.
Generate Cost Savings
Cost savings from conveyor belt surveys are achieved in various ways – from product throughput, to how often a belt is replaced, to costs associated with downtime and labor costs to get back up.
Mi Conveyance Solutions Can Help
A conveyor maintenance checklist is a general overview of a few items to remember when performing or scheduling conveyor maintenance. For a more comprehensive guide, each standard conveyor comes with a detailed maintenance manual that includes specific information on its components, safety, and maintenance tips to guarantee its longevity and performance.
Mi Conveyance Solutions field service teams lead the industry in conveyor belting expertise and are available 24/7/365 with effective conveyance solutions no matter where you are or when you need us. Keep your operations in Motion and contact a Mi Conveyance Solutions specialist today.