As a company foreman or lead maintenance supervisor, you know repairs will be necessary. This is why you have preventative maintenance steps in place for most, if not all, of your equipment. However, sometimes you may focus on the technical side of preventative measures and overlook other aspects that could lead to costly repairs and replacements. Here are some ways that you can prepare for potential hydraulic pump repairs.
Warranty Checks
One of the aspects of hydraulic pump repairs that can be overlooked is the warranty. Though it seems like common knowledge to have the warranty checked, it may be overlooked for several months, and the warranty expiration date can be forgotten. If the warranty lapses, you may be looking at significant repair costs or having to replace the entire hydraulic pump system out of the company budget. Make sure that the warranty dates are always noted, and if additional warranty coverage can be purchased, ensure that it is purchased in a timely manner. This will ensure that repairs can be handled easily, and it will reduce the amount of downtime on the work site.
Backup Systems
If a repair is needed, the downtime for that repair is unavoidable. However, you can make sure that you are prepared by having a short-term backup option. This option may be to use a backup hydraulic pump that handles a smaller workload. This will at least keep the systems running until the repair is made rather than having to totally shut down the pump area and that manufacturing process. You can also make sure that a switch or easy transition is in place so that if a repair needs to occur, the transition can be smooth.
Sending Out Parts
There will be some cases when the pump itself needs to be sent to the repair technicians rather than being done on site. This is usually connected to the warranty regulations on the hydraulic pump that govern the repair. If this is the case, make sure that you know where to send it, how to send it and what needs to occur in order to have the part repaired and sent back in a timely manner. Though this could be said for any part that needs to be sent for repairs, it becomes increasingly important with a hydraulic pump that may need to be shipped in a special manner.
These are just a few of the ways that you can prepare for potential hydraulic pump repairs. Keep in mind that you should always maintain your normal preventative maintenance in addition to these three preparations. If you have ongoing issues with specific hydraulic pumps or parts, consider the possibility of refurbished or replacement options to avoid increased issues and repair costs.