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’T
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ERIORATE AS FAST
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IZE EQUIPMENT COS
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BENEFITS
O F A
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM (PMP)
FOR YOUR
LOADING DOCK
Conducting regular maintenance can
have a big impact on the bottom line of
a business, especially when it comes
to your loading dock and industrial
door equipment – systems your facility
relies on every day. Even the best made
loading dock equipment cannot take the
daily beating of forklift traffic and tractor
trailers without proper maintenance.
Here are 10 valuable benefits
of preventative maintenance.
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY
It can be easy to neglect regular loading dock maintenance
when equipment works just fine for months or even years at a
time – like they say, out of sight, out of mind. However, ignoring
routine maintenance can eventually lead to a major, unplanned
equipment failure. By keeping your loading dock equipment
regularly maintained, productivity naturally improves since you
control the equipment downtime instead of it controlling you.
And in many cases, this has a positive impact on the bottom line
as well.
IMPROVED SAFETY FOR EMPLOYEES
When maintenance is scheduled or planned, technicians have
time to follow the standard procedures and safety requirements
to complete the job correctly. In addition, when equipment is
functioning properly, internal facility workers are less likely to
perform unsafe practices in order to bypass the equipment
failure. In the case of dock equipment, the failure itself can lead
to a dangerous situation for workers and equipment.
For example, a vehicle restraint that no longer restrains can
result in a host of trailer separation accidents, including
early departure, trailer creep, trailer pop-up, trailer collapse
and landing gear collapse. In any of these situations where
an accident can occur due to a vehicle restraint that was in
disrepair, forklift operators and workers are put in serious
danger. No facility manager wants to discover equipment
problems in the wake of a major tragedy.
INCREASED EQUIPMENT ROI
Significant investments in items such as loading dock levelers,
vehicle restraints, and dock doors must take into account the
expected life cycle of the investment. The
intent of preventative maintenance
is to keep your dock equipment
running in optimal, “as new”
condition. Over time, systems
that have been properly
maintained won’t deteriorate
as fast and will maximize
the initial equipment cost
investment.
10 BENEFITS OF A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (PMP) FOR YOUR LOADING DOCK
RiteHite.com
REGULAR
MAINTENANCE
INCREASES
PRODUCTIVITY
IMPROVES
BOTTOM LINE
PROPERLY
MAINTAINED
SYSTEMS
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REDUCE ENERGY COSTS
Identifying wear and tear on your dock and door equipment and then making the repairs
will not only extend the life of the equipment, it can also make it more efficient. Much like
a mechanic knows the intricacies of every vehicle make and model for a quick oil change,
a technician through a PMP learns all of the ins and outs of your loading dock and
door equipment over time. And, much like an oil change keeps cars running smoothly, a
well-maintained leveler is going to raise and lower more efficiently (and more quietly). In
fact, results from a government survey show that preventative maintenance, in general,
can reduce energy bills by as much as 20 percent 1.
1 https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/10/f3/OM_2.pdf
SAVE ON MAINTENANCE COSTS
The cost of an unexpected equipment failure can be more than meets the eye. Not only
is it comprised of the price of the parts needed to fix the problem, but also in expedited
service, labor costs, lost production time and possibly missed delivery dates. With a
preventative maintenance program, you can avoid all of that. One government study
found that maintenance costs were reduced 12 to 18 percent by using a PMP1
1 https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/10/f3/OM_5.pdf
LESS EQUIPMENT DOWNTIME
Planned, or anticipated, equipment shut down can
be strategically worked into production planning
to minimize the impact on shipping and receiving
schedules. For example, for facilities that
have dozens of loading dock doorways, dock
equipment inspections can be staggered to avoid
transportation disruptions.
In addition, PMP technicians can red flag
equipment that has been compromised. With
advanced training, a technician can identify and
diagnose equipment problems that might not
demonstrate any immediate symptoms. The ability to
spot small troubles early on can help eliminate any future
unexpected breakdowns.
Equipment failures can be a major headache to the flow of traffic on the dock. According
to Rules of Thumb for Maintenance and Reliability Engineers, a whopping 70 to 85
percent1 of equipment failures are due to inadequate maintenance practices.
1 Smith, Ricky, R. Mobley, Keith. Rules of Thumb for Maintenance and Reliability Engineers.
Butterworth Heinemann, 2011. Page 257.
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5
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20%
70%
PLANNED
MAINTENANCE
ENERGY
BILLS
AS
MUCH
AS
CAN
REDUCE
Most equipment
failures are due to
INADEQUATE
MAINTENANCE
PRACTICES
85%
The ability to spot small troubles
early on can help eliminate any
future unexpected breakdowns.
10 BENEFITS OF A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (PMP) FOR YOUR LOADING DOCK | 2
RiteHite.com
TOP OF THE LINE SERVICE
Any organization that relies on its assets or infrastructure
to provide continuous service will be particularly suited
to using preventative maintenance services. In
general, most organizations now follow some sort
of preventative maintenance program, whether it
is done in-house or outsourced by experts. By
using an external provider whose expertise is
maintenance and repair, you get the benefi ts of
new technologies, techniques, and systems
at every visit. External service providers
will have all the necessary tools and training
to complete the job same day. For you, this
means reduced risk and improved service
standards, while protecting the value of your
property assets.
REAL FIXES, NOT JUST BAND-AIDS
Keeping things moving on the dock takes dedicated
personnel who regularly diagnose and repair dock
equipment as part of a preventative maintenance program. If
equipment isn’t working properly, a certifi ed technician will not only
fi x the problem, they’ll be able to get to the root cause and off er solutions to prevent a
similar failure in the future. And they can provide documentation of their work, so facility
managers know what was serviced and when.
ABILITY TO BUDGET FOR REPAIRS
Without a regular preventative maintenance program, equipment failures are often
unpredictable and labor and spare parts may not be readily available. This can cause
added costs and headaches, such as paying premiums for emergency service, extra
travel time and after hours support. A PMP allows your organization to be in control,
budgeting for repairs based on a service schedule which can be monthly, quarterly,
yearly or whatever is best for your business based on size, budget and need.
MAINTAIN BRAND REPUTATION
Your loading dock is the gateway to products moving in and out of your facility. Reduced
throughput can have huge implications on a brand’s reputation, no matter the industry.
Not only do equipment breakdowns aff ect the bottom line, but they can damage
reputations when delivery dates are missed or product does not get to customers on
time. A good reputation takes a long time to establish, but can be tarnished quickly when
things go wrong.
M
A
IN
TE
NANCE & REPA
IR
EXTERNAL
PROVIDER
NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
NEW
SYSTEMS
NEW
TECHNIQUES
10 BENEFITS OF A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (PMP) FOR YOUR LOADING DOCK | 3
A PMP
allows your
organization
to be in
control.
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CONNECT WITH YOUR LOCAL
SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
Call 800.456.0600 or go to
ritehite.com and click on “Find a Rep”
RiteHite.com
