One of the most important aspects of preparing for a successful future is building vital infrastructure. Whether it’s a new building or upgrades to outdated support systems, these projects can increase the value, productivity, and competitiveness of a business. Once construction is complete and your new assets are ready for use, a new aspect comes into play: maintenance and repair. Your valuable new infrastructure will now need to be inspected regularly to ensure that the work and money aren’t wasted, and your investment continues to give back. As a leader in the development of inspection equipment, Dacon has seen how poorly maintained investments can quickly become a drain on resources instead of a benefit to your company. There is, however, a relatively easy way to prevent your infrastructure from becoming a money pit.
A Comprehensive List
A complete list of your assets, including their purpose within the company, goals or needs related to their performance, and any necessary documentation, will give you a place to start your planning. This list will affect everything, including scheduling and budgeting, so it’s the first thing you will want to create and have available.
The Right Plan
There are multiple facets of a successful inspection and maintenance plan, including schedules, standards, and documentation. A well-thought-out schedule will ensure that inspections are happening frequently enough to catch small issues before they become big, expensive problems. A plan can also help you coordinate major inspections with any company needs or events that might interfere or cause conflict.
Set standards for passing inspection will establish thresholds that trigger repairs and maintenance and prevent or correct problems quickly. Making these standards and the process for reporting any failings common knowledge in your company can encourage team members to report issues more promptly. Documentation of the inspections, findings, maintenance, and repairs will allow for more efficient planning as well as accurate expense tracking. Furthermore, accurate documentation can give you a wider perspective on the specific challenges and benefits that your company is facing regarding physical assets. This can help you adjust your plans and budgets as well as look ahead to future goals and development.
Inspection Equipment Basics
It’s important to choose the right tools for your inspections. After all, your decisions are only as good as the information on which they’re based. Make sure that your inspection equipment and camera systems are giving you the best information possible.
Clear images – Performing an inspection or diagnosing a problem in inaccessible areas (such as underground or inside walls) require high-quality imaging. Camera options range widely, and different cameras are better suited to certain types of inspections.
Sturdy construction – You want your physical assets to last, and your inspection equipment should be no different. There are many options available, but inspection equipment that is built with quality as a priority will provide more consistent and accurate information. It will also become an investment in and of itself.
Task appropriate – Sometimes it pays to be a specialist, and that’s true of inspection equipment. Where will it be going? What will the conditions be? Will it be operated manually or remotely? The answers to these questions will help you choose the right tool for the job.
Efficient interface – A beautifully designed piece of equipment can quickly turn into a very expensive paperweight if the user interface doesn’t work or is just too difficult to use to be worthwhile. Meanwhile, an efficient, intuitive, and consistent interface can make sure you’re getting the most accurate information possible to aid in your decisions.
Qualified Resources
While it can be tempting to believe that you need to be personally managing such an important aspect of your business, it’s important to remember that you can’t replace the knowledge and experience of a professional. Whether it is producing detailed documentation that will be used by multiple employees, creating a streamlined inspection schedule, allocating a budget for maintenance and repairs, or performing the inspections and repairs, finding qualified individuals will ensure a successful outcome on all fronts. Having the right people involved at each stage is yet another aspect of making a good investment in the management of your physical assets and the future of your company.
