UPS
So the question isn ’ t about whether a UPS uptime strategy is needed or not , but finding the service approach that is best suited to meet the needs of each organisation . Having in place an effective preventive maintenance plan not only minimises business interruption and downtime costs , but also enhances the overall return on investment by extending the critical power equipment ’ s lifespan .
There ’ s a choice of four primary service options : buying a service contract or extended warranty from the UPS manufacturer , contracting with an independent service provider , using internal service engineers , or obtaining help when a problem arises . Unfortunately , as every UPS owner operates under different circumstances , none of these approaches provides an ideal solution for all applications . Below , I examine the pros and cons of the options to provide a basis for informed decision making .
Option 1 : UPS manufacturer ’ s internal service organisation
A reputable UPS manufacturer will offer a depth of expertise and stock-holding superior to any third party , including the user . Factory trained field technicians benefit from ongoing , in-depth training on the manufacturer ’ s specific products . Their insight
‘ Modern UPSs are highly complex devices with an inherent risk of failure . This can be mitigated or avoided by implementing a service strategy appropriate to the organisation ’ s needs .’ into the UPS and its performance is continuously updated , and always backed by access to the latest firmware and upgrade kits to maximise UPS performance levels . Additionally , the technicians ’ expertise , troubleshooting abilities and brand familiarity translate to reduced repair times .
Overall , support will be deep in terms of the number of field technicians , back up technical staff and back office resources . Additionally , manufacturers are most likely to offer risk mitigation strategies such as appropriate safety programs and proper insurance levels . Spare parts are also readily available , so problems are usually resolved on a first visit .
UPS manufacturers also offer many service plans ; standard warranty , extended warranty , preventive maintenance , numerous service contract levels , and time and material ( T & M ) billing . Other options include remote monitoring and 24 / 7 coverage , with next-day or two to eight hour response times .
Accordingly , UPS manufacturers can profile support packages appropriate to all applications , including mission critical environments . Compared with third party alternatives , the additional benefits of a UPS manufacturer ’ s servicing offering may well outweigh the slightly higher pricing . unwelcome inconveniences . One thing is certain , though ; irrespective of their perspective , all organisations purchase their UPS to deliver the maximum possible power availability . However , modern UPSs are highly complex devices with an inherent risk of failure . This can be mitigated or avoided by implementing a service strategy appropriate to the organisation ’ s needs .
Research shows that regular preventative maintenance significantly increases mean time between failures , while allowing identification of potential threats . According to Eaton service records , over 25 per cent of preventative maintenance visits result in follow-up corrective actions or upgrades , resolving potential problems before they become threats to power availability .
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