M odern order fulfillment and distribution would not be possible if it were not for automation technology . Automation technology allows businesses to increase capacity and help meet the demands of consumers for quick delivery . Without that technology , it would be incredibly difficult — if not completely impossible — to meet those demands manually .
However , with technology comes the occasional downtime and necessary maintenance . It is important to view maintenance as two parts : reactive and proactive .
Reactive maintenance is a maintenance strategy of repairing machinery or equipment after it has broken down or after a component has failed . As its name implies , it entails reacting to failed equipment .
Proactive maintenance is a maintenance strategy in which scheduled maintenance takes place . By regularly maintaining your machinery and equipment , businesses will be able to identify components that may be at risk of failure . This then allows them to predict potential issues and take action to correct them before the failure occurs .
Examples of proactive maintenance for AS / RS include :
• General inspection of brakes and speed monitoring system
• Chain lubrication and alignment
• S / RM and Satellite ® chain tensioning
• Visual inspection of bolted connections
• Inspection of all S / RM control components
• Inspection of major wear items for all S / RMs
• Inspection of all S / RM aisle hardware
As a result of the right blend of preventative measures and training , an AS / RS will continue to run well into the future just as smoothly as it did at first installation . It is important to note the average lifecycle of an AS / RS is 25 + years when properly maintained . by most order fulfillment operations , for a number of reasons :
1 . It allows you to stock spare parts efficiently . By identifying potential problems before they occur , you will be able to purchase / order any spare parts that you need to make the repair , ensuring you have the part on hand should a problem occur . This will allow for faster resolution of any issues , limiting the amount of time your various equipment must be down for repairs .
2 . It allows you to plan your equipment ’ s downtime . With reactive maintenance , it is impossible to predict when a component will fail . At worst , this means a failure could occur during peak hours or during your business ’ s busy season , limiting your ability to meet demand . By following a predictive strategy , you can plan when to take your equipment offline for maintenance , allowing you to align that downtime with lulls in demand .
3 . It keeps your equipment healthy longer . Any time a component fails , you risk damaging your equipment — sometimes significantly so . Catastrophic damage can lead to drastically reducing the lifespan of your machinery and may require much more capital to fix than it would have cost to maintain .
When vetting vendors , make sure they offer full-service programs such as a 24 / 7 hotline , preventative maintenance programs , inspection packages , individual spare parts management , and numerous options for scheduling plant maintenance . Choosing a vendor with in-house certified service technicians for every service option shortens your downtime window and provides the highest degree of flexibility .
By having your automation equipment professionally cleaned , restored , and repaired in a controlled environment , it will guarantee continued productivity , reliability and leave your equipment running as if it were new .
In nearly every case , proactive or predictive maintenance is preferable to reactive maintenance . It ’ s the maintenance strategy used
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