| August 2023 |.
Nowadays, height-cutting machines and other construction tools are indispensable on Belgian construction sites. Anything to become even faster, more productive and more agile in this modern society. Even construction workers who are stuck in old habits have to change. If your company does not have sufficient agility, it will be difficult to survive in this highly competitive sector.
This is why there is huge investment in construction machinery today. Machinery is therefore a big part of working capital. And that is precisely why it is so important not only to maintain them properly, but also to keep the machines 100% operational and profitable. How do you do this? We provide some useful tips in this blog.
This is something that is regularly forgotten with the many construction machines used on various job sites. However, it can be essential when safety on construction sites is at stake. In the event of a machine accident, the employer will be held primarily responsible. It is mandatory for employers to ensure safety. This includes ensuring that machines are properly maintained and that a maintenance log is in place. Here you record when and what maintenance was done. Even for relatively minor things like changing the hydraulic oil, this is important. This way you always have proof if a fatal accident occurs. This can save your company thousands of dollars!
In addition, you need the real running hours to know when a machine is due for service/replacement. When purchasing a construction machine, the manufacturer will specify at how many running hours it will need replacement and when a service is needed. Is this time exceeded? Then you risk losing the right to warranty.
Via All-Connects' track & trace solution, recording machine running hours is child's play. No more manual notes required; the running hours data is recorded by our tracker on the machine and transmitted to the online management application. The person responsible here thus sees in real-time the current performance of all linked construction machines. An additional advantage - besides the crucial info needed for maintenance management - is that the collected data can also be used for post-calculation and correct invoicing to the customer.
Read our blog 'A more efficient and less expensive machine fleet thanks to the hour registration app'
There are quite a few employees in the construction industry who still assume the principle, "As long as the machine works, there is no problem. We only fix things when something is actually wrong." While this may save money in the short term because you don't have to deal with machine downtime, it will be a very different story in the longer term.
Compare it to maintaining your car. If you cut back on buying engine oil, your wallet will initially thank you. However, if you wait too long and your engine level goes "dry," it can have catastrophic consequences for your gasoline or diesel engine. In the most severe cases, even the entire engine needs to be replaced. A very expensive joke.
This, of course, also applies to construction equipment maintenance. If you wait too long and don't anticipate possible operational problems in the future, you run the risk that costs will eventually become sky-high. And major repairs or - in the worst case scenario - even replacing machinery is not something that will be financially attractive. Your site manager has to look for a replacement piece of equipment, and in the meantime, planned work is at a standstill.
Read our blog 'Digitize maintenance and tool inspection planning'
Don't immediately call in a mechanic for every minor maintenance job. Most maintenance work you can just do yourself. Also try to buy the necessary maintenance supplies yourself; it will always be cheaper than the mechanic's bill. These small tips will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Note: stay realistic, of course! Some repairs or maintenance work does need to be done by a licensed mechanic. In that case, do try to compare labor costs as much as possible. That way you can be sure that you choose the most economical option.
Read the use case of Degraueuwe renting
Do you still have questions after reading this blog and what works for your specific business situation? Then contact us directly by phone 03 289 55 35 or click here for more information.
After reading this blog, are you curious about which tracking and digital solutions All-Connects offers? Ask us your question and we will answer you as soon as possible.
