Machine maintenance contract: why it's a good idea

Buying machinery for your production line is a long-term investment that all manufacturers have to make – and, as such, you should expect each piece of machinery to be built to last and fulfil its role effectively.

However, even the most carefully designed machine can go wrong, and when it does, it’s important to be able to have a fix in place. It’s also important to make sure your machines are maintained regularly so that any potential errors can be resolved before they happen.

Maintenance contracts are not a compulsory requirement for your business, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one. By having a contract that allows your machinery to be regularly serviced, you can actually prolong the life of your machines and get more out of your investment.

We’ve broken down all the advantages of a maintenance contract, so you can see exactly why having one is a good idea.

Reduce error and increase safety

In order to maximise efficiency, it’s important that your entire production line runs smoothly. However, a fault in a machine can prevent this from happening, leading to errors and slowdowns in production. In worst cases, a fault could halt the production line entirely and even cause other machinery to break.

By ensuring that your machinery has a regular service, you can address any issues before they cause havoc with your businesses’ productivity. Doing so can also have positive implications elsewhere: if machinery is faulty, there is an increased likelihood that any of your staff working with it may be susceptible to injury as a result of the fault. Carrying out regular services to keep machinery on form can eliminate this risk, increasing your staff’s safety as a result.

Reduce your business costs

Buying machinery often carries a large cost, so it’s essential you make sure you are not increasing costs further by using equipment that isn’t fit for purpose.

Errors within your machinery can lead to faults in your final product. Faulty produce may increase your wastage and require tasks to be repeated, thereby slowly your production as a whole – and in extreme cases, could lead to customer complaints if the error isn’t spotted. This all costs your business money and effort.

Having a maintenance contract that regular services and checks your machinery dramatically reduces the risk of these errors, so your business can remain cost-effective. It will also prevent you from having to arrange costly repairs when things do go wrong, saving you even more money!

Prolong the life of your machinery

We’ve already spoken about the fact that buying a machine for your business should be considered a long-term investment. As machines are often ‘big ticket items’ and carry a high initial cost accordingly, it is essential that you get the most for your money.

By making sure your machinery is regularly maintained, you can keep it in peak condition for longer and reduce the risk of it breaking. By doing so, you can make sure your machinery lasts longer, meaning you won’t have to replace it any time soon.

Machinery that works effectively can also prolong the life of your production line as a whole, ensuring everything continues to do its job and preventing a broken machine from causing breakage elsewhere in the line.

Service when you need it

One of the biggest conveniences of having a maintenance contract in place is that you are already covered if the worst should happen and your machinery requires repair.  All you need to do is contact your contracted maintenance provider and they will arrange the repair for you.

Without a contract, repairs can often be expensive – unideal when you have already shelved out for the equipment – and will have to be arranged by yourself. However, with a maintenance contract in place, these repairs will often by done free of charge, saving you money. You can also feel confident that repairs are done correctly, using only genuine replacement parts, helping to prolong the life of the machine further.

There are many benefits to having a maintenance contract for your business’s machinery. From reducing costs and error to increasing safety and reliability, making sure all of your machines are regularly serviced will keep your production working smoothly and efficiently – with the end goal of making your investment in your machinery worthwhile.