Equipment is a significant factor in construction, especially in the heavy segment of the construction industry. According to an article published by Day & Benjamin there is little doubt that increased efficiency of mechanised construction methods would reduce construction costs and raise productivity. However, many factors affect the productivity of construction equipment.
Although some aspects are easily identifiable prior to construction, others are unanticipated and subsequently affect equipment productivity negatively. Rand-Air, market leaders in the outsourcing of compressed air and portable power supply many construction sites and mining plants and find that the unavailability of equipment and equipment breakdown are among the most unanticipated factors.
Unavailability of equipment and breakdown ultimately impacts equipment productivity and the overall performance of the project. This highlights the importance of using reliable equipment and stresses the significance for project managers to have strategic measures in place to take marginal action to reduce downtime.
“Well maintained equipment is guaranteed to hold tolerances better, it also helps to reduce reworking and raises consistency and quality,” says Craig Swart, spokesperson of Rand Air.
“By increasing uptime and yielding good equipment, it can reduce and cut down total production costs. At Rand-Air, we understand the headache and stress associated with downtime which is why we make it our business to provide our customers with well-maintained machinery for their requirements. We also ensure that if any breakdown of our equipment on site arises, that these are swiftly attended to,” he adds.
Equipment reliability comes down to maintenance as this is key in ensuring that machinery is always running at optimum. An effective maintenance program should never be overlooked as it plays an integral role in the success of your projects. By selecting a reputable outsourcing partner, this responsibility does not lie with you. You are investing in a fully inclusive rental price which comprises of regular maintenance, parts, labour and an on-call technician.
It is challenging to measure the true cost of machine breakdown but the cost for a machine breakdown is more than just the maintenance labour and materials to repair it. “Breakdowns cause production to stop and is costly for your operation which is why it is fundamental that you have a partner to ensure that equipment is always operating at 100% efficiency at all times, this will allow you to focus on your core business,” he concludes.
