Manuals
It is important to check the owner/operator manual issued by the supplier of any piece of equipment for specific instructions on service requirements, procedures and timetables. A comprehensive file of equipment manuals should be maintained and accessible to workers on all shifts. In addition, maintenance personnel should keep careful records of inspections and service performed. This will ensure proper maintenance of the equipment.
In some of the best operations, maintenance workers routinely “walk” the conveyor system, looking for indications of potential trouble.
Building a File of Information
A file or database of the various components and subassemblies in place on conveyors should be created. This file should include the various manuals, parts lists, and other documents associated with the components included in the material handling system. Items such as manufacturers’ part numbers and dates of installation are valuable in ascertaining when service is required and what procedures should be done when that interval comes around.
There should be one central repository for this information. This can be a file cabinet, or, these days, some for of electronic database that holds or links to the various documents, specifications and supplier websites. The information should be made available from one source, so there are not separate and potentially contradictory files. The decision as to whether that file or database is housed within the bulk-material handling operation or in the maintenance office is a plant decision, but with the availability of electronic networks, this information could and should be shared. The information is then also available to other departments, even those off-site, such as a corporate engineering group.
There are suppliers who can perform this information-gathering and –organizing service for a plant, perhaps as part of their maintenance offering or as a separate service. They will compile and keep these references in a database. This service may be particularly useful if the records of the existing conveyor system have become out of date. With a broader base of experience on equipment and information sources, these services should be able to track down supplier information that might be otherwise unavailable.
See also: Belt Conveyor Maintenance Matters Part 2
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