Five Reasons for Preventive Maintenance

 

October 23, 2016 

Joy Sonn

Keeping electrical distribution equipment at optimum performance levels can be challenging and stressful. Why? Because nothing operates without reliable power. Developing a maintenance strategy for your electrical distribution system is a sound business decision and implementing an electrical preventive maintenance program is a great starting point. Here are five reasons why.

1. Protect people and equipment
Plant managers must ensure the sustainability of their businesses, and with that comes the responsibility to evaluate and adopt all measures technically and economically available to minimize the risk of unwanted events. These events might cause loss of plant assets, but also place workers in danger. Electrical distribution equipment such as circuit breakers and fuse-contactors is designed to minimize the risk and severity of injuries or equipment breakdown. Therefore, the first priority of maintenance is to ensure this role is performed.

2. Maximize your electrical equipment’s uptime
A regularly scheduled preventive maintenance program lessens process disruptions and reduces stress on electrical equipment. It takes less time to have preventive maintenance performed through a scheduled outage than to have emergency repair on electrical equipment.

3. Enhance energy efficiency
Research shows that regularly maintained equipment is more energy efficient. Over time, normal wear and tear causes stress to components that can result in diminishing device energy efficiency. Less wear and tear on the equipment means less wasted energy while it is running. Preventive maintenance can be performed during off-peak business periods.

4. Improve spare parts management
Spare parts alone can add up to half of the total maintenance costs. Substituting preventive maintenance for reactive maintenance helps to reduce the number of faults on complex parts and/or systems. As a result, more money and time can be spent on improving your production process.

5. Optimize total cost of ownership
Plant managers want to keep their facility’s electrical distribution equipment running well for as long as possible, considering the significant costs of any new equipment acquisition (CapEx). Business operations must also be kept running as smoothly as possible at an optimum cost (OpEx). Without maintenance, the potential for unplanned downtime increases.

Reactive (repair) situations can cause both spare parts and labour to be sold at a premium, in addition to the cost of lost productivity. Implementing an electrical preventive maintenance strategy mitigates the risk of unplanned (and costly) downtime. Knowing when a scheduled shutdown will occur enables management to set staffing levels accordingly.

The bottom line is that electrical preventive maintenance helps to reduce Total Cost of Ownership (CapEx + OpEx) and creates more value for your business. In addition, it helps companies meet their legislative and regulatory requirements.

Joy Sonn has 25 years experience in the electrical distribution services industry. She joined Schneider Electric in 1996.

This article was first published as a Schneider Electric blog: http://blog.schneider-electric.com.

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Statement by ECAO Executive Director, Graeme Aitken on Tariffs

    Statement by ECAO Executive Director, Graeme Aitken on Tariffs

    February 7, 2025 ECAO posted the following statement from Executive Director, Graeme Aitken on their website regarding potential U.S. Tariffs: For almost 80 years, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Ontario (ECAO) has served and represented the interests of Ontario’s industry-leading, unionized electrical contractors. Over those many decades, ECAO has stepped up during times of challenge… Read More…

  • Rigid PVC Conduit vs. ENT in High-Rise and Multi-Use Applications

    Rigid PVC Conduit vs. ENT in High-Rise and Multi-Use Applications

    February 7, 2025 By Phil Crangi Choosing the right high-rise construction conduit can significantly impact project efficiency and costs. While rigid PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) conduit may have a lower upfront cost, ENT (Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing) offers more significant advantages due to its long-term labor savings and installation efficiency. ENT and fittings form an integrated system… Read More…

  • EFC Tariff Response: Advocating for Free Trade

    EFC Tariff Response: Advocating for Free Trade

    February 7, 2025 STATEMENT FROM CAROL MCGLOGAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, ELECTRO-FEDERATION CANADA ON U.S. TARIFFS Electro-Federation Canada (EFC), representing Canada’s electrical and automation industry, strongly opposes the recent tariffs announced (an subsequently delayed) by President Trump on Canadian imports. These tariffs threaten to disrupt North American supply chains, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and… Read More…

  • The ‘Prosumer’: Taking an Active Role in Electricity Management & Generation

    The ‘Prosumer’: Taking an Active Role in Electricity Management & Generation

     “For us, a prosumer is an active homeowner or building owner who manages and distributes their electrical load to optimize energy use in their home or business,” explains Schneider Electric’s David O’Reilly, Vice President of the Home & Commercial Solutions Division. Read More…


Changing Scene

  • Westburne Canada Announces Promotion of Anshul Mathur to President

    Westburne Canada Announces Promotion of Anshul Mathur to President

    February 7, 2025 Rexel has announced the promotion of Anshul Mathur to the position of President, Westburne Canada, effective March 31, 2025. This transition will include a two-month handover period to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibilities. Anshul joined the Rexel Canada team on July 18, 2011, as a Business Development Account Manager at Westburne…. Read More…

  • Leviton Announces Extended Partnership with Salex for the Ottawa Market

    Leviton Announces Extended Partnership with Salex for the Ottawa Market

    February 7, 2025 Levtion are excited to announce the expansion of their long-standing partnership with Salex into the Ottawa region. “I’m very excited to bring our expertise and solutions to the Ottawa market with Salex. Together, we have demonstrated that our mutual capabilities, solutions, and experience are unrivalled. I look forward to supporting and growing… Read More…

  • AEA Congratulates Leanne Walker for Emerging Leader Award at 2024 AEA Industry Awards

    AEA Congratulates Leanne Walker for Emerging Leader Award at 2024 AEA Industry Awards

    February 7, 2025 Congratulations to Leanne Walker at EECOL Electric for receiving Alberta Electrical Alliance’s Emerging Leader award at their 2024 AEA Industry Awards. View the AEA LinkedIn post on the announcement: Read More…

  • EB Horsman Campbell River’s New Building is Now Open

    EB Horsman Campbell River’s New Building is Now Open

    February 7, 2025 EB Horsman & Son is thrilled to announce that EB Horsman & Son Campbell River has officially opened the doors to it’s new building at 904 Ironwood Street, Campbell River, B.C. V9W 5K7. This move represents an exciting new chapter as EB celebrates 55 years of dedicated service to the community. Located just across the… Read More…