We recommend you check your machines viscosity with a refractometer at least once a week, but if you are maximizing the capacity of your machine you may need to do it more often.  While you are checking your fluid, this is the opportune time to make sure your machines are cleared of debris and buildup.  You will also want to set up a maintenance schedule and following through with it; as it could save you headaches later on.  Nothing like needing to produce a product, when a machine goes down unexpectedly.  Keeping up a maintenance program for your machines won’t catch everything, but it will allow you to catch problems when they are small.

This is where advancements in technology can really improve your bottom line.  As manufacturing evolves with new technology, so should your monitoring of your machines and processes.  You can save yourself a lot of time and money if you do.  With the newest phone/tablet apps, it is now even easier.  One that I recently read about in Fabricating & Metalworking Magazine, FST Tech Tool Mobile App, for Apple ® devices looks to improve the efficiency of machine maintenance.    It allows those that need to log in and monitor machine fluid ordering needs, machine issues, and scanning bar codes of supplies.  If you have android devices, their app won’t work for you (hopefully they are working on that?)  While searching for an Android maintenance app, I found ManagerPlus Mobile.  It works with both Android® and Apple® devices.  It looks to do everything the FST Tech Tool Mobile App does.  If you already have employees using both platforms, then this might be a better option for you.  Ultimately you need to do your research and find the best solution for you!

#Tullco, #WhyPremierPoly-Cut, #MachineMaintenance, #TechTools

Chris Tully-Baugh