Your office usually runs like a well-oiled machine, providing the machines have been exactly that–well oiled. All it takes to disrupt the flow of production, however, is one piece of equipment to break down. And the best way to ensure that this doesn’t happen is to give your office equipment the TLC and maintenance–and, yes, occasionally “oil”–that it needs to remain healthy and in top working order.
The Cheaper Option
Every automobile owner knows that investing a few dollars in preventive maintenance can save big dollars down the road. The same is true of office equipment.
It is much more cost effective to pay someone to keep your printers, photocopiers, and other vital tools in tip-top shape than to wait until they need a major repair or, Heaven forbid, a complete replacement.
Plan for Future Expenditures
When you take your Hyundai to your favorite mechanic for maintenance, they will often give you a “heads up” regarding expenses that you can anticipate in the near future. This advanced warning can enable you to prepare financially and help you avoid catastrophic repairs.
The same is true of the equipment required to run your office. In fact, as “7 Items to Consider for a Well Thought-Out Preventive Maintenance Strategy” offers, a preventive maintenance program gives you a regular snapshot of the system and equipment health, enabling you to better determine the remaining life of company assets and prepare for future expenditures.
Maintain Productivity
The most obvious benefit of performing regular maintenance on your office equipment is that it decreases the likelihood of mechanical malfunctions that can bring your productivity to a screeching halt. Well-maintained equipment will enable your employees to carry out their duties uninterrupted.
Furthermore, if a part is beginning to show signs of wear, you will be in a better position to make sure that you have a replacement on hand before it breaks down completely.
Plus, as “Planned Preventive Maintenance-What Does it Really Mean?” adds, you can schedule maintenance inspections and resulting repairs for down times and decrease the impact on the productivity of your workforce.
More Mileage
When it comes to purchasing a used car, everyone hopes to get their hands on a cream puff–the just-like-new car that has been loving maintained. Why? An automobile that has enjoyed preventive maintenance is more likely to last longer than one who has experienced a “don’t fix it unless it’s broken” existence. The same is true of office equipment. As “The Importance of Servicing Your Office Equipment” states, when you properly service your equipment, it lasts longer, works better, and gives you a higher return on your investment.
If you think your company does not have room in its budget to pay for preventive maintenance, you have to ask yourself one question. Can it afford a hefty repair bill, the cost of replacement, or a lengthy interruption in productivity? If the answer is an emphatic “No,” it’s time to revisit your budget and invest in some regular P.M.
Does your company partake in regular preventive maintenance? What tips can you give someone who is contemplating introducing scheduled maintenance to their business?