How to Improve Forklift Performance
How do you improve forklift performance?
- Rethink your facility layout
- Inspect and maintain your forklift regularly
- Change your forklift oil on time
- Don’t forget to lubricate the moving parts
- Use the best tires for your facility
- Carry the suitable loads for the forklift
- Invest in other forklift attachments and accessories
Using a forklift in the Philippines is a no-brainer especially if you need to move and transport goods daily in your facility. The addition of this material handling equipment can increase the productivity of your workforce and boost the efficiency of your operations. To get more out of your forklift, there are some things you can do. Here are some tips on how to improve forklift performance. Keep on reading to learn more!
Rethink Your Facility Layout
If you want to improve forklift performance, one of the first things you need to do is to take a look at your facility layout. You wouldn’t want your operators to spend their time driving back and forth your facility just for a few items. Aside from wasting time and effort, this puts additional strain on your forklift.
What you would want to do is to tweak the layout of your facility to make operations more efficient. A complete reorganization might not be needed. Instead, focus on reducing congestion or inventory organization. Install storage racking and shelving and label product locations to open up floor space and save time on operations.
Inspect and Maintain Your Forklift Regularly
To ensure that your forklift performs well all the time, you have to take time to inspect and maintain it. Pre-shift inspections can help you and your operators notice problems — such as corrosion, cracks, and leaks. The earlier you address the problem, the better your forklift performance will be. A few minutes of your time will also help you avoid accidents in your facility.
Aside from daily inspections, don’t forget to follow your manufacturer’s recommendation on when to have your forklift serviced by a technician. Preventive maintenance is vital in prolonging the life of your equipment and ensuring quality performance.
Change Your Forklift Oil On Time
Corrosion, catalytic converter failure, and engine sludge are only some of the problems caused by contaminated oil. Not only will this cause you extra headaches and repair costs, but your forklift performance will also be affected. For this reason, it’s a regular practice for forklift owners to have the oil changed according to a schedule. This will depend on the brand and model of your forklift, so it’s best to consult the manual.
Along with the oil replacement, it’s also recommended to keep up with other fluids — including the coolant, transmission, and hydraulic fluids.
Don’t Forget to Lubricate the Moving Parts
Forklifts have moving parts that need to be lubricated to maintain peak performance. Without a lubricant, these components will have trouble reaching their full range of motion. Other than that, the friction produced can speed up the degradation of the component.
Remember to lubricate these parts regularly to prevent problems during operation. On top of this, don’t forget to remove and replace worn-out ball bearings too.
Use The Best Tires for Your Facility
Did you know that operating a forklift with underinflated tires can waste your fuel? Because of this, you might need to refuel the equipment much more often. Driving a forklift with a low tire pressure can not only affect its performance but also cause accidents in your facility. Make sure to check the tire pressure of your equipment before each shift.
To improve forklift performance, it also helps to choose the right tires for your facility. For example, pneumatic forklift tires are a great option for tough terrain and construction sites. On the other hand, cushion tires are best for smooth surfaces and smaller spaces.
Carry The Suitable Loads for The Forklift
While forklifts can carry heavy loads so your employees don’t have to, each material handling equipment has its limitations too. Depending on the specifications of your forklift, it only has a specific amount of weight it can lift. Anything over this can cause the equipment to become out of balance, resulting in overstrained vehicles.
When your forklift is working too hard, you might encounter breakdowns and repairs sooner than expected. Unbalanced forklifts can also cause injury and damaged stock.
Invest in Other Forklift Attachments and Accessories
The right attachments can help increase forklift performance. For instance, side shifters allow your operators to better line up pallets for pick up because they can move a load from side to side. This means that each pallet can be loaded faster and fuel consumption is reduced.
Other than this, the right accessories can also make work easier for your operators. One example is a blind spot camera, which can make maneuvering in small spaces more convenient. Other accessories you should look into are backup alarms, fork tip lasers, and cab covers.
Key Takeaway
To improve forklift performance, you need to prioritize maintenance of your equipment. Consult your manufacturer’s manual for the recommended time intervals for maintaining forklift parts. Other than that, you should also consider upgrading or adding parts and accessories that suit your application.
If you’re interested in how to improve forklift performance, you can contact us here at Multico! We offer after-sales service for Clark forklifts — including scheduled preventive maintenance services, forklift repairs, attachment installation, and OEM parts replacement and installation.
