5 Tips To Reduce Forklift Downtime
What are some tips to reduce forklift downtime?
- Choose a reputable forklift supplier
- Train your forklift operators
- Fix small problems sooner than later
- Consider renting a forklift
- Prioritize maintenance and hire experienced mechanics
Forklift downtime occurs because of several reasons, such as lack of maintenance, using a forklift beyond its capacity, and lack of operator training. Forklifts are used in manufacturing and distribution industries where moving goods is a crucial task. This is why downtime can have costly consequences. Keep reading to learn more about the tips to reduce forklift downtime.
It’s helpful to know how forklift downtime can affect your business. Being unable to use your forklift means that your employees can’t work, so you’re losing money with drained productivity. However, your fixed costs, such as the electric bill, water, insurance, and rent keep running. To keep up with consumer demand, you need to pay for overtime. Lastly, your company’s reputation may suffer.
To prevent these unwanted outcomes, here are some of the tips you can follow to reduce forklift downtime.
Choose a Reputable Forklift Supplier
When you’re shopping around for a forklift, it’s important to consider your future needs down the line. It’s recommended to choose a forklift supplier with great after-sales services. This way, they can help you if ever you experience a forklift problem. Chances are, they will also have parts that are compatible with your forklift. This way, you can reduce downtime issues in the future.
Train your Forklift Operators
One of the most important things you need to do is to train your forklift operators. This is not just for their safety but also ensures that the forklift is being used properly. Careless use of a forklift is one of the main causes of accelerated wear and tear on the forklift. Some of their bad habits can decrease the lifespan of the equipment. For example, overloading can damage the hydraulic components and forks.
Train your forklift operators to report problems with the forklift immediately so that when issues arise, a response can be done in a timely manner. This way, you can avoid lost time by having an emergency plan in place when a forklift breaks down.
Fix Small Problems Sooner than Later
In a busy work site, it can be tempting to neglect small problems for later. Maybe the reason for this is to prevent downtime and to use the forklift as much as possible. But it’s always better to have a little downtime now than to delay repairs and make the problem worse, causing more downtime later. If you wait too long to repair the problem, the damage can become severe.
For this reason, it’s useful to know the common problems that can affect a forklift. If possible, learn how to troubleshoot the problem on-site. Once you inspect the affected component, you might realize that there are parts that need replacement or repairs. This way, you can solve small problems that can easily become big ones, effectively reducing downtime.
Consider Renting a Forklift
Keep in mind that not all forklift downtime is preventable. In situations when a forklift breaks down suddenly, one way you can reduce downtime is to rent a forklift. It’s a great way of replacing forklifts that are out of repair or are being serviced. It gives you the opportunity to get the equipment you need fast, so you can keep your operations going.
The right forklift rental company will deliver the forklift in good condition, so you don’t have to worry about prolonged downtime.
Prioritize Maintenance and Hire Experienced Mechanics
If you don’t take care of your forklift, breakdowns are to be expected. To keep your forklift in peak condition and prevent downtimes, it’s important to perform planned maintenance on your equipment. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for the best results.
Once you find an irregularity that you can’t fix on your own, it’s recommended to hire an experienced mechanic to help you solve a problem. This way, you can ensure that your forklift is in good hands, and can be immediately used again afterward.
Key Takeaway
Downtime for your forklifts can affect your business negatively. With the lack of operations, your operators have nothing to do. And to catch up, you need to schedule overtime too. Not to mention that it can affect the reputation of your business to customers. But fortunately, downtime can be reduced by training your operators, fixing small problems early, renting a forklift, and also prioritizing maintenance. Other than that, choosing the right forklift supplier is also important.
Follow these tips to reduce forklift downtime so you can lessen costs that occur due to lack of operations. If you’re interested in purchasing a forklift in the Philippines, you can send us a message here at Multico. We also have certified and experienced technicians that will help you maintain your forklifts. Other than that, we offer forklift repairs and servicing for clients too. If you need to rent a forklift in the Philippines, we also offer forklift rentals to help you reduce downtime.
