Investing in equipment - which for some high-spec, fully automatic turnkey lines can cost almost as much as the UK’s average house price – can bring out the fear of the unknown in many manufacturers.
While many don’t look past the initial price tag it is evaluating and taking a more proactive approach to total cost of ownership (TCO) which can help manufacturers unlock hidden savings, minimise downtime and boost productivity.
The truth is we expect our systems to last for up to 20 years. However, many companies are unclear of the Total Cost of Ownership throughout the lifespan of a system – and the direct and in-direct costs this might represent.
It is often this lack of knowledge which deters manufacturers from making the initial investment.
Part of TCO is maintenance, which is seen as a necessary cost of business but it should be a part of the overall business strategy to ensure systems remaining running at their optimum.
With a proactive approach maintaining systems can become a key contributor to a company’s bottom line.
Here are Endoline’s top tips to ensure manufacturers get the most out of the equipment and how to bring the TCO to a minimum.
- It is imperative you have a good relationship with your machinery supplier who can ‘hold your hand’ through the installation process and beyond.
- Service agreements should be considered with the supplier as if a system needs a service it could end up costing you in the long run by bringing in a less-expensive local engineer who has no experience in the machine you are operating.
- Ensure your machinery supplier has its own in-house team of engineers who specialise in their equipment. Not only can they diagnose problems but, with their knowledge of the machinery, they should be able to pre-empt any issues and modify the machine to make production more efficient – for example changing the air pressure and recognising if bearings are wearing.
- They should offer you regular on the job training for engineers. It has been reported that manufactures believe their in-house engineers won’t have the know-how to implement and maintain the systems. However your machinery supplier should, if they have designed and manufactured the machines themselves, have an in-depth knowledge of the system and can take you through it step by step.
- Work with a machinery supplier who has got their ‘finger on the pulse’ of current trends with the ability to modify software to suit your changing needs or a new product run.
- Remote Diagnostics is quickly becoming a requirement from customers and a competitive necessity. The growth in this service, and its rapid troubleshooting capabilities, is escalating as it gives companies the assurances their downtime, should problems occur, be kept to a minimum.
- Does your machinery supplier hold enough spares? While we recommend customers keep an amount of spares, such as tape heads, it is inevitable machinery suppliers will receive an urgent call for a part. Ensure your supplier has the ability to turn around your order within 48 hours at most.
- Finally – Quality over quantity Investing in quality machines from the outset can ultimately save you ££’s in the long term. A poorly built system could end up being replaced several times over during the lifetime of a high quality system. So don’t overlook a more expensive system, look at the build quality, get customer testimonials and find out what their service plan is. Purchasing several cheaper machines over a longer period will eventually outweigh the initial investment of a more quality built product.
Investing in end of line equipment may be one of the most costly exercises your business does, however to avoid falling behind competitors, missing critical business opportunities or losing industry influence it is imperative that you seize the opportunity to automate.
With careful planning you can keep Total Cost of Ownership to a minimum and, by ‘getting into bed’ with a reputable machinery supplier, you can make your business more productive and efficient.
The Government is currently making all the right noises to help manufacturers make the initial investment in much needed automation to bring us up to date with our European counterparts.
This includes an increase in the annual investment allowance (AIA) to £500,000 for investment in plant, machinery and equipment. So what’s holding you back?’
Richard Yates, customer & service manager, Endoline Machinery.