No matter the size of your machine, preventive maintenance is important. Neglecting equipment can damage your business and its reputation by necessitating more costly repairs and a potential loss of time and business.
Regardless of the cost of your machine, you need to consider the work hours lost and the impact on sales and leads while you repair or replace it. Clients like to know they work with reliable partners that keep to their deadlines.
Here is some advice to improve the longevity of your printing equipment.
Listen to advice
When doing your regular maintenance, take into account the manufacturers recommendations. They built it and know what the machine needs. Heed their advice.
Use a pro or something like one
Also, make sure the person doing the maintenance is either a professional or has the requisite experience or knowledge. Amateur repairs can often lead to damage and/or more lost work hours.
Keep necessary maintenance products in reserve
Collect the recommend products, such as the indicated cleaning products, maintenance fluids, cleaning wipes – such as lint-free wipes and swabs – latex gloves, and any specific tools indicated by the manufacturer. If you rely on your equipment, it relies on someone to clean it and perform minor adjustments. It’s better to have the tools ready than to have to scramble at the last minute.
Keep spares
It’s also not a bad idea to keep spare printer parts (as advised by the manufacturer or your printing professional).
Keep your supplies in one place for ease of access and keep a spare key just in case.
Keep it regular
Making a maintenance schedule with clearly indicated tasks is essential to ensure the work gets done properly. This schedule maintains a degree of consistency in your maintenance and gives you a useful tool to ascertain the general state of your equipment.
A schedule can also help create a sense of accountability, since the person doing the maintenance needs to sign off afterward. Signing will provide the necessary sense of importance that this task deserves.
Regular maintenance means daily, weekly, and quarterly maintenance. Indicate them clearly in your schedule.
Maintain relationships, too
Make sure to create an open and trusting atmosphere between the staff and any IT or maintenance crew. Staff is usually the first to notice that something’s wrong, so they should feel empowered and encouraged to report problems and potential problems early.
Know your machine
Get familiar with your printer. Learn its calibration and specs. Knowing your machine can help you diagnose issues faster and help guide your maintenance efforts.
Remember, maintenance may be onerous at times. And it might seem wasteful on a machine that seems just fine. Maintenance, however, will help keep your business functional and competitive.
