Almost
Disastrous Collapse
They say
a picture is worth a thousand words!
(Pictures
provided by Sonny’s CarWash College)
This is what can happen when
maintenance is not a regular part of your daily operations. If the vehicle had occupants, this incident could have
resulted in serious injuries. Many operators claim to maintain their
equipment, but they don't have a standard process in place.
These days, it is simple to have a
written plan or checklist in place to standardize what needs to be maintained,
how to perform the maintenance tasks and how to record the results. Many equipment
manufacturers provide manuals and simple-to-use forms for this purpose.
The following are some ideas that
may help you design a plan around theirs:
·
Identify the pieces of equipment that
need to be maintained and determine their average lifespan. Design your
schedule of maintenance around the determined time frame.
·
Be sure that all employees tasked
with maintenance duties have access to the manuals applicable to each specific
piece of car wash equipment
·
When performing maintenance on
some of the more common items (i.e. mitters, nozzles, hoses, etc.), it is often
a good idea to replace them all simultaneously.
·
Keep your maintenance log in a
convenient and easily accessible location. Something as easy as a composition
book hanging on each piece of equipment will work.
·
Categorize items by daily, monthly
and annual service checks. This will create an easy to follow schedule of
maintenance for all of your equipment. Again, your manufacturer can be very
helpful in this process.
·
Maintenance extends to all
activities that help create a safe and effective work environment. It is
crucial to include checklists for housekeeping, damage to equipment or
buildings, cleaning walkways and driving surfaces and other similar tasks.
·
Keep an eye on all electrical items
when doing a daily visual inspection. Anything that appears out of line should
be reported to a licensed electrician immediately. Again, be sure to record all
service work.
Consistent and regular maintenance
will help ensure that your equipment will safely perform the jobs it is designed
for. Well-maintained equipment and a safe work environment help prevent bodily
injuries, property damage and destruction to customer’s property. It can also
keep your equipment running at peak performance. All of this equates to big
savings for your business that go directly to your bottom line!
If you already have a program in
place, be sure to review procedures periodically to ensure you have addressed
any changes brought about by new equipment or processes. If you don’t have a
current plan in place, get one now!
A safe wash protects people and profits!
