How Spare Parts Save Time and Money in Manufacturing

Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” This can be applied to the manufacturing industry in a plethora of ways. Factories develop plans in case an employee is injured, there is a natural disaster, or a product doesn’t sell as well as they’d like.

But if there is one problem your manufacturing should always be prepared for, it’s a machine part breaking. And the best way to be prepared is by keeping spare parts on hand. Of course, many businesses are hesitant to keep too many spare parts on hand, as doing so can increase clutter. But spare parts can save your manufacturing business time and money—here’s how.

Reducing Downtime

The primary cost and time benefits of spare parts in manufacturing come from reducing downtime when a machine goes out. When a machine goes down, it disrupts a plant’s entire process, as employees have to find ways to work around the broken machine until new parts arrive. This can cut into your bottom line, as it reduces production and requires you to pay for the repairs.

When you have spare parts on hand, you cut down the time it takes to get your machine up and running since you don’t have to wait for the new parts to come in. You also reduce the cost of the repair since you will likely only have to pay for labor.

Increasing Equipment Longevity

When machines break down, it’s often not because a large mechanical problem appeared out of thin air. In many cases, the issue arose because there were a number of smaller problems that went undetected and unaddressed for too long. These issues can increase a machine’s normal wear and tear, cutting down its lifespan significantly.

When your company combines spare parts with regular machine inspections, you can increase the likelihood of catching and repairing small machine problems before they spin out of hand.

Additional Income

One of the biggest reasons people don’t want to keep spare parts around a plant is that it seems like a waste of money. If you don’t use the parts quickly enough, they become obsolete, leaving you with useless parts cluttering your inventory.

However, old parts don’t have to burn a hole in your company’s pocket. You can sell the parts to other companies or sell them for scrap metal. And if you shop Industrial Automations for used PLC parts for sale, you can get your spare parts for great rates.