Forget Preventive Maintenance, Hire for Predictive Maintenance in 2021

Prevention Is Better, But Prediction Is Best

Should you be considering the use of predictive maintenance, rather than your current strategy of preventative maintenance?

Copious research says predictive maintenance is not just a trend, but the most critical business decision in manufacturing in 2021:

  • The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) evidenced poor preventive maintenance to be the root cause to incident investigations
  • An Asset Performance Management report identified a loss of upwards of $50 billion per year in a manufacturing sector because of unplanned downtime
  • A 2018 study from Plant Engineering unveiled the main causes of downtime to be aging equipment (44%), operator error (16%), and a lack of time (15%)
  • A Deloitte study claims a poor maintenance strategy can reduce a plant’s overall productive capacity by up to 20%

In this article, you’ll discover more about predictive maintenance, and why you must implement it to survive 2021 and stand strong against competitors.

What Is the Difference Between Preventive and Predictive Maintenance?

The outlined difference between preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance is that preventive maintenance is regularly scheduled, whereas predictive maintenance is scheduled based on the conditions of the asset.

The disadvantage in preventive maintenance is that errors and anomalies will only be identified at the time the scheduled maintenance check is executed. It also requires technicians to carry out these checks, and to make decisions on which assets require what maintenance work, and how frequently.

Predictive maintenance is performed continuously. It requires pre-set conditions that monitor the performance of the asset, and alerts a technician when attention is required.

Cost Comparisons

The initial outlay of predictive maintenance is higher than preventive, but the costs saved are in favor of predictive (Types of Maintenance Programs):

  • Preventive cost savings – 12% to 18%
  • Predictive cost savings – 25% to 30%

Though initial technology costs are higher, and time spent to implement correctly is more intense, predictive maintenance can:

  • Drastically reduce amount of downtime
  • Reduce labor costs
  • Reduce material costs

What Skills Do You Need for Successful Predictive Maintenance?

With predictive maintenance high on the agenda of trends to watch for 2021, and with clear benefits to your business, you need to ensure you hire for the right skills. These include:

·      Adaptability

In an ever-changing environment, you’re going to need someone who isn’t afraid of change, and feels confident in new ideas and processes.

·      Compliance

A standout client will show understanding in the importance to follow exact procedures for precision maintenance. Individual preferences and abilities will lead to inconsistent repairs and unpredictable outcomes.

·      Critical Thinker

Though conscientious and aware of the rigidness in being compliant, the right candidate will also be inquisitive with a willingness to learn.

They’ll be able to think independently, and consider alternative possibilities in problem-solving or identifying anomalies, asking for support when needed.

·      Organized

Predictive maintenance employees will no longer be able to rely on back-up supplies of stock. This is the old, preventive way of working.

Instead, employees will have to be highly organized to allow full effectiveness of cost-saving predictive maintenance, ensuring parts and supplies are ordered on demand.

·      Data Processing

If you have a candidate who can understand and analyze large data, and recognize any changes or system degradation, this will enable them to resolve abnormal system functions, and take precautions to avoid a potential system failure.

How to Hire for Predictive Maintenance

A manufacturing slowdown in talent is causing a skills shortage that will affect your hire search. The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte found that 4.6 million jobs will be required over the next decade, with 2.4 million jobs left unfilled due to the shortage.

To ramp up your search for the best talent against your competitors, make sure you:

  • Market your company
  • Nurture your talent pool
  • Avoid jobs boards and find the real talent online in communities and forums
  • Know your market salary and the perks candidates are looking for
  • Ask the right questions in interview to identify standout skillsets

Fast-Track Your Hire Search and Get Your Predictive Maintenance Rolling

Partnering with a specialist agency will provide you with access to all these talent elements. Here at MAC Incorporated, we already have a talent pool of skill-rich candidates. We know how best to market your company to them, and what candidates are looking for and expect in salary and perks.

Predictive maintenance should be your business objective for 2021, to ensure you emerge stronger against your competitors well into the future. Having the right people to execute this transition is a must.

Contact MAC Incorporated today. We want to understand your business needs and goals, and provide the hiring solution to ensure you reach them.