Planned maintenance is critical. It involves functional checks, servicing, repairing or replacing equipment in your commercial kitchen, both new and old. These cost-effective practices keep kitchen equipment operational and businesses running smoothly, reducing down-time, and increasing profitability. Whether you have 20 pieces of equipment or 200, a PM program is in your best interest. Susie Trader (Salisbury Account Manager) shares about what you can expect when setting up a PM program with EMR, below!
Depending on the size and scope of your kitchen, approval processes, and budgeting, getting set up with a PM agreement takes approximately 2 weeks start to finish. From there, you can rest knowing a pro will be onsite inspecting your equipment regularly so you can focus elsewhere.
How to set up your PM program.
- Reach out to your local EMR account manager to schedule a time for an initial site visit. This important step includes inventory audit of your equipment which is necessary for a comprehensive quote.
- Your account manager will review and make recommendations on scope, including additional equipment that should be included, and the frequency of inspections – annually, bi-annually, quarterly, or monthly.
- Your account manager will develop an equipment list and place EMR stickers on each piece of equipment that is to be included in your PM program.
- A quote will be prepared and submitted for review.
- Once approved, your PM contract is in place! You can rest knowing you’ll have a professional inspecting and cleaning your equipment on a regular basis.
Suggested equipment to have on a PM program:
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Ovens
- HVAC
- Ice machines
- Fryers
- Dish washers
- Hoods
- Grease traps
- Beverage equipment
- Smaller appliances – vacuum sealers, slicers, mixers, blenders, etc.
Maintenance musts in between your PM inspections.
- Identify which employees have the capacity to handle maintenance needs as they arise. They can then teach the proper procedure(s) for maintaining the equipment to other staff members.
- Have handy any equipment/supplies needed to maintain and clean your equipment daily. We can help with some of that, too!
- Perform a weekly check-in with your equipment users to stay on top of any problems or concerns that need attention.
Remember, a successful maintenance strategy consists of four action items: inspection, detection, correction, and prevention, which requires planning and scheduling before a problem occurs. Click here to find your local EMR branch to set up your planned maintenance program today!
