Maintaining the Maintenance Department

Feb 27, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Even though Wales Factory may be considered “obsolete’’, this plant if properly maintained can still be efficient and reduce the cost of cane sugar recovery. However, in order for this to be realized maintenance activities originating from a Maintenance Department must be put in place. Wales Factory is no stranger to such an activity since in the 70’s/80’s it had one of the best Preventative Maintenance Systems in Guyana and the Caribbean. In the mid 70’s, I was attached to study and transfer the system to Diamond Factory which at the time was not up to date.
The Maintenance Department is concerned with the day to day problems of the factory and ensuring that the physical plant is in good operating condition. The responsibility attached to the activity is one of making the necessary repairs to the plant, machinery and equipment involved in the production process; expeditiously and economically anticipating the need for these repairs and taking preventative action wherever possible; maintaining a group of skilled craftsmen capable of performing these duties; documenting the time during which the plant, machinery and equipment were unavailable for production and keeping records for the proper distribution of changes incurred in performance of the task by introducing a Data Base/ICT.
An upgraded workshop is necessary at Wales since some of the machinery is outdated or worn-out. LBI machinery could be added or replaced, as well as other plants and equipment transfer along with some training. Skilled and adequately skilled personnel for the workshop would be adequate since they would be ex-apprentices with experienced crafts-men and supervisors who “know” the factory.
It is absolutely necessary for a regular systematic inspection be executed to the plant and equipment with regular feedback to the Maintenance Department which was always considered “the Engineering Laboratory”. In so doing, the department will ensure repairs take place before a break-down occurs with the required skilled personnel already on the ground.
The Maintenance Department in collaboration with the rest of stores will ensure that minimum spares and materials be available at all times to effect smooth repairs on weekends and “out-of-crop”maintenance.
The re-introduction of The Preventative Maintenance System at Wales Factory and other locations would take some time with assistance, guidance from qualified and experienced Plant Engineers but is bound to reap the true potential of factories like Wales.
Neville Peters,
MIPLantE, Tech(CEI)London.

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