In the context of the meat- or poultry-processing facility, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says plant maintenance means that all equipment and structures are examined frequently and carefully, and serviced or maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It does not mean that repairs are made once things have gone wrong, failed or broken.
That said, equipment maintenance is absolutely critical. A separate budget is often required so that it can be carried out. It is intended that faults are found before they become critical and stop production or affect product quality. Of course — as is the nature of the beast — machinery will break down unexpectedly and need to be repaired. Today’s meat- and poultry-processing facilities are complex and highly automated. Therefore, sophisticated plant- and equipment-maintenance management systems are a must for profitable operations. Downtime means lost profitability. Maintaining lines and equipment — and the necessary supplies for that maintenance — helps to ensure maximum efficiency. Some processors utilize state-of-the-art maintenance software that offers preventive maintenance solutions to address computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) and enterprise asset management (EAM) needs in industrial plants.