Bright Ideas: Maintenance

Click here for full article.

Best Practices
To conserve resources, trim costs and employee downtime, and reduce waste oil, follow manufacturer recommendations for oil changes, which are often longer than the conventional wisdom of a standard 3,000-mile oil drain interval schedule.

Don’t Overdo It
"Overmaintaining fleet vehicles strains costs. Using a condition-based strategy, right-sizing vehicles, and reviewing the repair-versus-purchase decision are steps that can help strike the right balance. Use a customized “point system” for each piece of equipment to help measure its fleet service life. Points can be added and subtracted for maintenance costs, services required, a vehicle’s reliability, general condition, number of years driven, and more."
—”Are you overmaintaining your Fleet Vehicles?” (GF July/August 2007)

Keep Everyone Updated
"PM schedules are set up on a variety of tables, using mileage, time, hours, and combinations of these indicators. Four methods of notification can be used, including window stickers with mileage and time due, Intranet listings of vehicles due through the work order system, e-mail notifications, and phone calls to department coordinators."
—Doug weichman, CAFM, Director of fleet management, Palm Beach County, Fla.

"We developed a research form with vehicle service findings, which helps maintain a vehicle history log. Used to log vehicle tow-in, road call, in-service breakdowns within 30 days of vehicle maintenance servicing, and part failure findings during work performed. The form helps technicians work more consistently and with greater focus during repairs and inspections and also increases accountability all around."
—Gus Brown, CPFP, shop supervisor, City of Loveland, Colo.

"We promote ASE certifications and have incorporated a program rewarding mechanics who obtain certifications. Encouraging technicians to enhance their skills directly impacts the quality of the maintenance performed."
—Millie Souders, division chief - division of fleet management, Rockville, Md.

"Use of FLOCKS (Fast Lube Oil Change System) significantly reduces the handling of motor oil. In most truck applications, a mechanic never has to come in contact with a potentially hazardous lubrication product."
—Stephen DeCarlo, fleet and equipment maintenance supervisor, Township of Lower Merion, Pa.

"Data trends begin to reveal potential short- and long-term problems. Always track data results from different sources such as labor, parts, downtime, etc. All should reflect the same findings. This will add credibility to your data."
—Carl Stevens, district equipment fleet manager, Virginia Department of Transportation