Free checklist
The Industrial Downtime Prevention Checklist
The cheapest downtime is the kind you prevent. Most equipment failures give warning signs first, and a loose termination, a worn contact, or a drying seal is far easier to catch on a walk by than at 2 a.m. when the line stops. This is the checklist we actually use in the field, grounded in real preventive maintenance, not filler. Work through it on your own equipment, and keep it by the phone for the day you do need to call.
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1
Control panels and wiring
- No hot plastic or varnish smell when you open the cabinet, and the enclosure is not unusually warm to the touch.
- No discoloration, scorch marks, or browned insulation on breakers, terminals, or wiring.
- Terminations look tight, with no loose or backed out wires (a qualified person confirms with the panel de-energized).
- The door seal is intact and the cabinet is sealed against dust, moisture, and wash down.
- Wiring is labeled and organized, so the next repair is fast instead of a guessing game.
2
Motors, drives, and controls
- Motors are not running hot, noisy, or vibrating more than usual.
- Contactors and starters pull in cleanly, with no buzzing, humming, or chatter.
- Overloads are set to match the motor and are not tripping more often than they used to.
- VFDs are clean, their cooling fans spin, and the fins are not caked with dust.
- No fault codes sitting in drive history that nobody has looked into.
3
Mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic
- No air or fluid leaks that are costing you power and pressure.
- Cylinders and actuators move at full speed and force, not slow or weak.
- Gears, shafts, sprockets, and chains are not noisy, slipping, or showing wear.
- Guards and safety devices are in place and working.
- Grease and lubrication are on schedule for the equipment that needs it.
4
Before you call for service, have this ready
When something does go down, these few facts get you a faster, more accurate answer and often the right parts on the first visit.
- The equipment or machine, and the make and model or nameplate data if you have it.
- The exact symptom or fault code, any noise, smell, or heat, and when it started.
- Whether the line is fully stopped or still limping along.
- Anything that changed recently: a repair, a new part, a speed increase, or new equipment.
- A clear photo of the panel, the drive display, the fault, or the nameplate. A picture lets us diagnose faster and bring the right parts.
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