Machine malfunctioning isn’t just inconvenient—it can negatively impact part quality, too. In the weeks before machines visibly need repair, parts produced are prone to issues like chip build-up and subpar surface finishes.
To combat this problem, Reata Engineering created a proactive maintenance program to keep machines in optimal operating condition. We stay two steps ahead of major manufacturing interruptions with cutting-edge technology, such as machine metrics monitoring and maintenance scheduling software.
Reata’s Comprehensive Proactive Maintenance Program
Our precision machine shop stays on top of machine maintenance in two ways:
Machine monitoring software
We equip every machine in our precision machine shop with sensors that constantly collect data. This information feeds into our machine monitoring system and alerts our team when abnormal data is received.
Most abnormalities—like coolant concentration being higher than average—can start leading to problems with the machine. When an alarm goes off, the Reata team can act rapidly to address the issue, from scheduling maintenance to ordering replacement parts.
Thanks to machine metrics informing us of small shifts in machine performance, we minimize machine downtime and keep customer orders moving smoothly through the contract manufacturing process.
Maintenance scheduling software
Our machine monitoring software is essential for avoiding unexpected malfunctions, but that’s only half the equation. We still need to schedule regular maintenance and track which machines receive maintenance and when.
Reata uses software called MaintainX to schedule preventive maintenance according to manufacturer recommendations. We log which parts are replaced to identify trends—if we’ve replaced the same part in our 5-axis machine several times, we can investigate to fix the deeper issue.
We know surprises aren’t fun. Our scheduling software ensures we avoid lengthy, unplanned downtime, keeping customer costs and lead times predictable.
How Customers Benefit from Proactive Maintenance
Customers benefit from a precision machine shop’s proactive maintenance in both immediate and long-term ways.
When our software identifies an issue with one of our machines, we can schedule downtime for repair around our current production needs. Instead of being derailed after a major machine breakdown, we can plan ahead to avoid impacting customers’ lead times.
During machine monitoring, the software is also gathering data. More data makes our failure predictions more accurate over time and enables us to identify root causes like tooling issues or programming errors. We can analyze trends in our machine metrics to find areas to improve our production process, leading to increased quality and efficiency in the long term.
We’re Always Improving
Our contract manufacturing shop is already a leader in innovation and technology. But we’re always looking forward to our next improvement!
Here’s what we’re doing right now:
- Adding vibration sensors on pumps, motors, spindles
- Implementing automatic refractometers to monitor coolant levels
- Utilizing machine learning for predictive analytics in partnership with a local university
- Increasing sensors for comprehensive machine diagnostics
Customers who work with Reata benefit from our dedication to consistent improvement. So what are you waiting for? Request a quote from our precision machine shop today!