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Cost Savings from Utilities and Maintenance
July 17, 2008

In the last few blogs we started to discuss some cost saving tips. In plant audits I spend most of my time focusing on the obvious issues such as workflow automation, staffing and waste. But I also look at more subtle issues such as utilities and maintenance.

Often companies are surprised how little things can mean a lot. During an audit I may look at AC/heat, lighting and maintenance. While laughed at by many people in the past today this has become more popular lately because of the sustainability movement.

I may find trucks with low air pressure, lights on early in the morning before most people arrive and heating or AC on all night. All it takes is someone designated as the last person out to go around to make sure that all the lights are turned off, instructing drivers to turn an engine off if it is going to idle for more than 10 minutes, and the creation of a maintenance schedule to ensure that the air pressure in the tires and air filters are checked. Though relatively minor checklist items, these things can make a difference, and they are easy to do.

Posted by Howie Fenton on July 17, 2008 | Comments (0)