Effective Machine Inspection Practices for Safety & Compliance

Vast majority of enterprises in manufacturing industry use some kind of machines and technical equipment in their daily routine. Machinery trade and logistics also come close to the machines present at workplaces.

Machine technology is constantly evolving and so does machinery safety regulations which need to be taken into consideration on site. Employers are responsible for timely machinery maintenance and inspection to assure safety of production and fulfillment of regulations.

Another situation when machinery inspection is necessary occurs when a second-hand machine is sold to a different user. This case potential buyer needs to make sure machine’s condition is as described and everything works smoothly.

What machine inspection involves

Standard machinery inspection process involves the following stages:

• Firstly, visual machinery inspection is performed
• A detailed report of issues that need to be addressed for proper long-term viability
• Check safety circuits for proper functionality
• A review of what occurred during the inspection with the customer
• Observation of operators running the machine
• Recommendations for improving processes, speed, and finished product quality
• Providing a list of wear parts and further recommendations to optimize machine’s performance

Who can perform machine inspection

Machine inspections are best performed by highly-trained, certified experts provided by or expressly recommended by the original packaging equipment manufacturer. These technicians have many years of hands-on training with your specific brand of equipment and know the machinery inside and out.

Use caution when considering third-party, unaffiliated, or uncertified companies and technicians to perform inspections and maintenance, even if their pricing seems competitive. Your packaging machinery is an investment in the future of your business; its care and maintenance should be left in the hands of an established company you can trust.

Equipment can be inspected by anyone who has sufficient knowledge and experience of it to enable them to know:

• what to look at
• what to look for
• what to do if they find a problem

The necessary level of competence will vary for inspections, according to the type of equipment and how / where it is used. The nature of these inspections does not have to be determined by the same person who undertakes them, provided the person determining them is competent. This can often be done in-house by experienced staff, taking account of:

• the manufacturer’s recommendations
• industry advice
• their own experience of the equipment, its use, the particular factors of the workplace and the people using the work equipment

Ways to perform inspection

• In person. Personal machine inspection can either be done by the potential buyer of this particular machine or the buyer’s representative sent out on an inspection mission. Both ways, machine is carefully inspected in person so on the bright side buyer can be sure that he buys what he sees and there will be no hidden surprises. On the down side, personal machine viewing demands arranging
• Online. Technological progress allows to perform machine inspection in a blink of an eye. No travelling needed to sellers destination. Buyer and seller can easily connect online using any means of video communication every modern smartphone provides (like Skype or Whatsapp). Video chat option enables smooth machine inspection where the buyer can see the machine in details and also ask seller questions in the live mode. This feature is very convenient for international buyers and sellers who value their time and money. Online machine inspection definitely proved as a cost-saving alternative of viewing machines in person.

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