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While the worker and raw good shortages have negatively affected the “lead times” on new equipment like industrial doors and loading dock equipment, supply challenges have also affected the "lead time" on the parts and pieces that make up the equipment. Constant changes have affected which parts are readily available and which ones are not. Recently there was a shortage of 1” and 1.25” diameter solid door shafts, while 6 months-ago door springs were hard to find. We have seen issues with some hydraulic and electrical components but not others.

Whether it is the smallest part or the largest component on a piece of equipment, they’re all needed to make it work. Part failure can create a snowball effect resulting in additional parts being damaged ultimately leading to the entire piece of equipment unfixable. The two key components to keeping your equipment working properly are:

1. Ensure the equipment was properly applied, it is being used and maintained correctly. (If you are not intimately familiar with specifics and your usage, ask your service/equipment partner to help you with this.)
2. Establish proper training for your employees who can perform regular checks and it will provide due diligence for safety training. This not only showcases the concern for the health of your employees, but the health of your equipment as well. In addition, shutting down a poorly working piece of equipment may prevent catastrophic failure, and empowers your employee to recognize when and why this is important.

Now is the time to double down on proactive maintenance, as this can prevent issues before they happen. Schedule a service visit today. 

A foundational understanding of when to replace equipment is built by having a clear accounting of:

1. Current equipment conditions
2. Equipment quality vs. the application and cycle usage
3. Performance in every environment to determine the life expectancy
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Ideally, a maintenance program is in place that includes a detailed inspection with proper asset configuration. This includes date of manufacture and the needed details to build this foundation of information. “Lead time increases” vary greatly in the dock and door industry, so knowing what to expect is important. For example, many (not all) dock leveler manufacturers are facing “lead times” nearing 1-year, consequently ordering equipment will need to be done much sooner than in the past. In addition, the employee, raw goods, manufacturing shortages, and shipping delays are likely and should be expected. Factoring in the uncertainties listed above for equipment purchases/updates is a great practice.

Typically, you don’t have failure before your new equipment arrives, and if it arrives early that’s OK. If you’re still skeptical about ordering early, ask yourself these questions:

1. What is the cost to your organization caused by down equipment?
2. How does down equipment affect your relationship with your client’s or partners?
   
   

Compare the amounts from the questions above with the cost of buying an asset a few months earlier and consider the total in costs when you don’t take “lead times” into account.

No one likes surprises, why create one more?

P.S. See more tips like this on our LinkedIn page.

Whether it’s malfunction or misalignment, many service calls we receive at Dock and Door Tec can be avoided. We’ve gathered 5 of our top service call culprits that cause operator and equipment damage as well as affect the entire facility’s efficiencies and safety.
1. Overhead Doors
2. Debris
3. Obstructions
4. Bumpers
5. Slide Locks
 
While some of these reminders may seem minor, they can trigger other, more significant issues that lead to inoperability. Often, the reason a dock door does not operate properly is a simple one that can be addressed in-house, saving you time and money.

Servicing a door spring brings a multitude of safety risks to you and your team. Combine this with an out of adjustment spring and employee risk is multiplied.
 
Common hazards include:

• Spring Adjustments – Over the life of the spring door, spring adjustments are necessary to keep the doors operable. When your doors are used at a high frequency and springs are not adjusted properly, your employees face operational dangers every day.  
• Springs used for Counter-balance - Mechanical equipment, such as a door using springs as counter-balance, is a danger when binding, added weight or resistance, worn parts or damage prevents a door from operating properly.
  
  With every cycle (defined as one open/close) the employee must take physical action twice. Any deficiency in the operation will require greater effort by the employee, which could result in pinched fingers and injured shoulders, neck, back or worse.
  
  Even doors with powered operators have a higher risk when spring counterbalanced. The motors on operators often will overcome an out of adjustment door spring. Some can even lift a door with a broken spring. As the motor cannot hold that much weight, the door could crash causing catastrophic results. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3BxH4VGwBg​