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There are several reasons why you should consider an external service provider for your docks and doors, but these are the top 3 that we hear often from our clients:

1. Expertise: External service providers typically have specialized knowledge and expertise in dock and door maintenance & repair. We have the tools, equipment and experience to quickly diagnose and fix issues. Having an external provider that has the knowledge can help ensure that your docks and doors are operating efficiently and safely. This can also be beneficial as they can partner with your staff to ensure the equipment is being maintained on schedule and make needed repairs.
   
   
2. Cost Savings: When you hire an external service provider, you can save money on labor, equipment, and materials. External service providers can also help you identify potential issues and prevent costly repairs down the road.
   
   
3. Time Savings: External service providers can help you save time by taking care of maintenance and repairs on your behalf. This allows your staff to focus on your core business activities. The external service provider also could be beneficial if you need an emergency service. This ensures that any issues are resolved quickly and minimize downtime at your facility.
   
   

In summary, by hiring an external service provider for your docks and doors, you can benefit from our expertise, time and cost savings. This can help improve the efficiency and safety of your operations, while allowing you to focus on your core business activities.

Over the past 16+ years we’ve heard many reasons why facility managers view a proactive maintenance program (PMP) as a smart investment.
 
Here’s the top 5 reasons why you should transition from a reactive to a proactive approach when maintaining a top-notch facility:

1. Cost Savings: A PMP can help identify and prevent equipment failures before they occur, saving you money on costly repairs or replacements. It can also help extend the lifespan of your equipment, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
   
   
2. Improved Equipment Performance: Regular maintenance can help keep your equipment running smoothly, which can lead to improved performance and productivity. Properly maintained equipment is less likely to break down or cause downtime, which can negatively impact your business operations.
   
   
3. Enhanced Safety: Having a PMP can help identify potential safety hazards and prevent accidents, which can result in injuries or property damage. Regular maintenance can ensure that equipment is functioning correctly and safely, reducing the risk of accidents.
   
   
4. Compliance: Certain industries and businesses are required to comply with specific regulations and standards, such as OSHA, AIB, FDA, USDA. A PMP can help ensure that your equipment meets these standards, preventing fines and legal liabilities.
   
   
5. Reduce Surprises: When your equipment is well-maintained, you can rely on it to perform consistently and efficiently. This can improve your reputation among customers and suppliers, as they can trust that you will deliver products and services on time and to the expected quality.
   
   

In summary, a PMP can help save money, improve performance, enhance safety, ensure compliance, and increase reliability, making it a valuable investment for any facility.

Can we help you become proactive?

​In today’s ever-growing corporate world, smaller independent dock and door distributors are appointed by larger companies. While there can be advantages to this for the client, there is one disadvantage, especially in today’s supply-chain challenged world. When manufacturer’s own the local distributor, the client’s choice becomes severely limited. Just because the manufacturer offers different models, this doesn’t truly provide the client with multiple choices as the intended applications for those door models are different. See part two of this series for the importance of correct equipment application.

Even if the “lead times” for new equipment are acceptable, what if there is a part failure and the part isn’t available? With high-speed doors and fire doors, this can be a larger issue as there is likely not an aftermarket option due to proprietary parts or regulations not allowing anything but OEM parts to be used.

Partnering with a service and equipment supplier that can offer both the variety of multiple manufacturer choices and the ability to service multiple manufacturer brands will allow your facility to thrive in through supply chain challenges.

What challenges are you facing with your facility? Schedule a call to see if we can help.

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.