Fresh Strategies for Community Preventative Maintenance

While your community might not have a crystal ball among its amenities, you can still stay ahead of potential issues by implementing a community preventative maintenance schedule. Crafted by the Board, a designated committee, or in collaboration with a skilled property manager, such a plan is essential for keeping everything running smoothly and preventing unexpected problems. Predictive maintenance goes a step further by using existing data to forecast potential system failures. Developing this schedule will help you plan financially for these events, minimizing surprise challenges. Here's your guide to getting started.

Do Some Digging and Some Walking Too

Understanding your past is the first step towards a better forecast. Designated board or committee members should carefully review all repair invoices and maintenance bills on record. By doing so, you'll start noticing patterns that can help anticipate future issues. Additionally, it's beneficial to physically walk your property, visually documenting building systems, public and private spaces, and all surfaces. For a comprehensive analysis, consulting a professional might be necessary for certain systems or areas.

Make Your Plan

Once you've done your groundwork, it's time to outline all the community aspects you wish to cover in your predictive maintenance schedule. Talk with professionals about setting reasonable inspection intervals. When deciding on these intervals, consider factors such as the impact on long-term operational costs if a system fails and the number of residents affected. Beyond just scheduling inspections, your plan should clearly define your expectations and methods of assessment to ensure they are met. Partnering with a capable property management firm can streamline this process, as they can connect you with local vendors to handle the necessary analyses and scheduling.

Know the Testing Techniques

Certain techniques are crucial for obtaining the data needed to create an effective predictive maintenance schedule. These include:

- Vibration analysis to monitor changes in the vibration of machine parts, assisting in foreseeing failures.

- Thermal imaging, which can be conducted without shutting down equipment.

- Laser shaft alignment technology to prevent pump, motor shaft, and impeller damage from misalignments.

- Trends analysis to identify potential fault areas in equipment.

- Oil sampling and analysis to reveal wear areas and assess the lubricating capability of equipment oil.

Create a Predictive Maintenance Schedule

Armed with data, it's time to draft your Predictive Maintenance Schedule. Keep your equipment and systems under continuous monitoring and analysis, while ensuring your schedule remains flexible to adapt to variables like additional wear from extreme weather conditions.

Complement with Technology

Enhance the management of your Predictive Maintenance Schedule by utilizing technology. A Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) can automate schedule processes. Factors to consider include the number of users, application hosting, mobile access for technicians, and tracking capabilities for work requests, scheduled maintenance, and inventory.

Ultimately, establishing and maintaining a community preventative maintenance program will save significant time, money, and headaches in the future.