Preventive + Maintenance = Quality

The bottom line

If investing in a PM program isn’t going to have a good ROI, then companies will probably be less inclined to give them a shot, but Wiecko says the benefits far outweigh the investment. “PM programs vary in cost, but the converter may expect to spend hundreds of dollars per year for [PM on] a typical slitter/rewinder,” he says. “By keeping the equipment in good condition, the PM program becomes a consistent, predictable, and relatively small expense.” In terms of monetary savings converters can expect after implementing a PM program, Wiecko says it will vary depending upon the converter and aspects of its business, including applications being run, cost of labor and materials, opportunity costs of capacity, etc. “However,” he says, “this small investment will invariably provide a handsome payback for most any converter.”