Although forklifts have undergone great changes in the past few decades, the basic principles of good fleet management are still the same. The basic principle is around supervision and management and regular forklift maintenance procedures to ensure low operating costs and high productivity.
In today's business ecosystem, operating a warehouse forklift fleet requires efficiency. In terms of forklift operation and maintenance, any organization must follow some basic practices to reduce forklift downtime.
(1) Track your forklift fleet and keep records
Calculating numbers is a reliable way to maintain the quality of your hardware. You should keep track of several details:
a. Purchase or lease price
b. Date of purchase
c. Brand
d. Model / serial number
e. Maintenance log (date, problem)
f. Engine hours
Ensure that the forklift maintenance sheet is kept in the forklift file for easy reference when needed:
(2) Optimize forklift replacement cycle
There is no unique answer when the forklift truck in the warehouse should be replaced. Most companies, depending on their application, replace forklifts every five to seven years. The performance profile of each warehouse forklift must be carefully planned over time to determine the end of the fleet.
(3) Maintain the convenience of spare parts
The advantage of keeping forklift maintenance log is that you can analyze the trend of previous maintenance and faults, and keep the inventory of spare parts in the inventory, which can be used at any time. An annual review of maintenance trends can help you design a budget and stock an ideal number of spare parts. This is very helpful to reduce forklift downtime.
(4) Know your machine from the inside out
There are a large number of warehouse forklifts and a large number of unconventional personalities to match them. Tracking the different brands, models and required maintenance of your fleet is an asset when dealing with forklift maintenance plans. Please refer to the user manual for any information about forklift operation, application and maintenance.
(5) Matching of forklift and Application
The research on forklift operation shows that the specifications often do not match the work requirements and service cycle, and they are usually used for. In order to achieve optimum productivity, forklift specifications need to be matched with work and load requirements.
If you haven't asked your local dealer to review your forklift operation, please call to apply as soon as possible. This is a top priority for improving workplace productivity.
(6) Carry out planned maintenance
Carry out planned maintenance after the specified service time. It is important to keep your vehicle running smoothly by completing the planned maintenance. This includes tasks such as oil change, filter inspection and battery charging.
The same is true for warehouse forklifts. Planning regular maintenance inspections can reduce downtime and operating costs. This can help you find some minor faults, which, if ignored, may lead to major faults over time.
(7) Train forklift operators
Ensure that the person operating the machine is well-trained and has received genuine certification training. Take time to observe the forklift operators at work, how they deal with the equipment and how they deal with problems.
Regular retraining of the basic knowledge of forklift operation and safety procedures is a good way to save costs. Train your operators to conduct daily or pre shift inspections to avoid workplace hazards.
These are some key points to keep in mind when managing forklifts. These tenets are essential for optimizing fleet management in the workplace. Adherence to these procedures will ensure minimum downtime and improve work efficiency.
