For businesses focused on getting more done with less, outsourcing material handling equipment maintenance can be key to success. Unfortunately, maintenance plans for forklifts and other industrial equipment are often presented in confusing ways. Planned maintenance, full maintenance, and other offerings are not all created equal.
The goal of outsourcing your maintenance is to reduce your operating costs and keep your forklift fleet running more efficiently. Whether you choose to rely on planned maintenance (regularly scheduled preventive maintenance intervals) or full maintenance (parts, labor, planned maintenance, and on-demand repairs), outsourcing your forklift maintenance should help optimize your business workflow. It’s important to have a clear understanding of any contracted maintenance before signing up, as many businesses can learn the hard way.
The Benefits of Full Maintenance
Businesses who choose full maintenance typically have a few specific goals in mind:
Standardizing costs of maintenance via flat, monthly billingNot having to worry about reviewing or approving repairsMaximizing the uptime of forklifts and other equipment
These are clear benefits of full maintenance when it is completed by a professional provider. The reality is, that some service providers are not focused on creating value and instead operate their contracts on autopilot to rely on regular monthly payments and hidden costs that they pass onto their customers.
Where Other Providers’ Full Maintenance Falls Short
You can maximize the positive impacts of your outsourced full maintenance by asking four simple questions:
How quickly will my repairs be completed?Is there a warranty on parts and labor?Is my uptime guaranteed?How do I optimize my forklift replacement cycles?
If your provider (or your contract) cannot answer these questions easily, take it as a red flag. If you’re shopping around for a new provider, pay close attention to their reaction to these questions.
Are you ready to partner with a full maintenance service provider who’s dedicated to your business success? Contact our equipment specialists or full out a contact form here to learn more about our full maintenance benefits.
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