Most plant floors are dominated by older, legacy equipment. Legacy equipment is deeply rooted in the manufacturing world. There is a myriad of reasons for this: because all the equipment was installed at the same time, when the plant was first established, for example, or because of the exorbitant cost of installing new equipment. But aging systems are unreliable, reduce productivity, and have soaring maintenance costs, which only increase year on year. The obvious solution is to upgrade and replace this equipment, but the incredible expense involved (not to mention the potential plant downtime) means that this is not a viable solution for many plant owners. So, what is? Retrofitting and modernising the legacy equipment you already have is the first, and most obvious, solution!
The Benefits of Retrofit and Modernisation Services
So what are the benefits of choosing to retrofit and modernise your existing legacy equipment, rather than investing in new equipment? Here are some of the most significant:
· Financial benefits. This is the main and most obvious reason to retrofit your legacy equipment. You can save money in the initial output of your improvements, maximising your overall capital budget.
· Machine continuity. Upgrading your existing equipment, rather than replacing it, will allow your staff to continue working on the equipment they are familiar with. You won’t have to schedule any staff downtime to train your team to operate new equipment.
· Improve plant optimisation. When your equipment is improved and works more efficiently, your plant will have higher productivity. You will also find that you save money (and time) on the maintenance of your aging equipment.
· Extending lifecycle and value. In a world where we are increasingly aware of the impact of our carbon footprint, more firms are reluctant to simply replace broken equipment. After all, every pollutant released into our environment can have lasting consequences on the ozone layer. Instead, retrofitting your existing machinery can extend its lifecycle and value, without any unnecessary wastage.
Striving for Efficiency
No matter what your industry, efficiency is key for business success. As a general rule, a business that is efficient is a business that is viable meaning that now, more than ever, this is something that all plants are striving for. An efficient manufacturing plant always keeps track of its raw materials inventory and adjusts its workflow accordingly. Not only is this a tangible way to keep up with the competition in times of shifting customer demand, but it will also keep everyone laser-focused on whatever needs to be done to reach the next step in production.
Digitalisation is a long-term investment that can take years to undertake, but the impact on your staff and on your productivity in the interim is minimal, meaning that there is no pressure to rush the process, instead enabling it to evolve with your business. Data gathering will allow you to better create a structured model that will work for you, and one that is as optimised as possible. In exchange for your efforts and your investment, you will receive a smart and predictable manufacturing process that is streamlined and reliable.
Modernising your legacy equipment is a sensible and necessary investment in the future of your business.
