A Contractor’s Guide to Achieving the Utmost Uptime

A Contractor’s Guide to Achieving the Utmost Uptime

4/19/2023

No matter the line of work, downtime in any sector can be detrimental to a company’s productivity and, ultimately, its bottom line. In construction, equipment failure can lead to hours – even days – of inactivity due to down equipment and repairs, resulting in lost time, lower customer satisfaction and frustration.

Fortunately, there are ways to help mitigate the risk that downtime can bring to a business. We’ve put together a guide of five simple tips to help achieve the utmost uptime while putting excessive downtime in the rear view.

1. Don’t Cut Maintenance Corners

Preventative maintenance is critical to avoid downtime. Regularly review your machinery’s usage and maintenance guidelines and keep up with routine servicing to help keep untimely service needs at bay. The myKubota app is a great resource to easily access operator’s manuals, product literature and other helpful information for maximizing your maintenance habits. 

2. Capitalize on KubotaNOW Telematics

KubotaNOW Telematics, available on select models of Kubota construction equipment, offers easy monitoring of performance parameters such as operating times, coolant and oil temperatures, fuel levels, DEF quality, and other benchmarks. This data lets the operator know if something is not working as it should so that it can be promptly remedied without causing further downtime.

3. Stick to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Oftentimes overlooked, having all machine operators stick to a standard regimen when running equipment can pay dividends in the long run. Simple tasks, be it regular cleaning and correct handling, are key to extending life, reducing excess wear and tear and preventing additional downtime.

Pro tip: When onboarding new staff, explicitly define the SOPs, including expected practices and quality standards that need to be met and annual SOP reviews for all staff to keep everyone up-to-speed and on the same page.    

4. Schedule Downtime

Although it may sound counterproductive, scheduling predetermined downtime will help you stay ahead of the curve and be able to make alternative plans for when a piece of machinery isn’t available. When equipment is not in rotation, use that time for scheduled maintenance and upkeep; in doing so, you’ll also help to eliminate costly surprises down the road. If your fleet is larger, try rotating through your equipment so that each piece of machinery is equal in wear, tear and hours of use.