Any business enterprise that utilizes the functionality of any equipment has to factor in preventative or preventive maintenance (PM). PM refers to the standardized assets and equipment maintenance routine aimed at keeping the facilities running and ameliorating unplanned costs resulting from unexpected equipment failure.
People go to fitness centers to keep their bodies, which relate to the equipment and assets, in “good shape.” Just as the body requires several maintenance inputs for an individual frequenting a fitness center, so does the equipment they use to keep their bodies in shape.
You wouldn’t want to run on a treadmill that produces squeaky noise due to poor lubrication or something thereof.
Therefore, why is PM essential for fitness centers? Let’s find out.
Types of Preventative Maintenance
Any piece of equipment will have a set of PM recommendations provided by the manufacturer. These recommendations are based on three PM tasks that can be either:
Mandatory or Non-mandatory tasks
Where mandatory PM tasks are mostly safety-critical checks; thus, it is a requirement to perform them as soon as they are due to avoid safety-related problems. In comparison with the mandatory tasks, though still important, the non-mandatory tasks are not as crucial; hence, they can be delayed.
Inspection or Task-oriented tasks
These are differentiated such that inspection tasks entail conducting checks on the equipment essential for planned maintenance following the discovery of any problems requiring fixing. In contrast, task-oriented tasks are the small adjustments and minor repairs made during inspection for reducing work orders written on inspection sheets.
Pyramiding or Non-pyramiding tasks
Depending on how an enterprise sets its PM schedule, the overlapping of a schedule on the due date can either require the reason for cancellation, as is the case for a pyramiding PM task. On the other hand, the initiation of the non-pyramiding PM task does not require a note following the overlap of the maintenance schedule.
Advantages of Preventative Maintenance in Fitness Centers
Fitness centers accrue several benefits from carrying out preventative maintenance; these include:
- Enhanced Equipment Lifespan
The enforcement of routine checks ensures that the equipment and assets are in the best working conditions; this sustains longer periods of use and service.
- Safety improvement
Routine checks of the fitness equipment are key in alleviating probable equipment failure that might result in potential injury to the user. Fitness centers’ users are inclined to file lawsuits that jeopardize the facility’s functionality if the users get injuries resulting from the poor maintenance of the equipment.
- Reduction in Energy Consumption
Well-serviced and maintained equipment is a less headache as they consume less energy than poorly maintained assets. There are resultant low energy bills with less energy consumption, which is a component of the next point.
- Reduction in Costs
The costs incurred by running a piece of equipment to failure are estimated to be ten times as much compared with conducting regular maintenance checks. The PM comes in handy as it facilitates timely repairs that the fitness center can in- or out-source a professional. The accruing of unexpected downtimes results in costly repairs.
- Improved Productivity
An enterprise that does not keep its equipment and asset maintenance in check will likely incur a 20% reduction in its production level. PM enhances productivity and efficiency.
In a wrap, preventative maintenance is vital for fitness centers because of the benefits this frequent routine practice brings forth to the immediate users regarding safety, and to the enterprises in terms of cost, efficiency and productivity. PM is the better option for the longevity of fitness centers.
