New-age digital technologies and connectivity now allow us to keep track of machine conditions and performance round the clock and on the go, says Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director, Volvo CE India Pvt Ltd.

What makes maintenance important in construction equipment?
When construction equipment are in good working condition, projects get executed on or even ahead of schedule. That works wonders not just for the bottom line but also the reputation of a business. Little wonder then, maintenance sits right on top of the priority list. Timely maintenance ensures the ready availability of machines and predictable levels of operational efficiency. It also helps in parts planning and optimised inventory management. Construction equipment are expensive assets and need to be maintained with care to ensure longevity and return on investment. Volvo CE offers a series of tailor-made maintenance packages to suit the specific client and machine needs.

What are the maintenance practices that are followed for the upkeep of construction equipment? Broadly speaking, companies follow two types of maintenance for the upkeep of their construction equipment. They are routine maintenance and preventive maintenance. Routine maintenance includes periodic checks on fluid levels and various machine parts to assess overall functionality and safety. Preventive maintenance looks for potential problems that could cause machine breakdown and takes steps to resolve them beforehand to prevent disaster. Volvo CE Maintenance Programmes are designed to help fully leverage the benefits of routine and preventive maintenance – ensuring optimal site efficiency and productivity.

How is predictive maintenance gaining importance in construction equipment and plants?
The new generation of construction equipment and plants revolve around smart technologies like big data, artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT) and machine to machine communication platforms. Predictive maintenance uses real-time data and insights to avoid potential machine breakdowns. It also enables operations with optimum parts stock and lower inventory carrying cost. All this combine to ensure better availability of machines to meet tight timelines across various projects. Volvo CE has set benchmarks in predictive maintenance assuring overall efficiency and safety while lowering costs.

What is the role of digital technology in plant/equipment operation and maintenance?
In the Industry 4.0 era, digital technology plays a pivotal role in construction equipment/plant operations and maintenance. New-age digital technologies and connectivity now allow us to keep track of machine conditions and performance round the clock and on the go. Machine owners and project personnel have ready access to vital reports on the progress of work in their sites. A user-friendly app like Volvo CE’s Caretrack Telematics System not only periodically updates operational hours and utilisation levels, but also assists in remote diagnosis of machine complaints facilitating swift remedial action before things go wrong. Digitally, technology is today the smartest way to manage, operate and maintain vast fleets of construction equipment.

What is the importance of skill development in machine operation and maintenance? How will this help improve the machine uptime?
At the end of the day, the people who know construction equipment best are the professionals who operate and repair them. The life and value of a machine are in their hands. It is therefore imperative to equip operators, technicians and mechanics with knowledge and skills related to machine operation and maintenance. That helps them in better understanding and application of machines to extract the maximum output in challenging environments. It also empowers them to identify and rectify problems faster, avoid abuse of equipment and thereby significantly reduce machine downtime. Volvo CE is constantly at work training the people who matter with updated tools and technologies.

What are the challenges faced in equipment maintenance? What are the measures needed for better maintenance practices?
The industry is in a transition – from traditional maintenance practices to technologically-driven digital monitoring processes. The need of the hour is to ensure maintenance of expensive assets like construction equipment are entrusted to those who know their job. Technical training, competency development and adoption of best maintenance practices in handling next-generation machines is one way forward.

Another way is to enter into Customer Support Agreements or Annual Maintenance Contracts with professionals who deliver on commitments on machine upkeep at all times under all circumstances. That will allow the customer to focus on project management and deliverables which in turn, will boost both the top and bottom lines of his business.