In an industry where uninterrupted manufacturing flow is paramount, minimizing production challenges and maintenance costs must be a high priority for plant managers. This includes metal scrap processing, which drives significant savings on haul-away costs, new fluid purchases, and maximizes scrap value—all of which can improve the bottom line.

Right now, finding skilled trades talent is more challenging than ever. The National Association of Manufacturers reports it’s 36% harder to find the right workers than it was a few years ago. This skills gap is predicted to leave over 2 million trade jobs unfilled in the U.S. by 2030.

This labor strain emphasizes the importance of having reliable equipment and creates a considerable risk for your operation on two fronts:

Slower Repairs: Fewer skilled mechanics are available for both PM and emergency repairs. If your scrap processing equipment breaks, you face unplanned downtime because no qualified person is available to service it or supply the part(s).
Outsourcing Concerns: Using contractors can lower in-house labor costs, but it often results in slow response times and less efficient maintenance. Contractors serve many companies; they don’t have sole allegiance to yours.

The Dangers of Equipment and Maintenance Unreliability

Beyond labor concerns, failing to invest in durable metal scrap processing equipment is detrimental because:

Maintenance Costs Will Soar: If equipment reliability drops, maintenance expenses always rise.
OEE Suffers: Reliable equipment provides the stability needed to achieve a high Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) rate, the standard measure of manufacturing productivity.
Parts Delays: Supply chain issues mean delays in getting replacement components.

Check Before You Invest: Reliability and Serviceability

When upgrading your metal scrap processing equipment, it is essential to gauge its potential reliability upfront. Here are some key questions to discuss with your supplier during the acquisition process:

1. Build Quality and Design

What build quality and design features ensure a low failure rate?
What are the equipment’s expected failure modes?
What is the life expectancy of the equipment?
Are standardized components used?
Which parts are outsourced, and to which suppliers?
What are the lifecycle costs of major components?
What is the manufacturer’s reputation for quality?

2. Ease of Service

While reducing maintenance is the primary goal, choosing low-maintenance equipment that is easy to service is critical for limiting downtime when work is required. Make sure to ask:

What design features have been engineered to improve serviceability?
How many warranty requests does the supplier receive on average per year?

Conclusion

Implementing automated metal scrap processing systems puts your operation on a direct path to higher throughput, less downtime, and lower maintenance costs.

To ensure your equipment is built to deliver long-term service, consult with an experienced manufacturer with a reputation for high-quality components, strong materials, and rigorous fabrication standards. This will help your operation achieve faster ROI, optimize TCO for years to come, and navigate ongoing workforce challenges.

With more than 70 years of industry experience and engineering expertise, PRAB^® helps manufacturers navigate operational, environmental, and economic challenges with equipment that improves efficiency, reduces expenses, and ensures compliance, all backed by 24/7 support from a team dedicated to helping your operation succeed.

Contact a PRAB^® expert to learn more about tailored metal scrap processing systems designed to enhance scrap value and optimize your manufacturing flow today.

Reliable Metal Scrap Processing Equipment Reduces Maintenance Costs and Production Problems

The Dangers of Equipment and Maintenance Unreliability

Check Before You Invest: Reliability and Serviceability

1. Build Quality and Design

2. Ease of Service

Conclusion

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