In many sectors of industry, downtime is an unwanted occurrence that can have a damaging effect on efficiency. Every time a vessel is unusable, it costs the owners a great deal of money, of course, but in the long term it can also create and nurture a reputation for unreliable performance.
Here are five steps that can help you to prevent unscheduled downtime, helping to maintain your reputation and remain as cost-effective and as competitive as possible.
- Staff training
A vessel is only as good as the people who keep it working efficiently, and to ensure your crewmembers are doing what they should it’s wise to invest in staff training programmes. Everything from using the best marine chemicals to maintaining every piece of equipment needs to be covered, and don’t be afraid to re-train employees on a regular basis. Not only will it improve your operation but training is proven to give people confidence in their roles and job satisfaction follows as a result.
- Effective procedures
On board ship, each procedure needs to be smooth, efficient and effective. This could mean performing routine maintenance tasks at the right time, cleaning down surfaces with the most appropriate marine chemicals or utilising staff members in the areas in which they excel. Every correct decision helps to make the whole process more profitable and prevent unscheduled downtime.
- Prevention is better than cure
Effective maintenance is the key to keeping vessels in operation for as many days of the year as possible. In a significant number of cases, planned, preventative maintenance could have prevented downtime, and in the process would have added to the profit margin. Using the best marine chemicals at the right time is crucial for owners and operators throughout the world.
- Remain compliant with the regulations
Changes are always being made to maritime regulations, both in worldwide and local terms. It’s vital for all those involved in the industry to not only be aware of changes, but to stay one step ahead of them. Falling foul of such regulations can lead to a vessel being impounded until it’s fit for use, and of course there could be fines and even prison sentences for the worst offenders.
- Monitor and control the statistics
There are a number of ways to measure and monitor statistics in relation to performance at sea, and it’s important to understand them. It’s even more important, however, to act on them when there is a need for action. If even just one area of your operation is under-performing, it can often be remedied with relative ease.