TOP 24 HOUR BREAD PRODUCER RELIES ON T CARDS FOR IMPROVED PLANNED MAINTENANCE

Phil Black - PII Editor 10/09/2009

138 2 minutes read

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Since the introduction of T Cards Works Control Boards, it has become much easier for one of the UK’s top bakeries to operate a planned maintenance programme, ensuring that routine maintenance takes place at the most convenient time without hindering productivity.

A basic T Cards board comprises a series of columns with horizontal slots down the whole length plus a header section normally used to assign names to columns such as day of week, tasks, etc., plus a footer bar that identifies the role of the board such as the with the Works Control Board. There are also options to include left and/or right hand columns for additional tagging depending on the application. The whole simplicity of the T Cards system is that colour and/or printed cards are placed in slots and are manually moved across, up or down the board to show current status.

Planned Maintenance
At the bakery the Works Control Board is used in conjunction with a two-part carbonated T Card – pink cover sheet and bottom green card. When either a maintenance issue arises or routine servicing is required on a specific machine such as a bagger, maintenance staff complete the cover sheet outlining what is required and potential downtime.

Since the board is prominently displayed production staff have a clear view, once they see a pink card they are alerted to the fact that a machine requires attention The two-section card is manually removed by the production manager, the green section is completed to advise on the most convenient time for the remedial work to be carried out.
This card is then returned to a ‘day’ column and placed within a given time slot; T Cards Direct will have pre-configured the board into half-hourly time frames. On seeing the ‘green’ card, maintenance is immediately aware that a time schedule for work has been agreed.

This process ensures that production and maintenance operate in harmony to optimize plant performance over its daily 24hr cycle simply by improving communications through visual techniques rather than drawn out memos and emails whether it’s for pre-planned maintenance or essential repairs.

A T Cards system is also deployed in the main bakery area enabling production staff to alert maintenance that a problem may be arising on a specific machine, the tracking and forward planning reduces the onset of major problems.

As typified by the strategic deployment of T Cards Direct boards at this top bread producer, they have simply brought about improved maintenance scheduling with very little financial outlay. With Works Control Boards starting at under £100.00 it means that even the smallest processing plants can benefit by introducing probably the easiest and most user-friendly system for tracking and scheduling maintenance needs.

Fro more information please contact;

Philip Heine
T Cards Direct
Lillian House, Clearway, Addington, West Malling, Kent ME19 5BP
Tel: 01732 871417 Fax: 01732 840470

E-mail: sales@tcardsdirect.com
Web: www.tcardsdirect.com