AN ANALYSIS OF MACHINE-TOOL MAINTENANCE

Machine-repair analysis and a criticism of present-day equipment, with analytical tables based on data collected from a 5 months' study, are followed by conclusions relative to the reliability of present-day equipment. Eight types of common machine-tools are considered and the maintenance advantage of one over the other is deduced from the consolidated tables based on monthly reports. A comparison of each class of machine-tools with the others is made, as well as a summary of the weaknesses of each class from the frequency of repairs of the elementary parts. The attention of the builders is drawn to the conditions that the shop encounters with their equipment.

A maintenance budget-system is described that has been installed in one plant to give the men a comparative idea of particular equipment that is running in excess of the budget time. It also serves in lieu of an inspection of the conditions of the equipment and is an indication of the time when overhauling is advisable. The analysis shows that a few makes of machine predominate in each group which can serve profitably as a basis for standardization. The other makes, in comparison, are not giving the same return on the investment, because of the expense charges and the loss of time for maintenance.