March 7, 2025

Unified maintenance brings synergy benefits and cost savings

Many industrial companies operate multiple production facilities. Yet their maintenance operations are siloed, preventing cross-plant synergies and leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary costs.

Different production facilities within the same company often have distinct practices in terms of systems, operational processes, and reporting methods. These discrepancies cause challenges that consume both time and money.

– The core issue is the lack of centralized leadership for maintenance. This results in each production facility operating independently, leading to various practical difficulties. Poor communication prevents best practices from being shared, and in the worst case, resources are wasted on redundant development efforts to solve the same problems, explains Lauri Kaiharju, Sales Manager at Quant Finland.

Maintenance standards also vary across facilities – some adopt a proactive approach, while others operate reactively. The lack of synergy complicates efficiency comparisons and performance assessments.

– When reporting methods differ, evaluating performance and identifying development opportunities become challenging. Additionally, decentralized procurement means that each facility manages its own material acquisitions and subcontracting agreements, significantly increasing costs, Kaiharju emphasizes.

A single maintenance partner

By consolidating maintenance under a single partner, companies can implement a unified strategy that enhances efficiency and reduces costs. With one provider, maintenance can be managed organization-wide and processes, as well as reporting, can be standardized.

– We oversee maintenance as a whole, ensuring uniform operations, centralized process and system development, and optimized material procurement.

Better resource management allows skilled personnel to be allocated effectively across different facilities.

– By managing maintenance holistically, we can leverage resources across sites. Additionally, our regional maintenance teams support production facilities through a centralized model, providing project deliveries, specialized expertise, and resources. Centralized procurement enables cost efficiency and improved supply reliability, Kaiharju adds.

The importance of effective maintenance for industrial companies

A centralized maintenance function enables companies to transition from a reactive approach to proactive, data-driven strategies. This improves production reliability and cost efficiency, ensuring long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth.

– Synergies between sites and centralized operations yield cost savings and ensure standardized processes. When maintenance is comprehensively managed, technical availability improves, enhancing the client’s production efficiency, Kaiharju states.

Efficient maintenance also supports corporate sustainability goals. Proactive maintenance strategies extend machinery lifespan, reduce the need for new equipment, and minimize industrial waste. Furthermore, optimized maintenance improves energy efficiency, reducing the company’s environmental footprint and supporting sustainable development objectives.