To get the maximum benefit from the decision to buy, lease or rent lift equipment, manufacturers and dealers can work with managers in a variety of ways besides simply providing the equipment.
Manufacturers can be a valuable resource for selecting the right equipment and accessories based on the department's unique lifting tasks. They can provide checklists managers can use to evaluate and assess specific needs related to both equipment features and functions, and they can provide the right accessories for the tasks workers have to perform.
They can provide safety, operation and maintenance manuals, as well as parts lists, and they can provide training instructors, videos, and demonstrations of proper, safe operation and maintenance methods. They also can supply trained and certified operators and maintenance technicians.
Manufacturers also can provide contract maintenance services, loaner service, same-day replacement if the unit goes down during operation, and pick-up and delivery of the out-of-service unit and the replacement.
Thomas A. Westerkamp is a maintenance and engineering management consultant and president of the work management division of Westerkamp Group LLC.
