Maintenance and engineering managers have to be prepared at a moment's notice to handle any issues that might arise in a commercial or institutional facility — even if the problem arises when the spotlight is on.
Consider the case of Miller Park, home to the MIlwaukee Brewers. Prior to Game 1 of the National League Division Series, stadium officials announced that the park’s 12,000-ton retractable roof needs a $1 million repair — specifically, replacement of a noisy bearing, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
The bearing is one of 80 that help the roof open and close smoothly, says Mike Duckett, executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District. This is the first noteworthy repair project to be done on the Miller Park roof since 2006, when new machinery was installed to move the panels.
"The roof repairs are not significant, but they are noteworthy — and preventative in nature," Duckett says. "The wheel bearing has not yet failed, but has been emitting a noise that the bearing manufacturer and the district’s mechanical engineers cannot determine a reason for."
The project will be conducted after the team’s season ends. The process should take three or four days. The Brewers have at least one more home game remaining this season. The team played the Colorado Rockies in the first game of the National League Division Series on Thursday.
This Quick Read was submitted by Ryan Berlin, managing editor of Facility Maintenance Decisions.
