On-Site or Field Machining is the practice of conducting repairs at the site of a breakdown instead of at a controlled workshop. These can be done anywhere that work is requested and at varying times, leaning more towards the client’s availability and priority. However, it does require a contractor to be adequately equipped for any kind of job on the fly. A repair workshop that lacks mobilization for its facilities and labor will not be able to perform on-site machining. Is it worth investing in to expand a business?
Here are some advantages of performing on-site machining.
Ease of Logistics
Workshop machining requires broken parts to be shipped or somehow delivered to the workshop, where they will be repaired. This approach requires time for shipping, time for delivery, and the additional cost of shipping the parts back. On-site means there’s no shipping, as all the assets will be at the machine that needs repairing.
Reduced Downtime
With transportation cut out of the workload, all the time spent on a worksite will be spent working. There will be no waiting period, only set up, work, and then returning the portable workshop to its initial set-off point.
Overall Bottom Line Improvement
The costs of shipping and the money spent on downtime or travel significantly reduce the operating costs for the main shop. A portable workshop will have its own costs, but those costs can be repurposed from the main work floor.
No More Dismantling
When the shop is on-site, the machine needing repair won’t need to undergo a lengthy dismantling process requiring extra labor. The parts needing repair can be exposed or extracted, repaired on-site, and then reassembled and fixed within the same amount of work time. This means the machine can return to proper function much faster.
More Expansive Client Base
On-Site machining is a preferred form of repair for many industries and high-cost departments where daily functions must be restored as quickly as possible to maintain maximum efficiency. These include military and defense installations, all manner of heavy metal industry and production, shipping yards, petrochemical operations, and even power generation. Offering on-site machining for these types of companies works better in their timeline, which is what they will want to do.
Low Overhead for Conversion
A standard, static workshop with immovable machines can still enter into portable machining with ease. Most portable machines are less costly than static versions constructed as part of a primary workshop and are also easier to repair or replace. Some equipment can be made moveable as well or placed in specialized vehicles meant to carry unique equipment that handles specific jobs. A workshop can be converted into a highly mobile fleet for a cheaper cost than it takes to open a standard workshop now.
Future in the Field
On-site and Field Machining is tapped to be the new standard in industrial repair work. The advantages are clear for those who can put in the work and planning to see it through.
