Baking & Snack - February 2018 - 118

MAINTENANCE

Ignoring the signs that a mixer needs maintenance could
result in severe wearing on
the bronze bushing (above),
such as this mixer that one
supplier was contracted to
rebuild. Proper maintenance
keeps the bushing in-tact, as
indicated in the lower image.
Topos Mondial

could tell you it's time to change the chain."
All Topos Mondial custom-designed equipment, including mixers, conveyors and dough handling, have the
capability to add software for housing baseline data. "We
are happy to work with our customers," Mr. Nikel said.
"A bakery might have a worker who can look for things
like heat, vibration and noise, and with that, they are
ahead of the game. If the customer does not have that
expertise, we can add sensors that link to the computer
in the mixer and collect it remotely."
Then again, it's not quite time for computers to fully
replace human beings. It's important to remember that
in a good maintenance program, senses are just as valuable as sensors.
"A sensor should never fully replace a person,"

118 Baking & Snack February 2018 / www.bakingandsnack.com

Mr. Nikel noted. In other words, data only offers so
much without having reliable maintenance workers and
machine operators to interpret the information based on
their intimate understanding of the equipment. "We can
bring in sensors to watch the bearings and the vibration
on the frame of the machine, but having this advanced
technology without someone who can look at the machine and understand that something is different from a
week ago, it does no good. If a customer needs help, they
can call us, and we are happy to help them find a solution that works best for what they need. But adding sensors and blindly collecting more data just isn't enough."
For its ProPlant system, Bühler bases its maintenance
intervals on run time, but it can be adjusted for individual intervals and common signals of maintenance such
as sound, consumption changes or emerging dust. "This
is why we stress the importance of routine walks for operators to observe the plant," Mr. Hunter said.
Sensors can set the baseline, but it's the workers' responsibility to recognize the indicators that something is
out of sync. It's the first step in solidifying a maintenance
program. Once the program is set, commitment and
collaboration - from the production line up to management - must exist to avoid failure.
"To verify you are receiving data, most systems will
allow setup of alerts if a device or system has gone offline," Mr. Stricker said. "This is important to get the
full story on the data." This year, Shick Esteve will
launch a cloud system that will aggregate data from
multiple sources for a holistic plant view as well as intel
on Shick Esteve equipment.
AMF offers programs such as AMFMethod and
AMFConnect, which provide tables and run-hour inspection and lubrication requirements for its equipment,
as well as vital stats. "By providing the bakery team with
real-time production line data and machine status information, bakery personnel gain access to critical operational information," Mr. Campbell said. Then to bring
sensors and senses together, AMF service technicians
provide routine site visits to help bakery teams develop
their preventive maintenance.
Ultimately, while suppliers are improving efforts to
build technology into their equipment, bakers have a responsibility to keep up with understanding how to use it.
Mr. Dearduff asserted that it all boils down to a simple
principle. "Someone has to monitor the data and understand what they're looking at and know how to take action when something is off," he said. "If this is missed or
ignored, you will still break down."

A continued commitment
So, you've developed a preventive or predictive maintenance program that includes the most skilled workers

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Baking & Snack - February 2018

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