Industrial Machine Maintenance
Proactive vs reactive maintenance, explained in plain English
Reactive fixes are sometimes unavoidable, but relying on them is expensive. Proactive routines, from lubrication to calibration, tackle root causes before they snowball into failures. At FESS Group we build asset registers, set criticality, then schedule PMs per duty cycle so your most valuable lines get the right attention at the right time. Result, fewer surprises, safer operations, and predictable costs.
- Proactive, plan tasks and parts in advance to prevent faults
- Reactive, fix after failure, higher risk of knock-on downtime
- Hybrid, proactive schedule plus 24/7 call-out for incidents
What a good PM cycle looks like, and why 12 weeks is common
A 12-week PM cycle balances production reality with engineering thoroughness. Every quarter, assets get focused inspections, adjustments, and consumable changes without over-servicing. We calibrate and optimise, record condition data, and update the risk register so each cycle gets smarter. For high-duty kit, we overlay monthly light-touch checks. This rhythm supports both uptime and auditability.
- Core tasks, visual checks, lubrication, belts, chains, fasteners
- Function tests, interlocks, guards, emergency stops
- Calibration, sensors, weighers, temperature and speed controls
- Documentation, logs, service stickers, and parts forecasts
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequency depends on duty, environment, and risk. Many plants adopt a 12-week PM cycle with interim inspections on critical assets. Always align with manufacturer guidance and the Health and Safety Executive’s advice on safe maintenance planning to protect people and production
Yes. We plan PMs around hygiene windows, allergen segregation, and audit trails. Engineers follow food safety protocols, deliver calibrated checks on weighers and metal detection, and document everything for BRC or customer audits.
We supply vetted, multi-skilled shift cover engineers to backfill holidays, sickness, or ramp-ups. They integrate with your CMMS and permit systems so cover is seamless, not disruptive. 24/7 response is available across the UK.
Any production-critical equipment, including conveyors, mixers, packers and automated lines, requires Industrial Machine Maintenance to stay reliable and safe.
Our Industrial Machine Maintenance scope
We deliver end-to-end support, from one-off fault finding to full Industrial Machine maintenance contracts. Programmes are built around critical assets and compliance needs, then delivered by experienced production engineers. The aim is stable throughput, shorter MTTR, and less scrap.
- Preventive maintenance, scheduled inspections, systematic parts changes, and calibration
- Condition monitoring, targeted checks that catch wear early
- 24/7 call-out, rapid diagnostics and repair to cap downtime
- Training and buddying, upskilling onsite teams to spot early signs
- Documentation, digital service logs, parts lists, and audit trails
Food factory maintenance, hygiene-first
Food sites add hygiene, allergen, and traceability pressures. We plan Industrial Machine maintenance around cleaning windows to avoid contamination risk, specify food-grade lubricants, and protect open product zones. End of line, we validate scales and test metal detection performance. Every intervention is recorded for audit readiness. Where applicable, routines align with HSE guidance on safe maintenance planning.
- Line changeovers, seals and gaskets, belt tension and tracking
- Weigher and conveyor calibration, pack rate tuning
- Guarding checks, interlocks, E-stop verification and records
- Verification logs to support BRC and customer audits
Shift cover engineers, when you need extra hands
Peaks, projects, and holidays happen. Our shift cover engineers step in with minimal onboarding, already familiar with safe systems of work and typical plant like conveyors, multihead weighers, tray sealers, shrink tunnels, pumps, and CIP. We match skills to assets, provide phone-a-friend back-up, and retain knowledge so repeat cover becomes faster each time.
- Reactive support, nights and weekends covered UK-wide
- Planned cover, rostered weeks to stabilise output
- CMMS fluent, close jobs properly with notes and spares calls
- KPI reporting, hours, faults, MTBF and repeat issues
Example 12-week PM cycle, simple template
Week 0, risk review and spares check. Weeks 1 to 10, rolling PMs by line and duty. Week 11, calibrations and safety verifications. Week 12, PM completion review, parts orders, and schedule update. This cadence slots around your peak production weeks and reduces clashes with changeovers or QA holds. For high-risk kit, add interim checks at 4 and 8 weeks.
- Safety, interlocks, guards, E-stops, and signage
- Mechanical, drives, belts, bearings, chains, lubrication
- Electrical, terminations, sensors, enclosures, ingress
- Controls, HMI alarms, set-points, trending, backups
- Hygiene, food-grade materials, seals, and cleanability
Mechanical and Electrical Services 
Lift and Shift Equipment Specialists 
Industrial Process Solutions 
Inspection Systems: Industrial Metal Detection 
End Of Line Processes: Industrial Packaging 
Industrial Construction Industries we can help with
10 Reasons Clients Choose FESS Group (And Why You Might Too)
Get StartedFood And Drink
Food processing plant design consultants can help you improve your plant’s energy efficiency, increase your rate of production, reduce lead times, and achieve 100 percent food safety compliance. However, they are also essential when you want to expand your operations.
Pet Food
Setting up a pet food production line is similar to a human food production line. However, as you might expect, there are some differences.
Pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical engineering and plant design consultants help you expand pharmaceutical production lines in factories more efficiently and effectively. Their work includes regulatory compliance, validation, and implementing logistics services for maintenance and systems management. Most consultants assist firms from the initial concept stage onwards, guiding them through every step of the plan.
Petrochemical
Using an outside consultant for your petrochemical engineering projects can help you to maintain safety, efficiency and productivity like never before, all while minimising your spend and controlling your budget for your petrochemical plant construction.