Focus on the problem of stopping production at work

Industrial equipment is designed to be in operation for decades, which is why some control systems installed in the

1980s are still reliably operating today. However, legacy equipment might present some challenges that need to be

carefully addressed before disaster strikes. To do this, it is essential to keep track of equipment life cycles and to be

mindful of the risks associated with aging systems.

Like with all tasks that require careful planning, manufacturers might be tempted to procrastinate and run their assets

to failure. In our experience, this is not due to negligence, but to the pressure to keep production up and running to meet

increasingly tight deadlines. As a consequence, maintenance engineers might be aware that a core piece of equipment

has reached its end-of-life, but the company might have no concrete plans for addressing and managing the problems

that will inevitably arise.

The first one is that, as newer models reach the market, there will be fewer spare parts available for legacy equipment.

In this case, manufacturers will need to liaise with a supplier that specialises in obsolete automation components to avoid

the risk of buying from unreliable sources.

Just like spare parts, skills can also become obsolete. So, another common issue is that as machines get older, it will be

harder to find personnel and external experts who can advise and assist on their maintenance. Finally, regulatory compliance

can also become an issue, as requirements for health and safety, energy efficiency and emissions change over time.