A successful Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) programme comprises regular inspections and servicing of forecourt equipment, providing early identification of potential issues, ensuring consistent operation and minimising downtime.
Planned preventative maintenance (PPM) is essentially a scheduled maintenance programme for forecourt equipment, in direct contrast to reactive maintenance where dispensers and electric vehicle chargers are checked and repaired following a breakdown or failure.
PPM is a proactive approach to asset management where tasks are planned ahead of time, while the equipment is still fully operational. It establishes a stable routine for site staff and eases the worry of unexpected disruption to the business.
Six good reasons to invest in PPM
There are many reasons why adopting a PPM strategy is beneficial to forecourt owners, however, this article features the top six.
Reliability
Regular maintenance ensures that dispensers and electric vehicle (EV) chargers operate reliably, preventing breakdowns and minimising downtime. It is by far the best way for forecourts to remain fully operational, and extend the lifespan of the equipment while reducing replacement costs and preventing premature wear and tear.
PPM is crucial to business continuity and customer satisfaction ratings, avoiding long queues on the forecourt and complaints from indignant drivers. A breakdown can be an incredibly inconvenient and costly problem, and in extreme cases can damage the site’s reputation.
PPM helps to mitigate the aforementioned risks by increasing the reliability of the dispensers and EV chargers by ensuring parts that may one day fail are either serviced regularly or replaced.
Safety
Well-maintained equipment reduces safety risks for both staff and customers. Regular inspections of dispensers, hoses and fittings help identify defects that could pose health hazards, reducing the risk of leaks and accidents.
All staff must be briefed on the importance of PPM, ensuring that safety protocols are adhered to during the scheduled visits of the engineers to avoid any disruption and/or risk to customers.
Legal Compliance
Compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations is essential. Regular inspections and maintenance help forecourt owners operate efficiently, meet legal requirements, avoid potential fines or penalties and safeguard the reputation of the business.
Whilst it is important to maintain all of the dispensing equipment and EV chargers in tip-top condition, it is also crucial to include the forecourt interceptors, signage, electrics, canopy and lighting in the PPM strategy.
Improve Longevity
When it comes to maintenance and reliability, businesses are in a difficult position. Operators need to ensure that the dispensers, chargers and facilities are working at peak capacity, but they also need to moderate the time and money spent on repairs.
PPM is the best way for a business to extend the lifespan of its equipment and facilities while reducing replacement costs and avoiding untimely detrition.
PPM can identify key performance indicators that allow forecourt owners to assess the availability, reliability, functionality and maintenance costs of the dispensers and chargers. Identifying these potential issues before the equipment fails helps operators budget repair costs and replacements accordingly.
Customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is pivotal to the success of any fuel retail business. Customers expect consistency of produce availability in the store, a seamless refuelling process, clean facilities and reliable service. If the site fails to deliver on those expectations, customer loyalty will be damaged. A well-presented operation enhances the customer experience.
Regular maintenance ensures that dispensers work smoothly, nozzles are clean and facilities are tidy. Investing in PPM on the forecourt is the best way to stay competitive, grow the business and improve customer satisfaction.
Cost Efficiency
PPM minimises the risk of unexpected failures that can lead to dispenser downtime and loss of business. Identifying and mitigating deterioration, adjustments and replacements, PPM ensures that dispensers and EV chargers continue to function optimally, reducing the need for unplanned repairs and contributing to a consistent refuelling process.
All dispensing equipment will naturally start to lose its effectiveness over time, as parts begin to wear, ultimately impacting the customer experience. PPM will extend equipment life significantly, meaning that performance will be preserved for longer and it will remain as efficient as possible.
Furthermore, having clearly defined PPM schedules empowers site owners to plan maintenance budgets with greater accuracy. In the long term, PPM is far more cost-efficient than expensive reactive maintenance which increases in necessity and frequency as the dispensers age.
TSG is here to help
Here at TSG UK Solutions, we recognise the importance of effective preventative maintenance management on retail forecourts, commercial operations and vehicle wash stations. TSG is the largest service and equipment provider in the industry with more than 50 years of experience in installation, service and maintenance, supporting independent networks, multinational oil companies and supermarkets across the UK.
There is a multitude of variations in the support levels available with a TSG service agreement since they are all tailor-made by our contract team to suit core business requirements. For larger groups with more challenging needs, TSG can provide a designated key accounts manager who is responsible for their service and maintenance schedule and can act as an adviser on system/equipment upgrades as required.
By selecting one trusted supplier for all inspections and remedial works, site owners can stay in control of maintenance costs and reduce the possibility of unplanned callouts and unforeseen downtime.
Moreover, TSG offers a Care and Protect solution, an intense cleaning and maintenance programme for all site equipment, including dispensers, EV chargers, car wash facilities, lighting, canopies, forecourt and signage. It has been designed to meet the needs of modern, multi-functional forecourts, revitalising ageing sites and restoring newer or refurbished sites to their original status.
Author: Cheryl Ashton
