ASSURED Asset Testing has written about the common hidden costs of conducting in-house testing and tagging programs for electrical machines and systems.
Many plants and factories fail to factor in all the expense. While there is the initial outlay for testing equipment and training, there are other ongoing expenses such as consumable tags, asset registration software, tester repairs and regular tester calibrations.
In-house testing programs require an internal staff member, which can result in additional labour costs and loss in productivity. It takes time to carry out testing and tagging, to compile asset registers and reports, to order consumables and to maintain testing equipment.
The lost productivity can add up, eventually making it cheaper to hire a competent external service provider instead.
Electrical safety is a serious matter that requires training, focus and attention. If an internal staff member is in a hurry to return to usual duties, the risk is multiplied, with the chance of a tragic accident. It is also possible for testing and tagging duties to be given low priority and eventually forgotten.
If the staff member trained in electrical testing and tagging resigns, another investment must be made to train another worker. The changeover of staff members can result in confusion because of multiple approaches to risk assessments, testing timeframes, asset IDs and register maintenance.
The company recommends plants and facilities outsource their electrical testing and tagging work to experienced professionals for a fixed cost and minimum disruption to business.
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