The machine gave ten years of reliable service before it was shut down.
The team of engineers, three men and two women, who were originally responsible for the installation of the new equipment, had been delighted to receive it from the manufacturer on time. When it was first installed, those engineers at the plant made sure that they had followed the manufacturer’s recommendations with regards to its installation. In truth, that group of engineers tasked with the work of installing the new piece of equipment were enthusiastic about the addition, knowing how much it would improve operations throughout the entire plant. Within the team, it had been a joint effort to develop an ongoing maintenance schedule. When doing this, again they had followed the manufacture’s recommendations.
This schedule covered a list of specific tasks such as regular inspections, ongoing adjustments regarding its operation, planned downtimes for regular services and annual planned shutdowns for major work. These shutdowns were put in place to enable any necessary realignment or in some cases replacement of parts. It also allowed a thorough inspection to detect parts that had become worn or damaged.
When the time came for the decommissioning of the machine ten years later, only three of the original team were still employed at the plant. There could be no doubt that these engineers were reluctant to go along with the decommissioning order. Although they knew, despite a strict adherence to the maintenance schedule over the years, its performance had become less reliable.
There was no denying that the machine had given ten years of reliable service before it was shut down.