The manufacturing industry is one that runs almost exclusively on the strength, quality and proper maintenance of its manufacturing materials. Properly storing and maintaining your manufacturing materials is not just something you do when you want to, it is the basis of being able to maintain your standard of production year after year.
A lot of things happen to materials in storage, most of which will eventually reduce the quality of the stored materials over time. And if you are not especially vigilant, using these materials will reduce the overall quality of your product. But more than that, it can also be dangerous to you in the manufacturing process. For example, putting a load on a worn belt in a pulley system can make it snap, leading to potential harm to you or employees in the vicinity.
Since manufacturing materials come in different forms and are made up of different components, it might be difficult to come up with storage strategies that span the spectrum of your manufacturing materials. Therefore, we’ll be looking at specific storage tips for some of the more common types of manufacturing materials.
1. Organic Materials
Let’s start with the most difficult type of materials to store: organic and perishable. One of the easiest ways of storing these materials is refrigeration. This will help you slow down damage from bacteria and other microorganisms. It will, of course, also prevent heat damage. You can also dry them out or try to store them in moisture-free environments. The combination of moisture and heat damage organic materials very easily.
2. Metals
The most common form of damage to metal materials is rust. It occurs when the metal or metal component of the material absorbs moisture and oxidizes. Therefore, the first precaution you should take in storing metal manufacturing materials is to make sure the storage area is moisture-free. Metal has a very long shelf-life and cannot easily be damaged by most other common stressors. One other precaution is to avoid storing expanded metal components in storage areas with very high temperatures, as heat can warp the metal over time.
3. Polymers
Composed of two of the most popular types of manufacturing materials, rubbers and plastics, polymers are one of the most durable forms of materials in your manufacturing arsenal. They are mostly resistant to moisture and heat damage, and can be stored for long periods of time. However, they are not without their demons, most notable of which are leaks and spot damages. These damages might seem insignificant at first, but they have the potential to result in more serious issues. For example, using a fuel hose with a spot leak in a new car can lead to accidents, which can quickly cascade into your company getting sued. A potent solution to these issues is using the right kind of seals to prevent these leaks. For instance, Viton fluorocarbon o-rings are ideal seals for automotive fuel systems, aircraft engines, vacuum services, etc. Using the proper seals will help to prevent these materials from springing leaks indiscriminately.
4. Wood
A lot of manufacturing materials also have wooden parts and therefore should be accounted for. Wood is susceptible to damage from moisture and can also be damaged by insects. All manufacturing materials with wooden parts should be stored in dry locations that are free from any pests.
Keeping your manufacturing materials properly stored and maintained is a big part of maintaining the standard and quality of your products. And while you might not able to completely eliminate storage issues, these tips will help you limit the amount of damage you incur in storage.