Equipment maintenance is often overlooked when considering ways to cut costs. Organizing your business' equipment maintenance can also help increase productivity and profitability.

1. The Remi Group
Ten 2010 New Years Resolutions for Managing Equipment
Ten 2010 New Years
Resolutions for Managing
Equipment
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2. The Remi Group
Ten 2010 New Years Resolutions for Managing Equipment
Ten 2010 New Years Resolutions for Managing Equipment
The New Year marks the time to evaluate personal and corporate productivity in order to
establish goals and incentives to get the year off to a positive start. Each year businesses
waste valuable time and money by not managing their equipment properly. Below are ten
steps that you can take to control and reduce equipment costs.
10. Inventory Equipment
Take an inventory of your equipment and create an asset list if you do not already have
one. Start the year with a clear understanding of the equipment you currently own and
lease, its age, and location. Evaluate whether the equipment serves its purpose and meets
your expectations.
9. Equipment Location
It is important to know the location of equipment owned by your company and inspect its
usage. In many cases, some equipment is being overused resulting in increased
breakdowns and repairs while other pieces of equipment are hardly being used because of
the location within the office. Evaluate
what type of equipment is needed for
each department and rearrange
equipment accordingly. For example,
some departments may need three
printers because of all the
documentation they filter through,
while other departments only need one
printer because they do the majority
of their work online or via email.
Different makes and models of
equipment may be more efficient in
certain areas of your business too
depending on how it’s being used. If a
color printer is accessed by more individuals on one end of the building then the other, that
printer should be closer to those who use it. Sometimes equipment is broken and has never
been repaired resulting in a surplus of equipment. It is always worth the time and energy to
explore alternative equipment locations because changes in productivity and usage may
become considerable overtime.
8. Purchase Equipment
Your equipment may be serving its purpose, but there may be newer, more sophisticated
and more cost effective options to be utilized based on your specific needs. If your
productivity is decelerating due to lack of upgrades in equipment, it is important to trade old
equipment for new to assure production goals for 2010 are being met. New equipment
doesn’t need to be brand new; it can be new to your company by utilizing refurbished
equipment at a lower price.
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3. The Remi Group
Ten 2010 New Years Resolutions for Managing Equipment
7. Disposing of Old Equipment
Discard any unused and broken equipment, equipment that can no longer be maintained
due to its age, or equipment that should be replaced with more effective equipment.
Properly recycle old equipment, or to receive a tax write off, donate old equipment to one of
the following organizations:
Gifts in Kind America
National Christina Foundation
Old computers can be donated to one of the non-profit organizations listed below:
Computers for Schools
Goodwill Industries
Salvation Army
World Computer Exchange
6. Organize Current Service Agreements
It’s easy to misplace or misfile service agreements. Take time to find all your service
agreements and categorize them by equipment type and expiration dates. Consider
scanning contracts onto your computer so you have electronic files instead of paper files.
5. Warranties
Familiarize yourself with equipment that is still under warranty, and what those warranties
include. New equipment typically includes a one to two year warranty or guarantee that
provides information on repair or replacement in the event that equipment fails during the
warranted timeframe. Each warranty is unique; timelines are different and certain parts
may or may not be included. With distinctive inclusions, it is important to acquaint yourself
with each warranty to prevent significant financial loss in the event that equipment does
malfunction. Furthermore you don’t want to have to pay for repairs or parts that are under
the manufacturer’s warranty.
4. Vendor Performance Evaluation
Evaluate the quality of the vendors you are using. There are numerous vendors. Find a
vendor that will suit your expectations and guarantee proper repair. Don’t forget to ask for
references, and don’t settle for the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for repairs. Find
some you are comfortable working with. Evaluate your vendor’s based on what is most
important to you:
• Are you satisfied with their response time?
• Do they clean up after themselves?
• Are they courteous?
• Are their invoices accurate?
• Do they answer your questions clearly?
3. Preventative Maintenance
Schedule Preventative Maintenance (PM) for the year to thwart unexpected breakdowns and
extend equipment lifecycles. Once PMs have been planned and service reminders set up,
you can focus on more important issues as they arise.
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4. The Remi Group
Ten 2010 New Years Resolutions for Managing Equipment
2. Green Initiative
Become environmentally friendly through your equipment maintenance by using less
energy. Request that staff members turndown their computers, printers, fax machines,
copiers, and other more sophisticated equipment at night. Turning equipment down when
not used saves money and the environment, but it also helps extend the lifecycle of the
machine entailing greater savings in the long run.
1. Equipment Asset Management
Implement an Equipment Maintenance Management Program and you will receive the
following benefits:
• Maintenance costs reduced by 10 to 22%
• Contract management of equipment maintenance portfolio
• Equipment maintenance reports and maintenance management reports available
24/7 through “Remi Online”
• Extended useful life of all equipment assets by ensuring proper maintenance
• Relieve staff from unnecessary hassles in managing equipment service vendors,
service contracts, and related paperwork
• Annual renewal date with a “capped” yearly maintenance budget
• Choice of service provider
Now it’s time to establish a plan on how you will spend your savings in the upcoming year.
Happy New Year!
About The Remi Group: Since 1998, The Remi Group has aministered successful
Equipment Maintenance Management Programs for Government Agencies, Hospitals and
Healthcare Providers, Colleges and Universities, Commercial Businesses, Grocery Stores,
and Financial Institutions. The Remi Group provides a unique alternative to traditional
vendor equipment service agreements by consolidating existing service contracts into ONE
comprehensive program relieving staff of management burdens through the Dispatch Center
and Remi Online System. The program helps organizations analyze and effectively control
electronic equipment assets while realizing significant savings in annual equipment
maintenance budgets with a “capped” yearly financial budget. In addition, The Remi Group
Program gives clients the freedom to utilize their preferred service provider for each service
event and improve equipment performance and minimize equipment downtime. The Remi
Group corporate office is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, with regional offices located
nationwide. To learn more about The Remi Group visit www.theremigroup.com.
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