When equipment is so critical that every minute of downtime is
costly, you don't want something as manageable as spare parts
holding things up. Here are some pointers:    • Often, the
problem is a fuse. Store replacement fuses at critical
equipment, and establish a min/max system. You don't want to be
out of a fuse for critical equipment simply because someone used
the last one on minor equipment.   • Make a list of the
components most likely to fail. Now, look at the process for
replacing those. Would it reduce downtime to swap out an entire
assembly rather than replace that single component? One example
is a critical gearbox. Removing and replacing one bearing might
take an hour, while removing and replacing the entire box might
take 15 min.; keep an entire box in stock, reserved for this
machine.   • Determine if repair requires special lubricants,
connectors, or cables. Keep those with the machine. There's one
more resource you need to provide, as you'll see in our next
issue.