A good crane service provider helps your facility operate more safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. In an industry where every hour of production impacts business, it’s simply not acceptable to wait for parts, undo the faulty repairs of an inexperienced technician, or halt operations only to have your annual inspection delayed or cancelled. Fortunately, the right crane service provider not only avoids these mistakes, but it also adds value by finding ways to improve your operations and control service costs.
By Steven Mikel, Service Sales
That said, finding a crane service provider that enhances operations isn’t necessarily effortless. With so many options to choose from, it’s important to know how to make an informed decision—one that will lead to improved crane safety and efficiency in the long term. Whether you’re choosing a provider for the first time or searching for a new partner, look for these six hallmarks of a good crane service provider:
1. Stability and reliability
It’s important that your service provider is able to meet your needs in the immediate and distant future. Choosing a reputable company with ample resources ensures that your service provider relationship will remain stable and satisfactory for as long as you’re in business. In fact, one of the chief advantages of working with a large company, like Konecranes, is peace of mind. Our customers rely on us to deliver on our promise now (an inspection team will never get delayed due to another customer’s breakdown, for example), and for many years to come.
2. Parts at cost
Partnering with a crane service provider that is also the OEM for your equipment means that you can purchase parts without price markups.
3. Proven expertise
You should be able to see proof of your service provider’s expertise every time its technicians work at your facility. Are technicians doing the job well every time? Are they addressing safety hazards proactively? Do they innovate cost-effective ways to modernize or improve your cranes? Make sure that you hire a service provider that trains technicians regularly and holds them to a high standard.
4. Cutting-edge resources
Finding a provider with a full range of capabilities is key when it comes to maximizing service benefits. Look for a service provider that can handle everything from inspections to maintenance to replacement to modernizations.
5. Comprehensive, transparent methodology
While some customers are satisfied with a quick quote or one- page synopsis, Konecranes believes that comprehensive planning and documentation is the only right way to improve cranes and the businesses they support.
Our customer portal, yourKONECRANES.com, gives you quick and easy access to your crane maintenance information. Usage data from TRUCONNECT and maintenance data and asset details are linked, giving you a transparent view of events and activities over any selected time interval. Aggregated data can be viewed, analyzed and shared quickly, for a single asset or an entire fleet. Insights can be drawn by observing anomalies, patterns and trends, helping you make informed, fact-based, maintenance decisions.
6. Long-term improvements and savings
In general, effective service providers reduce service costs from year to year. For example, Konecranes was able to help a large power plant go from spending $170,000 on its service plan at year one to just $7,000 in year four. Today, thanks to Konecranes strategy and the plant’s commitment to optimizing its facility, the customer only pays for consumables.
Though you may think that making the transition can be overwhelming, finding the right crane service provider is relatively simple and well worth the effort. At Konecranes, we are committed to proving our expertise, earning customers’ trust, improving businesses, and establishing long-term customer relationships.
