Article by IPE Magazine, published in their Jan/Feb 2025 issue 

Downtime continues to be a costly challenge for industrial businesses, while traditional spare parts management only compounds the issue, often leading to overstocked inventories or leaving firms facing lengthy lead times. But digital spare parts could offer the solution.

Downtime remains a critical issue for many industrial businesses.

Whether for maintenance engineers or industrial SMEs, this single word represents a range of challenges, including lost productivity, eroded customer satisfaction, and a substantial financial impact.

Yet, in many industries, downtime is exacerbated by a fundamental issue: spare parts management.

Traditional approaches to spare parts inventory can result in overstocked warehouses and inflated costs. Yet, paradoxically, they still fail to address the critical moments when a component is unavailable, causing operations to grind to a halt.

Enter AddParts, whose innovative digital spare parts solution promises to transform how businesses manage their inventories while significantly reducing downtime and operational costs.

“By creating a digital storeroom for your critical components we can provide instant access to your inventory 24/7,” explained AddParts director Tom Fripp.

“When you need a spare part, we can quickly manufacture it on-demand, eliminating the hassle of lengthy lead times and reducing the risks when unexpected downtime happens without needing to stock-up on expensive spare parts.”

The high cost of downtime

Studies show that over 50% of downtime is caused by part failures, with 55% attributable to parts availability and ageing equipment. In unplanned downtime scenarios, the costs can be ten times higher than planned outages.

Clifford Mann, head of technical operations and engineering at Ethypharm UK, underscores the severity of this issue: “As machines get older, the issue of parts availability becomes increasingly challenging,” he notes. “It’s impractical to stock every part required for every machine. But if I don’t have a part available, I’m faced with lead times of 12 to 16 weeks, especially for those components sourced from Europe.”

Brexit, COVID-19, and global supply chain disruptions have compounded these challenges, with many engineers reporting significant price increases for certain components, together with longer lead times.

Revolutionising spare parts management 

AddParts offers a forward-thinking alternative to traditional spare parts inventory management. Through its digital storeroom, businesses gain instant, on-demand access to critical components, eliminating the need for overstocking and reducing reliance on unpredictable supply chains.

How it works

1. Data Collection:

AddParts begins by visiting client sites during planned maintenance shutdowns, using advanced 3D scanning technology to create high-resolution digital duplicates of critical components.

2. Comprehensive Data Logging:

Each part is logged with essential details, including materials, cleaning protocols, operational context, and maintenance requirements. This ensures that components are reproduced with precision and consistency.

3. CAD Creation and Validation:

AddParts converts the scanned data into production-ready designs. The components undergo rigorous validation to ensure they meet or exceed the performance of the original.

4. 24/7 Digital Access:

Businesses can access their digital storeroom via desktop or mobile, enabling seamless ordering of validated components whenever needed.

Transformative benefits

Adopting a digital spare parts solution like AddParts delivers measurable benefits:

Optimised Inventory:

By reducing excess stock, businesses free up valuable storage space and working capital.

Accelerated Lead Times:

Manufacturing parts on demand drastically reduces wait times, ensuring faster recovery from unplanned downtime.

Extended Equipment Life:

With access to components for obsolete machines, companies can prolong the operational life of ageing assets.

Improved Reliability:

Ensuring critical components are always available minimizes the risk of unplanned outages and enhances production stability.

Enhanced ROI:

AddParts’ built-in ROI calculator quantifies the cost of downtime against the price of components, providing a clear justification for investment.

“The cost of a part is often a fraction of the overall downtime cost,” Fripp continued. “Each page in the AddParts digital storeroom has a section at the bottom which allows you to calculate your ROI for each part.

“This helps clients see the bigger picture and understand how minimising downtime can have a profound impact on profitability.”

Harnessing technology to drive quality and efficiency

AddParts continues to invest in the innovative technology needed to ensure that digital spare parts meet the demands of some of the most highly regulated industries in the UK.

The team at AddParts have been working with AMT’s Post Pro vapour smoothing technology for the last 18 months and after proving the value of this cutting-edge technology felt the time was right to bring the smoothing process in-house giving greater access to higher quality parts for AddParts customers.

Ensuring enhanced surface finish

The smoothing process ensures that key parts supplied by AddParts have a smoother surface finish with reduced friction and surface roughness (by up to 420%), a 3-x improvement in the mechanical properties and a 100% sealed surface. The upshot of this is that AddParts can offer parts with extended part lifecycle and tensile strength, significantly less liquid absorption, parts which are easier to clean and maintain high levels of hygiene and which resist scratching and breakage. Not only that but the materials and the process meet the same FDA approvals as AddParts’ standard materials when it comes to food contact meaning that the service can add significantly enhanced value in key markets which include food and drink, pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement manufacturing.

Revolutionising food contact safety

The upgraded parts show similar levels of chemical resistance to Stainless Steel but are significantly more accessible through AddParts Professional digital storerooms. The solvent used in the process has been a key development as its fully green, FDA-approved chemistry is both biocompatible and biodegradable, enabling parts to be made that are food contact safe which is critical to many AddParts Professional customers. The team at AddParts have also successfully transferred their knowledge of food contact safe blue dying into the process too, meaning that parts can be food safe, easy to clean, full sealed and an easy to identify blue colour.

“Our AddParts customers rely on us to produce high quality parts with a quick turnaround to enable them to keep their production lines running smoothly and reduce their downtime costs,” Fripp concluded.

“We have worked closely with the team at AMT as we validated the Post Pro SFX into our quality management system to meet the extremely high standards required by our food and pharma manufacturing customers.”

If you’d like to hear Tom discussing how on-demand digital spare parts are reshaping inventory management in further detail, why not check out our webinar on the subject, available by scanning the QR code or visiting: tinyurl.com/42zszx8x

For more information:

addparts.co.uk

Tel: 0114 269 3869

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In the realm of industrial operations and facility management, the approach to maintenance has undergone a significant transformation over recent years.

Historically, maintenance has often been viewed as a financial burden within organisations – so-called “unnecessary” expenditures incurred for hiring maintenance personnel and procuring spare parts without directly contributing to revenue generation. This perception would pose challenges in persuading management to allocate resources towards maintenance initiatives.

Nowadays, it should not come as a shock to management that maintenance accounts for 20-50% of the total operating budget[i]. Although traditional reactive methods like “run to fail” are giving way to more proactive strategies such as Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) and the cutting-edge Predictive Maintenance (PdM), there is still some resistance against full adoption of such maintenance strategies. So, what is the difference between these practices? How do they benefit business operations and what factors need to be addressed to welcome adoption within your business?

Understanding Maintenance Practices:

1. Run to Fail (RTF):

Run to Fail is a reactive approach where maintenance activities are only performed after a component or equipment fails. Although seemingly straightforward, this method often leads to costly unplanned downtime, emergency repairs, and potential safety hazards. Running a piece of equipment to the point of failure (i.e. unplanned) costs, on average, ten times as much as a regular maintenance program would[ii].

Although reactive maintenance cannot always be avoided, companies relying solely on RTF may find themselves caught in a cycle of firefighting rather than proactive maintenance.

2. Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM):

Favoured by 80% of maintenance personnel [iii], PPM involves scheduling regular maintenance tasks based on predetermined intervals or criteria. When first implementing a PPM strategy these intervals may be a best guess or based on past downtime. As maintenance engineers regularly service parts and develop a deeper understanding of their machines a more robust schedule can develop. By adhering to a planned schedule, organisations can minimise unexpected breakdowns, extend equipment lifespan, and optimise operational efficiency. PPM lays the foundation for a more systematic approach to maintenance, reducing the likelihood of large, costly disruptions.

3. Predictive Maintenance (PdM):

Predictive Maintenance represents the next frontier in maintenance practices, leveraging advanced technologies such as IoT sensors, data analytics, and machine learning algorithms. PdM can reduce machine downtime by 30%-50% and increase equipment life by 20%-40%.

Rather than relying on fixed schedules or guesswork, PdM uses real-time data to anticipate equipment failures before they occur. By detecting subtle changes in performance or condition, organisations can proactively address issues, optimise maintenance schedules, and maximise asset uptime.

54% of global manufacturers surveyed by ATS use predictive maintenance technologies to reduce operational costs involved in maintaining their equipment.

The Synergy Between Predictive and Preventative Maintenance:

While PPM provides a structured framework for maintenance activities, PdM enhances its effectiveness by introducing predictive capabilities. By integrating predictive analytics into existing maintenance strategies, companies can:

• Identify potential failures earlier, minimising unplanned downtime and production losses
• Optimise resource allocation by prioritising maintenance tasks based on actual equipment health
• Reduce maintenance costs through targeted interventions and efficient use of resources
• Extend asset lifespan by addressing issues before they escalate into major problems
• Improve safety by proactively addressing equipment failures and minimising risks to personnel

Taking these into consideration, predictive analytics can yield a tenfold return on investment, and adopting such practises can result in savings of 30% to 40%.[iv]

However, as beneficial as predictive maintenance is it often requires a full computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) to reap the full benefits. Unfortunately, industry standard failure rates of implementation range between a shocking 60% and 80%.

With 54% of manufacturers using predictive maintenance, how come the failure rates of implementation are so high?

1. Initial Investment:

Implementing PdM requires upfront investment in technology infrastructure, sensors, software, and employee training. Some examples of the costs associated in implementing such a system are as follows:

• Sensors: The cost of sensors depends on their type and brand, ranging from approximately £100 to several thousand pounds per sensor. For instance, a temperature sensor might cost around £100, while a vibration sensor could be around £1000.
• Software: Setting up a predictive maintenance program may require multiple software solutions. A Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) software, typically priced per user, starts at approximately £350 per user annually. Additionally, a data analytics tool for collecting and analysing sensor data can start from around £160, depending on the chosen software.
• Installation: If your maintenance technicians lack the expertise to install and integrate sensors with the software, you may need to hire specialists for installation. Costs can range from thousands to tens of thousands of pounds, depending on the number of sensors and complexity of equipment.
• Skilled Maintenance Expert: An experienced maintenance engineer is essential for accurately interpreting data from condition-monitoring devices. Depending on your equipment’s failure modes, you may not require a dedicated maintenance engineer for your predictive maintenance program. But if you do the associated salary also needs to be considered.

Any compromise on investment on any of these points can affect the successful implementation of a CMMS and PdM.

2. Data Quality and Integration:

Effective predictive maintenance relies on high-quality data from various sources. For the amount invested upfront, you would expect 100% accurate readings from the sensors.

However, the compatibility of PdM can vary and the technology does not always take essential factors into account such as age of equipment, or even the weather, and readings can be misinterpreted. Therefore, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and compatibility across different systems on the factory floor can be challenging, especially for legacy equipment.

3. Skill Gap:

Successfully deploying and managing predictive maintenance initiatives requires specialised skills in data analytics, machine learning, and condition monitoring. Companies may face challenges in recruiting or upskilling personnel to fill these roles. These personnel must also be able to navigate the chosen CMMS and understand what data is shown on their computer screens to best maintain each piece of equipment being monitored.

4. Change Management:

As with any organisational change, transitioning from traditional maintenance practices to predictive maintenance requires a cultural shift within the organisation. Buy-in must be from the top all the way down to operators. Any resistance to change, lack of buy-in from stakeholders, and inertia can impede progress and affect the success of implementation.

 With all this in mind, PdM can work but some companies may be reluctant to embrace it due to concerns about technology reliability, false positives, or the perceived complexity of implementation.  For others it may just be the upfront investment required.

Are there any alternatives to enhance maintenance strategies?

Differences in cost between preventive and predictive maintenance are notable. Preventive maintenance primarily incurs labour expenses, whereas predictive maintenance involves significant upfront investments in sensors, software, setup, and training.

As such, it’s important to ask the question is Predictive Maintenance suitable for my business or is Preventative Maintenance better and can PPM be enhanced in any other way?

Perhaps as manufacturers shift from reactive maintenance approaches to proactive strategies but aren’t ready to adopt PdM, many AddParts customers are embracing the service which is another approach to enhance reactive and proactive maintenance strategies.

AddParts supplies on-demand digital spare parts for production and packing lines, supporting maintenance and operations teams using cutting-edge technology to reduce downtime by up to 90% and spare part costs by up to 50%. The company 3D scans critical components on-site for storage on a secure, tailored digital inventory. The parts are supplied in like-for-like, traceable materials in 48 hours, and are manufactured at a dedicated, UK-based facility using industrial 3D printers.

With AddParts there is still a cost incurred for procuring spare parts but, unlike spare parts supplied by the equipment manufacturers, lead times can be from 2 days to 7 days rather than 8 – 10 weeks. In comparison to PdM, the upfront costs are simply the cost required to 3D scan equipment and convert the data to production ready digital files however the potential for 80-90% reduction in downtime means this is still an attractive service.

Of course, going one step further and coupling AddParts with a predictive maintenance strategy can mean an automated maintenance strategy can being to evolve. Parts for machines can be ordered automatically based on the equipment data analytics and these will arrive within a week, ready to be installed by the maintenance engineers.

Want to learn more about how AddParts could enhance your maintenance strategy? Book a meeting and start your free 90-day trial.

 

[i] https://blog.infraspeak.com/maintenance-statistics-trends-challenges/

 

[ii] https://upkeep.com/learning/maintenance-statistics/

 

[iii] https://www.plantengineering.com/articles/2018-maintenance-survey-playing-offense-and-defense/

 

[iv] https://upkeep.com/learning/maintenance-statistics/

It’s been an incredibly busy, but exciting, time for us here at Addition. Not only have we launched a brand-new service, AddParts, but we have also created an innovative new process which is set to really cause a stir in the food manufacturing sector. To showcase these recent developments, we attended the prestigious PPMA Show held last month in Birmingham and here our director, Tom Fripp, gives us an insight into how the event went and what we’ve got in store for our customers, old and new.

As we embark on an important next step in the journey of our business, it really feels we are now forging our own path in the world of design and additive manufacturing. We always knew that creating a USP would be key and over the last few months we have worked incredibly hard on some exciting developments that we think will make us stand out from the crowd as true experts in this field. And what better place to showcase what we’re all about than at the largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition in the UK, the PPMA Group of Associations Show 2023!

AddParts makes its mark

We used the opportunity PPMA brings to unveil AddParts, which is delivered exclusively by Addition Design, and supplies digital spares for production and packing lines on demand through the use of 3D scanning, digital data management and industrial 3D printing. It gives customers across a number of sectors a competitive advantage by drastically reducing downtime on their lines and thereby lowering associated costs.

Our investment in new equipment, and in subsequent skilled personnel, forms the foundation for AddParts’ unique methodology of unlocking the benefits of industrial 3D print technology to provide new opportunities and deliver even higher performance components with reduced lead times offering a really focussed solution that manufacturers can truly benefit from.

But not only did we want to shout about AddParts as a whole, we also wanted to be at PPMA to demonstrate how AddParts can now be used in the food processing sector thanks to a revolutionary new way we have created for the food industry to detect problems in the production process and embrace new technologies.

This new process allows food manufacturers to access production parts that meet the stringent regulatory requirements of food production components whilst taking full advantage of industrial additive manufacturing.

The new technique addresses a number of renowned issues that affect the industry’s ability to fully embrace the benefits of industrial 3D printing while complying with food-safety regulations and production line efficiency needs including those of low-cost, fast turnaround, blue, food contact components.

 

The power of PPMA

The PPMA Show rarely disappoints. Fellow exhibitors are supportive and keen. As a business we feel welcomed into the industry by both the PPMA and the other members. But we know our market and we know who we are here to help – it’s the engineers, the ops managers, the production planners anyone else who feels the burden of downtime when the line goes down. But people of this calibre are difficult to pin down. The PPMA is different as we find that those very people are the same ones walking the floor seeking out solutions which we can provide in abundance.

AddParts is a service which deals in real components both at the start of the process and at the end. We deal with broken, worn or obsolete parts when we scan the parts and we deal with high quality 3D printed components when we supply and without seeing how we do our work or the quality of the parts we supply for yourself, you simply cannot get a thorough enough understanding for just how good our service is. On top of this, we are manufacturing fanatics and that’s also a difficult thing to convey effectively by any other means than face to face!

Trade shows like the PPMA give us the opportunity to show how much of our customers values we share – those of making sure those production lines keep on turning and focusing on the need to always have a steady, reliable supply of accurate, high-quality components as and when they are needed. AddParts is a really unique offering and we believe that it brings new opportunities for manufacturers in the UK so meeting our customers and answering their questions is an absolute must.

Spreading the word

So, what was the reaction like? We’ve worked really hard to create a simple, honest, dependable identity for AddParts and when we see people glancing, then stopping and approaching us to talk to us, seeing the penny drop for just what we can offer, and how we can help has been an absolute joy. Thankfully, at this year’s PPMA show it happened a lot!

I’d say people’s reactions were part disbelief, part excitement and perhaps most strangely, just plain acceptance! We know it’s novel and exciting and, when paired with the other benefits of AddParts, offers something very new and unique for food manufacturers. But when you put it into context with the other professionally delivered services which have so clearly been thought through and refined to deliver exactly what our customers have been asking, a lot of professionals – from food, pharma, medical and a whole range of industries and companies from SME’s to global giants – saw the blue parts and simply accepted that it made sense for us to be offering something on the production side just as innovative as the rest of AddParts.

We know we’ve got more work to do to make AddParts even more relevant for more manufacturers but AddParts is here to stay and we plan to continue to shout about our continued innovations and success. Watch this space!