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Maintenance Strategies

Best practices and strategies for preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance in food and beverage manufacturing in order to maximize uptime and minimize downtime.

]]> https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/rss/16697-maintenance-strategies en-us Digital Twins Support Predictive Maintenance At the 2025 Automation Fair, Rockwell Automation CEO Blake Moret noted that manufacturers are enhancing efficiency with automation and AI. Food manufacturers use digital twin and cloud platforms for predictive maintenance, reducing workloads and improving visibility. This article covers strategies for effective implementation.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103626 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103626-digital-twins-support-predictive-maintenance Friction, Flour and Failure: How to Select Bearings for Industrial Bakery Operations Bakeries that view bearing selection through the lens of heat stability, contamination control and energy efficiency will reduce disruption and protect both product integrity and margin.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103619 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:07:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103619-friction-flour-and-failure-how-to-select-bearings-for-industrial-bakery-operations How Food Manufacturers Can Prevent Conveyor Carryback Conveyor carryback is a serious issue in food processing facilities that can disrupt operations if not managed. Many facilities lack effective strategies to handle carryback, risking unscheduled downtime. Operators should implement preventative maintenance measures to minimize its impact.


]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103562 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103562-how-food-manufacturers-can-prevent-conveyor-carryback Rethinking Electrical Maintenance in Food & Beverage Manufacturing As expectations continue to rise, organizations that rethink electrical maintenance today will be better positioned to operate safely, reliably and competitively tomorrow.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103534 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:59:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103534-rethinking-electrical-maintenance-in-food-and-beverage-manufacturing AI: In Quest of and Fulfilling the Perfect Batch You don’t have to go it alone when searching for and maintaining the perfect batch. Through machine learning and AI-based batch control, the arduous search becomes easier to realize.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103517 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103517-ai-in-quest-of-and-fulfilling-the-perfect-batch How Much is Food Manufacturing Downtime Costing You? Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) A recent study by ABB reveals just how much unplanned downtime costs, but implementing a modernization strategy can help.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103472 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103472-how-much-is-food-manufacturing-downtime-costing-you Making Cloud-Based Maintenance & EAM More Resilient There was a time most maintenance and EAM software operated strictly within a facility or enterprise, but the development of AI and off-premises, cloud-based computing has made it possible to do heavy computing and trending in the cloud. But what happens when the “cloud” goes down?

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103455 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103455-making-cloud-based-maintenance-and-eam-more-resilient How to Improve OEE with Proactive Maintenance Success in operational readiness is all about data collection. When predictive maintenance systems are integrated with actionable alert-enabled HMIs, OEE increases.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103427 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103427-how-to-improve-oee-with-proactive-maintenance How to Maximize the Life of Your Food Processing Equipment As machinery ages, what are the options for keeping it running smoothly and extending its lifespan? There are specific best practices that can help food processors extend the life of their machinery. 

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103298 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:47:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103298-how-to-maximize-the-life-of-your-food-processing-equipment Considerations for Food Plant Strainer Selection For food processors, removing suspended solids such as fats, grease, grit, contaminants and leftover process materials from liquids is necessary to comply with regulations like the EPA’s Clean Water Act.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103274 Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:01:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103274-considerations-for-food-plant-strainer-selection Clean versus Dirty Strainer Scraper strainers allow the solids to accumulate at the bottom of the vessel, where the blowdown valve will open periodically to clear them out. Strainer for Wastewater By offering a self-cleaning design that functions under a range of conditions, automatic scraper strainers provide advantages over traditional filters. Advanced Energy Assessment Strategies for Food and Beverage Manufacturing While capital upgrades grab attention and budgets, the most substantial energy losses often hide in plain sight in deferred maintenance issues that create systemic inefficiencies throughout facilities.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103243 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:02:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103243-advanced-energy-assessment-strategies-for-food-and-beverage-manufacturing Accurate and Precise Filling Saves on Giveaways Today’s filling machines can achieve extremely accurate and precise fills, and real-time monitoring and maintenance prevent wasteful overfills, underfills, and sporadic and inaccurate fills.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103230 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103230-accurate-and-precise-filling-saves-on-giveaways Get the “Edge” on Maintenance with the Right Equipment, Sensors and Software It wasn’t that long ago that maintenance systems were an afterthought to control systems. Today, sensors and software focused on maintenance run on edge-based equipment in parallel with control systems, letting manufacturers plan for processing and maintenance in an orderly and sensible way.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103127 Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103127-get-the-edge-on-maintenance-with-the-right-equipment-sensors-and-software Adapting IT Cybersecurity Policies to the Manufacturing Plant Floor Attempting to apply IT standards to OT assets as-is often fails to account for critical differences between enterprise and manufacturing environments. 

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103130 Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103130-adapting-it-cybersecurity-policies-to-the-manufacturing-plant-floor Safety Considerations for Boiler Combustion Control Systems Because boiler systems are inherently dangerous, safety must be factored into the design of not just the boiler but also the burner, combustion control, and overall operation of the system.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103114 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:17:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103114-safety-considerations-for-boiler-combustion-control-systems AI’s Role in Preventative Maintenance Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) As part of its State of Industrial Maintenance report, MaintainX recently surveyed maintenance professionals across the U.S. and Canada with the goal of understanding the obstacles they face in 2025 and beyond.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103068 Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103068-ais-role-in-preventative-maintenance Ready? Windows 10 Support Ends in 2025 but Industrial and Enterprise Users Have Options Because Windows 11 requires newer hardware to run successfully, the combination of that hardware plus additional cybersecurity features built into the OS makes it well worth an upgrade, especially in the industrial environment and for those with sensitive data on easily stolen portable equipment.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103064 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103064-ready-windows-10-support-ends-in-2025-but-industrial-and-enterprise-users-have-options Focused Manufacturing Plant Shutdowns: Hope Is Not a Strategy The focused facility shutdown approach, built around comprehensive planning and meticulous project execution, transforms a potentially disruptive shutdown into a highly productive period for essential upgrades and improvements.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103042 Thu, 22 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103042-focused-manufacturing-plant-shutdowns-hope-is-not-a-strategy 10 Ways a Smart Boiler System Can Improve a Manufacturing Plant In today’s production environment, energy efficiency has become a crucial factor for manufacturing facilities aiming to reduce operational costs.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103011 Tue, 06 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103011-10-ways-a-smart-boiler-system-can-improve-a-manufacturing-plant Bearing Solutions for Food and Beverage Conveyance Here's a look at the types of bearings used in food and beverage conveyance and details to consider when selecting bearings for new conveyor builds and maintaining existing ones.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102999 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102999-bearing-solutions-for-food-and-beverage-conveyance New Open Source and AI Tools Make Keeping Track of Machine Programming Easier Keeping track of your PLCs’ programming is easy as long as you don’t have to change it. When you do need to make program changes, the ability to keep track of them is easier with modern tools and AI.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102955 Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102955-new-open-source-and-ai-tools-make-keeping-track-of-machine-programming-easier Exploring the Role Food-Grade Lubricants Play in Food and Beverage Manufacturing Food-grade lubricants, specifically designed for use in food processing and handling equipment, are essential components in preventing contamination and ensuring smooth operations.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102931 Mon, 24 Mar 2025 10:04:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102931-exploring-the-role-food-grade-lubricants-play-in-food-and-beverage-manufacturing How Does Your OT Cybersecurity Stack Up? Tips and Techniques for a Safer and More Secure Operation Poor cybersecurity practices can result in disastrous consequences, though many incidents occur through simple mistakes or forgotten equipment settings. We point out some methods to help alleviate the human error that can result in disaster.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102834 Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102834-how-does-your-ot-cybersecurity-stack-up-tips-and-techniques-for-a-safer-and-more-secure-operation Using Data to Drive Predictive Maintenance Strategies Food and beverage manufacturers are discovering that machine learning is a vital ingredient in moving to predictive maintenance strategies. Larger food companies have the jump on digital transformations, but smaller companies are starting small and increasing spending to start the journey. 

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102833 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102833-using-data-to-drive-predictive-maintenance-strategies Planning for AI-based Automation Systems A well-thought-out strategy can maximize the benefit of having the right sensors in the right place with the right controls.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102723 Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102723-planning-for-ai-based-automation-systems Scrutinizing the details to minimize the risk of washdown motor ingress A bottom-line factor for food processing operations

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102682 Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102682-scrutinizing-the-details-to-minimize-the-risk-of-washdown-motor-ingress Clear Comfort Introduces New AOP Water Treatment Systems Clear Comfort says its newest AOP systems enable facilities to achieve higher cycles of concentration, reducing the need for makeup water, chemical use and blowdown.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102674 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:03:53 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102674-clear-comfort-introduces-new-aop-water-treatment-systems Sensor Self-Calibration and Communications Set the Stage for AI-based IIOT With the rushed production schedules at plants, having key process information is not the only data needed, but key device data allows scheduled maintenance.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102644 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102644-sensor-self-calibration-and-communications-set-the-stage-for-ai-based-iiot Drainage Solutions for Food Processing Facilities Emphasize Food Safety The Slot Dog, Slot Hog, Cleaning Brushes, and the Tamper-Proof Magnetic Strainer—each purpose-built to enhance food safety through effective drainage and sanitation systems

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102620 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:00:46 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102620-drainage-solutions-for-food-processing-facilities-emphasize-food-safety All About Air Filtration Part 4: Care and Maintenance of Dust Collector Cartridge Filters Learn how long cartridge filters last, how to know when they need to be changed and what you can do to extend their life and performance. 

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102567 Thu, 24 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/102567-all-about-filtration-part-4-care-and-maintenance-of-dust-collector-cartridge-filters