Is our industry getting serious about maintenance of systems?
Mairaj Asghar, Head Maintenance Department, IMS Engineering shares his experience and changing landscape after the introduction of new technologies

There is a general approach of not maintaining the machines until it stops working. Does this approach exist in the industry too? Is our industry aware of the importance of maintenance?
Most people in the industry believe maintenance is a liability. They drag machines to a point where they either stop working or start affecting production. Therefore, it’s a must that they should maintain machines properly with their schedule. Yes, there are the ones in the industry who attach importance to the maintenance of machines and understand their significance. Those who do otherwise face repercussions such as production loss, increase in downtime, and labor cost. In a downtime case, you require time for its arrangement; it eats up your resources. We pursue our clients to sign for routine maintenance of the machine. It adds up to a small fraction of the amount.
Do you think the industry has been gripped by the perception that maintenance charges are, in fact, an extra earning for companies?
Yes, numerous people in the industry hold such perceptions. But the reality is different and we try to convince them to opt for proper maintenance and our company does not depend only on such amount. If they start understanding, the benefit ultimately goes to them because if you maintain machines you increase their life and save extra expenses.
New people are entering the industry and also we find many engineers there, does their inclusion help change the perception as regards maintenance?
New technologies are coming and we deal in building automation. Automation is replacing manual sytems and thus the importance of maintenance continues to be increasing. Therefore, numerous industries are educating their people to attach importance to maintenance as the systems are getting more complicated now. Computerized management systems are being set up so that we keep track records of the maintenance of systems.
How do Maintenance Management Systems help you and the industry in maintaining the systems?
This system generates data so that you come to know how and when you have been maintaining the system and which parts have been changed and when would they need to be addressed again. It facilitates us to maintain things in time with the continuity of the systems.
How much time does your company take to maintain a system on a big plant? How long do you call for a shutdown?
We believe in preventive maintenance and thus it works on the running system. In some cases, we need shutdowns in some sectors for instance fire alarm systems, because they are connected with power generation and they are high voltage systems.
What other services IMS is offering through the maintenance department?
They include HVC Control systems, lighting control, energy monitoring stems, fire fighting systems, etc. We offer monthly and yearly services to maintain all these systems. Besides building management systems, we see smaller systems too and provide an on-call service basis.
Would you like to share an experience that is memorable for you?
Every work is challenging here. If you look at the clients’ list, that includes big names in the pharmaceutical sector. They are serious about the maintenance of their systems. There is a lot of automation there and thus it must work properly. Then, banks also attach priority to maintenance. At Port Qasim, we provide services at Container Terminal. We love to work in challenging conditions