In most industries, and especially in the beverage industry, the maintenance function receives a variety of interpretations, including definition, management, execution and budgeting. Why is this so important? Basically, maintenance functions are designed to protect and preserve physical assets. Therefore, it becomes prudent to review how the function has grown from operator tasks to reasonably sophisticated skill level technicians.
Historically, machines were attended by operators who not only activated controls but also were responsible for fixing any malfunction of the machine whatever it might have been. Simple and straightforward, the practice of machine operators becoming mechanics has prevailed for years and exists today with limitations.