Top 5 Problems Facilities Face with the Current Forklift Checklists

What would you say is the problem with forklift checklist? Anytime we’ve asked this question, we get many different answers. That’s because companies have varied experiences in the facility and their priorities may be different than others. However, similarities do arise when they talk about problems with forklift checklist, let’s take a look at a few.

Problem with Forklift Checklist

The problem with forklift checklist is a set of issues or challenges that arise when a forklift checklist is in use. According to OSHA, a forklift checklist must be used before each shift in order to verify the condition of a forklift truck in order for the operation to be safe for the driver and workers within a proximity of the forklift truck. When companies use the implemented paper-based forklift checklist, problems with forklift checklist come to life.

Problem #1: Pencil Whipping

If you’ve worked in a facility where lift trucks are around, you know the term pencil whipping. It’s the one action that frustrates managers the most as the practice of pencil whipping means the pre-inspection on the lift truck is not getting done with accuracy, thought or care. The trio of issues that takes any lift truck out of circulation.

Solution: With a digital forklift inspection, there’s no pencil whipping. The forklift pre-shift inspection will automatically be done…because the forklift won’t start until the inspection is done. And…if the operator tries to answer the questions quickly, turn on the random. What? In the telemetry Dashboard, you have the option of flipping on the random switch which randomizes the questions and answers which makes the operator read and carefully answer each question.

Problem #2: Maintenance

Do you know if you are inspecting your forklifts enough? Forklift maintenance is one of the most critical aspects of forklift safety. By collecting and analyzing the books for binders full of forklift inspection reports, you get the chance to be on top of any potential issues with the lift trucks. Pencil whipping, missed inspections and a ‘hurry up’ attitude puts a damper on proper maintenance causing forklifts to be taken out of circulation, break down during operation and buying new forklifts that can take up to two years before delivery.

Solution: Digitizing the forklift inspection will capture the answers and graphically arrange the data for easy analysis. This puts the power and control into maintenances’ hands so they can maximize the longevity of the forklift itself.

Problem #3: Identifying a Problem with the Forklift

If maintenance can identify a problem before it turns into a bigger issue, that would save the company on unnecessary expenses. That’s because the problem got too big. If maintenance had a better, faster and more accurate way of analyzing the forklift’s condition, maintenance can stay on top of the problems and get the most productivity from each piece of equipment.

Solution: The digital content stored in the telemetry Dashboard allows the maintenance, fleet and facility manager to identify issues and solve them before it matures.

Problem #4: Downtime

There’s nothing worse than having to take a forklift out of production. Even if a company has a spare forklift (hopefully), it still disrupts the productivity and flow of work. If a forklift is taken out of circulation, that doesn’t mean it was removed before the shift started, most times it is during use. This creates loss of time for the forklift driver working towards his quota for the day.

Solution: Digital inspections track the health of the forklift and the data allows the managers to identify issues before it gets to the point of taking a forklift from use.

Problem #5: Missed Forklift Inspections

It always happens this way: the time the forklift driver misses the forklift inspection, an incident occurs. Between pencil whipping and missed forklift inspections, managers have little accuracy of information to go on. How can you keep safety and productivity going in the right direction?

Solution: Try the S2 Digital Inspection with Impact Detection. This will keep forklift drivers from missing an inspection, ensuring accuracy with the answers, tracking and reporting on answers which all leads to maximizing all lift trucks within the facility.

Summary

Get rid of problem with forklift checklist today by contacting SIERA.AI at sales@siera.ai so you can begin to implement a digital inspection solution that not only helps track and maintain all of your lift trucks, but will also help achieve the upper management’s goal of digital transformation for the company as a whole.