A substantial number of electric motors are present in almost every industry. Keep these items on hand as spares or use them right away. Small operations use many motors, but the numbers can be mind-boggling in large factories.

How do you manage your motor inventory and population? What your plant needs is a comprehensive motor management program.

Why Motor Management?

Motor management systems are critical and can provide the following:

• Potential reduction of excess spare motor inventory,
• Improved energy efficiency and decrease in utility costs,
• Easy identification of potential problem areas,
• More defined appropriate policies and procedures across operations, and
• Quantifiable cost savings.

Applying to Your Operations

Many facilities have a mixture of motor part numbers. When researching, standardize several motors with one part number.

The new part number will meet the other specifications' horsepower, RPM, enclosure style, and voltage requirements. Hence, this can pave the way to significantly reducing your excess motor inventory.

Also, sustainability is becoming a primary focus for most companies. A total review of your current motor population can help you understand your current motor efficiency.

Also, management should implement a companywide standard to move to newer technology. The new technology will increase efficiency and decrease energy expenses. Remember that its motor population drives 60-70% of a facility's energy expense.

Rewind policies are an essential part of understanding and improving motor management. Management must consider a cost perspective as well as an energy consumption perspective. Our experience shows that the rewind point for most facilities is around 60 horsepower.

Most importantly, you need to be able to quantify the cost savings that will result from this kind of program. The program results from a "before and after" look at costs. With the energy and stock cost reductions, the savings driven by this program could be significant. You can also drive savings by selecting a primary motor vendor, providing a better negotiation position.