[Ice Chips] Answers to Your Toughest QA Questions.

Q. We are looking at some new equipment for our plant. We will be replacing some pretty old equipment that was a nightmare to clean. What should I look for in this new equipment to avoid these problems?

A.The first thing you should do when shopping for new equipment is see if you recognize any of the design and construction issues that you had with the old units. If you do, stay away from selecting those items.

Sometimes equipment has issues that you might initially think of as positive, but that turn out to be a real hindrance. It pays to do your research.

The process of replacing plant equipment should involve as many people as practical to review the design and installation criteria. Quite often, employees who have operated, cleaned, or maintained the older systems have a different insight into the good or bad attributes of a new system. Using these resources during the equipment evaluation and selection process can add significantly to getting it right.

There are various organizations, like BISSC, 3A and NSF, which have developed design and installation criteria to assist with the selection process. These are usually guidelines approved against ANSI standards to provide official recognition of their standing. You and your team will have to adapt and adjust these standards to fit your needs.

Basically, you need to make sure that the new equipment offers improvements. Is it easier to access for maintenance and cleaning? Are the components more reliable and likely to require less frequent replacement or attention? Are the components compatible with how you will use and clean the system? Some of these questions cannot be answered from a specification sheet. Visit the fabrication shop or a facility that uses the equipment to gain first-hand information. This is often the most valuable step in the selection process.

Finally, make sure the equipment manufacturer is fully aware of and meets your needs. AIB