Valve and hose labels are simple but effective tools for reducing downtime. Below, we offer some simple tips for improving maintenance productivity with valve and hose tags.

Audit the System

The technicians and staff of the system should first perform an audit before you can use hose and valve tags for your hydraulic fluid system. Accounting for every piece and component of the system will make it easier to tag everything later.

After acquiring all the information from the audit, providing the information for the tags later will be much quicker and more efficient instead of doing it one by one. The more information on the label, the better.

Tag Every Component

After the system audit, label every system component instead of only the essential parts, like the pumps. Providing easy-to-find and detailed information about all components, including the hoses and valves, is a simple task that could save endless hours and resources later.

Hose labels and valve tags will save maintenance techs time when resolving issues, as they’ll have the information for all components ready instead of going through the tedious hose and valve identification process.

Include Detailed Information

Hydraulic hose labels should include basic information like the part number, date of manufacture, and trace identification number. It’s wise to go beyond the basics and include more detailed info, like the hose’s installation date, its core material, and the fluid it carries (identify if it is hazardous).

A normal visual inspection may lead you to believe the hose looks fine, but with a detailed label, technicians can surmise that the hose or valve is old and due for a replacement.

Record Previous Issues

On top of tagging the hoses and labels with the basic component information, it’s wise to tag components with any previous issues and repairs. On-site tags of previous problems with hoses or valves allow maintenance staff to familiarize themselves with the system’s history instead of pouring over previous maintenance and repair reports. The labels provide an exact location of the issue and can be immensely useful for resolving future issues.

Color-Code Labels

Implementing a simple color-coding system is a useful tip for improving maintenance with valve and hose tags. Finding an individual component among so many tags in the system can be difficult, but it’s much easier if they’re color-coded. Colorful labels also distinguish departments to avoid confusion and cross-contamination, leading to more efficient repairs and less downtime.