BLOG: On The Level

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Machine reliability and uptime are keys to your company’s productivity. So how do you ensure that your machines are properly maintained? Or, if they were to need repair, how can you be sure you’re getting the best parts and service available?

You need an expert – someone who understands both the machine and the application for which it is being used. Someone who knows your industry and the demands placed on your equipment each day. Someone who gets that machine downtime is lost revenue.

Your local Cat® dealer can be that expert who helps you with the maintenance and service needs for your machine. Your Cat dealer knows your machine, understands your business, and can offer flexible maintenance solutions to meet your needs, ranging from a PM kit that takes care of basic fluid and filter changes up to a customer service agreement (CSA) that covers all maintenance intervals including an inspection to ensure your machine is operating at peak performance.
 
When it is time for routine maintenance, or you need a repair, you won’t have to research where to take your machine, or hope that the technician you get is qualified and competent. Cat dealers are conveniently located and experienced. Of the more than 600 dealer stores across the U.S. and Canada, their average parts and service experience is 65 years. You’ll find that Cat dealers offer:
• Consistent high quality parts no matter where you are located
• Online parts ordering via Caterpillar’s PartStore, http://parts.cat.com
• After-hours support
• Conveniently located parts drops close to you
• A network of 18,500 highly trained, skilled and experienced technicians
• Advanced diagnostic tools available to inspect vital systems and components
• 24/7 service availability
• Ability to perform the maintenance at your location or the dealer

If you decide that a CSA is right for your business, your Cat dealer will work with you to customize a plan based on the number of hours of operation or on the number of years you’d like to cover the equipment. There is no set minimum or specific parts you need to purchase. Depending on your needs, your costs can be a flat monthly fee or some other arrangement based on actual production hours. Your agreement may include as few or as many pieces of equipment as you wish. You can cover individual systems, single pieces of equipment, or entire fleets.  

By entering into a CSA, you’ll be able to take advantage of scheduled maintenance as needed, benefit from fixed pricing to help better manage cash flow, and experience overall improved machine availability. Your customized plan can cover:
• Preventive maintenance
• Fluid analysis
• Machine inspection
• Machine condition performance monitoring

For more information about how you can leverage your Cat dealer for parts and service, please visit http://www.cat.com/maintenance-and-support/customer-support-agreements .

About the blogger – John Galloway is a Product Support Specialist with over 15 years of experience at Caterpillar. He focuses on developing services and product support solutions for customers in the building and general construction, landscaping, specialty trades, and agricultural industries.