MRO Gaskets and Seals: Do You Have a Replacement Parts Strategy?


MRO gaskets and seals for the maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) of process equipment are a key part of a company’s operating arsenal. Failure of a gasket or seal can easily cause a key piece of operating equipment to come offline, resulting in unplanned downtime. Downtime is costly: not only is there the resource consumption to carry out the repair and get the equipment back online, there is also the foregone throughput and revenue. Preventing gasket failure and restoring downed equipment quickly when a gasket does fail is therefore of vital importance.

While a failed gasket can always be replaced, this is only the case if the replacement gasket is on hand. Often, equipment downtime due to a failed gasket is unnecessarily extended because companies do not always have the needed replacement on hand. The following tips can help you avoid stockouts of MRO gaskets and seals and help reduce equipment downtime.

Tip #1: Keep a supply of critical MRO gaskets and seals on hand.

Adequate stock of MRO gaskets and seals for critical process equipment should always be kept on hand. While some companies try to shave costs by keeping low inventories of replacement parts on hand, this can be false economy in the event of unplanned downtime. It is better to keep an on-hand stock of gaskets and seals needed for key equipment at all times so that a fast return to uptime can be achieved.

Tip #2: Track gasket failure history.

Because gaskets are relatively economical items to purchase, many companies overlook the need to track failure history. Maintaining a history of gaskets failures can allow maintenance personnel to identify which gaskets are prone to failure and for which an on-hand stock should be maintained.

Tip #3: Investigate the causes of gasket failure.

Understanding the causes of gasket failures is the first step to preventing them from occurring. Too often, a failed gasket is merely replaced. Rather, replacing a failed gasket should be the beginning, and not the end, of the investigative process. Failure investigation can get to the root causes of gasket failure - for example, where there is a mismatch between the gasket material and the application temperature and pressure service range, where the gasket material is not suitable for the media being sealed, etc. Armed with this information, maintenance personnel can work with a reputable supplier to source a gasket that fully supports the application requirements. This can drastically improve equipment performance, as well as reduce the incidence of unplanned downtime and MRO stocking requirements.

Tip #4: Work with a Gasket Supplier who Understands MRO.

A reputable gasket supplier can help address stocking and inventory issues related to MRO gaskets and seals. These suppliers can introduce flexible supply strategies, stock level monitoring and replenishment, kitting of complementary parts, as well as provide training, troubleshooting of gasket problems, and reliable delivery performance. All of these services can reduce MRO costs and free up valuable maintenance resource time and headroom.

If you are sourcing MRO gaskets and seals, Canada Rubber Group (CRG) is your preferred product and service partner. For over 25 years, CRG has supplied industrial and automotive customers with the finest gasket and sealing products available in the marketplace.

To find out more about how CRG can service your MRO gasket and seal needs, contact our sales team at crg@canadrubbergroup.com.