Supply chain disruptions continue to challenge manufacturers across industries. Maintaining production levels can become difficult when replacement parts are delayed, raw materials are scarce, or critical industrial components fail unexpectedly.
When a key component breaks down, waiting weeks—or even months—for a replacement can halt production and impact profitability.
Fortunately, there’s a smarter and more sustainable solution: remanufacturing and repair services that restore industrial components to like-new condition while helping you keep operations running.
Industrial components eventually wear out or fail, but replacing them with new equipment isn’t always the best—or even possible—option. In many cases, repairing and remanufacturing existing assets offers significant advantages.
Repairing equipment is often significantly less expensive than purchasing new components. When multiplied across multiple failures throughout the year, the savings can quickly add up. For many facilities, a structured repair program can dramatically reduce maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) costs.
Before replacing a component, check whether it is still covered under a manufacturer's or extended warranty. Many repairs may be fully covered.
Additionally, remanufactured units often come with extended repair warranties, which may exceed the warranty period of new products—offering long-term financial protection.
Supply chain delays can make replacement components difficult to obtain. In many cases, sending a part out for repair may result in faster turnaround times than waiting for new inventory to become available.
Many manufacturing facilities rely on legacy automation components that are no longer produced. When modernization isn’t immediately feasible, repair services may be the only viable option to keep systems operational.
Working with the original manufacturer or an authorized repair provider also reduces the risk of relying on gray market components that may lack proper certification, firmware updates, or quality assurance.
Repair and remanufacturing support the circular economy, reducing waste and environmental impact.
According to the International Resource Panel, remanufacturing can save approximately:
compared to manufacturing new products.
For organizations pursuing sustainability initiatives, repair programs help reduce landfill waste, lower carbon emissions, and extend the lifecycle of valuable assets.
Not all repair providers deliver the same level of quality. A reliable repair or remanufacturing partner should:
Working with a trusted partner ensures repaired assets return to production-ready and perform reliably.
While sending individual parts for repair as they fail can work, organizations gain far more value by implementing a formal repair strategy.
A well-structured repair strategy helps reduce maintenance costs, simplify workflows, and improve equipment uptime.
Ensure maintenance and storeroom teams know which parts are repairable. This may involve:
Without clear visibility, repairable parts may be unnecessarily scrapped.
Analyze how many repairable components your facility currently repairs versus how many could be repaired.
Understanding this gap can reveal significant cost-saving opportunities.
Many industrial assets include manufacturer warranties, service warranties, or extended coverage.
Tracking warranty status prevents unnecessary repair expenses and ensures your team takes full advantage of available support.
Evaluate repair providers based on more than just price. Consider:
OEM repair programs often provide additional value and long-term reliability.
Repair contracts can streamline processes and reduce costs by offering:
By consolidating repairs with one or two trusted vendors, organizations can maximize efficiency and cost savings.
Even the best repair strategy fails without team adoption.
Maintenance and storeroom teams should clearly understand when and how to send components for repair rather than scrapping them. Regular communication and performance tracking help reinforce the strategy’s success.
Repair strategies should be supported by strong preventive maintenance programs.
Ensure maintenance teams perform regular service checks and that preventive tasks are tracked in your CMMS. Preventive maintenance can significantly extend the life of industrial components and reduce unexpected failures.
Additionally, organizations should plan long-term modernization strategies. While repair services can extend the life of legacy systems for years, upgrading to newer technologies eventually becomes necessary to maintain efficiency and supportability.
The Remanufacturing Industries Council defines remanufacturing as:
“A comprehensive industrial process that restores used or non-functional products to like-new condition through a controlled, reproducible, and sustainable process.”
For industrial automation equipment, remanufacturing typically includes:
For example, Rockwell Automation Remanufacturing services restore automation components to original operating conditions while improving reliability and extending equipment lifespan.
A strategic repair and remanufacturing program allows manufacturers to:
By partnering with trusted service providers and implementing a proactive repair strategy, organizations can ensure their industrial assets continue delivering value for years to come.