Episode Details

What does it take to keep a highly automated manufacturing plant running while working toward production of 21,000 solar panels a day?

In this episode of Maintenance Manufacturing Insights, Martin Engster talks with Mathew Edwards, Plant Facilities Manager and Maintenance Manager for First Solar in Gaffney, South Carolina.

Mathew shares what goes into building and leading a maintenance operation at a new 1.2-million-square-foot manufacturing facility. With highly automated production lines, robots, drives, conveyors, and other equipment, keeping unplanned downtime under control is a major priority.

Mathew explains why his team focuses on predictive and preventive maintenance instead of waiting for equipment to fail. Maintenance schedules are driven by equipment usage, run time, cycle counts, inspections, and data. His team also uses information from other facilities to adjust maintenance intervals and make better decisions.

But this conversation is about more than machines.

Mathew explains why the people maintaining the equipment are just as important as the technology itself. He shares his approach to building a strong maintenance team, giving employees the tools and training they need, and avoiding the common mistake of relying on the same top performers for every difficult job.

Martin and Mathew also discuss the value of skilled trades. Mathew encourages people entering the workforce to learn a trade or technical skill and take advantage of every training opportunity their employer provides.

The conversation covers preventive and predictive maintenance, reducing unplanned downtime, maintenance planning, spare-parts management, automation, data-driven decision-making, team leadership, employee development, skilled trades, and the importance of networking.

Mathew Edwards is the Plant Facilities Manager and Maintenance Manager for First Solar in Gaffney, South Carolina. He leads a maintenance organization supporting a highly automated solar manufacturing facility as it ramps up production.

Mathew believes successful maintenance leadership starts with giving people the tools, training, time, and support they need to succeed.