Why repair rather than replace fibre optics? What are the pros and cons worth considering?
There are several key reasons why repair is preferable to replacement when it comes to fibre optics. Below we examine each reason, providing guidance around when and where to invest your valuable budget:
- Lead time
- Lead time is one of the key reasons to repair over replacing fibre optic assets. When producing replacement parts in small quantities, the lead times can be exceptionally long. In fact, you may be looking at anything up to a year. A lengthy wait is not always an option, particularly when you consider machine or mission critical situations where working parts are essential. For machinery that is critical for day-to-day operations, an onsite repair can save a business a huge amount in terms of potential revenue loss. And in military situations, where machinery is mission critical, a speedy onsite repair can be a life-or-death situation.
- Obsolescence
- Many cables are no longer in production, making it very costly to get a single replacement made. Finding a suitable specialist manufacturer can be difficult, with manufacturers preferring to produce cables in multiples, if not hundreds. Add to that the cost for a single unit cable, which will be very high. Choosing to repair assets presents a much more affordable option and eliminates the challenges of finding the right specialist manufacturer and the associated high replacement costs.
- Sustainability
- If sustainable targets feature as part of your procurement policy; you are best placed to invest in repair over replacement. Repairing existing cable is a far more sustainable solution, minimising the use of raw materials and energy consumption.
- Budget control
- When broken equipment is repaired, the finance team can delay spending budget on expensive replacement parts or machinery. That higher value overhead can be pushed back or moved into the next fiscal year, supporting financial planning.
- Extend in-service life of your key assets
- Repairing existing cables extends the in-service life of your key fibre optic assets. This impacts the full eco-system of your investments helping machinery operate for longer, reducing the need for immediate investment in new technology. Not forgetting supporting your sustainability targets.
We work regularly with a variety of professionals who use fibre optic technology day-to-day. From medics using fibre optic lighting, to lighting designers and the automotive industry, our team is often onsite helping repair equipment that is integral to the smooth running of these businesses. As critical thinking engineers, with a passion for problem-solving, we have yet to find a problem we can’t solve.
