A machine is a mechanical system that manages power to accomplish a task involving forces and movement. A machine includes mechanisms that control movement such as gears, cam and follower systems and linkages.
Plant Machinery
Plant machinery relates to heavy industrial machines that are typically used on construction sites and within earth-moving industries. It tends to be more complex & technologically advanced than equipment.
While both plant & equipment can pose hazards, the distinction between them is that plant is specifically designed for heavy-duty & specialized industrial operations while equipment is more general purpose. As such, there is generally more hazard assessment involved with plant compared to equipment.
Equipment
Machinery is a mechanical unit designed to do something. Equipment, on the other hand, has a wider definition and includes items needed for a specific task.
The dividing line between machinery & equipment can be blurred when a modification or addition is made to an existing piece of machinery. This can be tricky for site managers and machinery integrators. Refurbishment work that amounts to disassembly and rebuilding of a machine to original specification (albeit with replacement parts) may not qualify as production of new machinery, but will still need to be undertaken competently. Tens of thousands of Americans are employed in the manufacture of machinery, from team assemblers and machinists to welding professionals and mechanical engineers. This manufacturing sector contributes to the competitiveness of American businesses across a wide range of industries.
Maintenance & Repair Parts
Maintenance & repair parts are items that are kept in inventory to be used for repairing and refurbishing equipment/units. Depending on the severity of failure (from catastrophic to significant or insignificant), these parts may be classified as consumables, spares or service parts. For example, oil filters, spark plugs and screws are consumables. These parts are typically replaced when they fail and the replacement is cheaper than the original item itself. On the other hand, a jet engine, traction motors or copy machines are considered to be repairable spares.
This eliminates the guesswork and hope that is often found with traditional planning methods and can lead to accurate safety stock, reorder points and service levels.
Other
Machinery and equipment manufacturing provides high-value, high-skill jobs to Americans. It also supports the work of hundreds of thousands of Americans across a range of other end-user industries. The sales of many types of machinery typically are accompanied by a range of other high-value services, such as specialized architecture, engineering and logistics.
The term “machinery” usually refers to a complex mechanical device that uses moving parts and mechanisms to perform a specific task or function, often in a production or manufacturing setting. It can be quite large and specialized, such as factory production lines or construction machinery like bulldozers. In contrast, equipment is a more general term that can refer to a wide variety of tools and devices. It may be simpler than machinery, or it may be more complex and expensive, such as power tools for working on a construction site or medical equipment used in a hospital. In addition, jigs and dies and other tools that are used in conjunction with what would be considered machinery could also be considered part of equipment.