What are the Hidden Costs of Unplanned Downtime, and How can I Avoid Them?

What are the Hidden Costs of Unplanned Downtime, and How can I Avoid Them? In today’s fast-paced industrial environment, the cost of unexpected downtime isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a major risk to productivity, profitability, and reputation.

Recent reports suggest that the average cost of unplanned downtime in UK manufacturing is around £15,000 per hour, with many larger operations experiencing losses far exceeding this figure. And it’s not just the immediate production loss that hits — there’s the ripple effect of delayed projects, missed SLAs, and strained customer relationships.

So, what’s causing it?

Common culprits include:

  • Ageing or overloaded electrical systems
  • Inadequate control and monitoring infrastructure
  • Reactive-only maintenance approaches
  • Power quality issues or equipment failure

The good news? Downtime is preventable.

At Quantum Controls, we support organisations in identifying and eliminating the weak points in their operations with a combination of:

Modern Control Panel Solutions

Custom-built to improve reliability, visibility, and safety — ensuring your system stays online and responsive to change.

24/7 Temporary Power from Q-Hire

Our new hire division provides rapid-response, fully compliant temporary power systems to keep your site operational during outages or upgrades.

Smart Monitoring & Proactive Maintenance

Get ahead of faults with continuous monitoring, remote access, and predictive insights, tailored to your site’s exact needs.

Minimise Risk with a Free Downtime Review

Not sure how exposed your site is? Our engineers can carry out a quick site assessment to highlight vulnerabilities — and recommend practical, cost-effective improvements.

Reach out today and let’s talk about keeping your operations up and running, no matter what.

 

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