If your plant runs overhead cranes in Mexico, NOM-006-STPS-2023 is not optional and it is not satisfied by a service call when something breaks. It expects a program: scheduled inspections, load tests, competent personnel and records. This is what that looks like in practice.
What the standard expects of you
In plain terms: equipment inspected on a defined schedule, tested under load, operated and serviced by trained people, with the evidence written down and signed. The paperwork is not bureaucracy — during an inspection it is the only thing that exists. A crane in perfect condition with no records is, for the purposes of that visit, a crane with no maintenance.
The 66 points we check
Our inspection covers five groups: hoist (rope or chain, drum, hook, brake, limit switches), trolley, bridge and end trucks, electrical (drives, festoon or conductor bar, controls, grounding) and general (runway condition, structure, signage, safety devices).
Each point is recorded as pass, watch or act. "Watch" is the useful column: it is where a failure announces itself months before it stops your line.
Load testing
Testing is done with certified weights at the percentage the standard calls for, with the readings and the conditions written down. We issue the certificate and the report; you keep them on site.
Two details decide whether a load test is worth anything. First, the brake: a hoist brake that holds a static load can still fail to stop a moving one, so the test has to include holding the load, not just lifting it. Second, the structure: deflection is measured under load and compared against what the crane is rated for. A bridge that sags more than it should is telling you something about its history that no visual inspection will.
How often, and why "annual" is usually the wrong answer
Frequency follows duty, not the calendar. A crane lifting near capacity every shift and a crane used twice a month for maintenance do not belong on the same schedule, and putting them there means you are either over-servicing one or under-servicing the other.
We set the interval from how the equipment actually runs: hours under load, percentage of rated capacity, environment (heat, dust, corrosives) and what the bay costs per hour when the crane is down. That last one is not a technical variable, but it is the one that decides how much inspection is rational.
What the report has to contain to be useful in an audit
An inspection record that only says "OK" protects nobody. Ours states, for each point: the condition found, the criterion it was measured against, and the classification — pass, watch or act. Findings carry photographs. Anything classified "act" carries a recommended deadline.
That structure matters for two different readers. For your maintenance lead it turns into a work order. For an inspector it demonstrates a program rather than a visit — which is precisely the distinction NOM-006 draws.
What a program is worth beyond compliance
Unplanned crane downtime rarely costs what the repair costs. It costs whatever the bay does while the crane is out. Scheduled inspection moves failures from "at 2 a.m. during a production run" to "on Saturday, with the part already ordered".
There is a second saving that shows up later: equipment that is inspected on a schedule gets repaired at the component level instead of the assembly level. A hoist brake adjusted when the record showed the travel growing is a service call. The same brake left alone until it will not hold is a hoist.
What we do not do
We do not certify our own work as an independent third party, and we say so plainly. If your corporate policy requires an inspection body independent of the contractor doing the repairs, that is a legitimate requirement and we will work alongside whoever you appoint. What we will not do is issue paperwork implying an independence we do not have.
Common questions
How often do cranes have to be inspected?
Frequency depends on duty class and use. We set the schedule from how your cranes actually run — a crane lifting near capacity all shift is not on the same schedule as one used for maintenance twice a month.
Do you service cranes you did not install?
Yes, any brand. Most of the equipment we maintain was installed by someone else.
What do I get after each visit?
The 66-point report with findings classified, the load test certificate where testing applies, photographs of anything flagged, and a written recommendation with priorities.
Can you take over a program another contractor started?
Yes, and it is common. We ask for whatever history exists — previous reports, repairs, load tests. Where there is none, the first visit becomes the baseline and we tell you honestly that trend data starts from zero.
What happens if an inspection finds something serious?
You are told the same day, before we leave, with the crane tagged out if it is unsafe to operate. Nothing that affects safety waits for the written report.