ASSESSMENT OF MAINTENANCE PRACTICES FOR SELECTED CRITICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE CASSAVA PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN IJEBU ODE, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The efficiency and reliability of cassava processing in Nigeria are heavily dependent on the performance of critical equipment such as graters, presses, and dryers. However, many small- and medium-scale agro-processors operate under suboptimal maintenance regimes, resulting in frequent breakdowns, production delays, and reduced output quality. This study assessed maintenance practices for selected critical equipment in cassava processing industries located in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. A structured questionnaire was administered to 80 respondents across various processing facilities to capture demographic profiles, types of maintenance strategies adopted, equipment failure dynamics, documentation systems, and capacity gaps. Findings reveal that reactive maintenance remains the most common approach (MPI = 4.29), particularly among micro-enterprises, due to limited awareness, inadequate funding, and insufficient training. In contrast, preventive and predictive maintenance strategies are underutilized, though promising results were observed in facilities with partial preventive routines. Analysis of equipment reliability showed high failure rates, with Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) ranging from 20 to 32 hours and Downtime Impact Ratios (DIR) as high as 25%, indicating significant disruption to daily processing activities. Documentation practices were found to be inconsistent, with a Maintenance System Effectiveness (MSE) score of 0.50. Furthermore, training deficiencies and low digital literacy were identified as major constraints to sustainable maintenance implementation. Despite these challenges, the study identified high potential for improvement, with a Sustainable Maintenance Adoption Likelihood (SMAL) score of 0.765. Proposed strategies include adopting low-cost diagnostic tools, using locally sourced spare parts, and integrating operator training with simplified documentation systems. The study concludes that transitioning from reactive to hybrid maintenance models supported by public-private partnerships and policy incentives will enhance equipment uptime, productivity, and long-term operational sustainability in the cassava processing industry.