Showing papers in "Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering in 2002"
TL;DR: In this article, four strategic dimensions of maintenance management are identified, namely service delivery options, organization and work structuring, maintenance methodology and support systems, and the guidelines for selection of these alternatives, key decision areas in each of the four dimensions, as well as the critical success factors for the transformation process are discussed.
Abstract: The contemporary business environment has raised the strategic importance of the maintenance function in organizations which have significant investment in physical assets. Four strategic dimensions of maintenance management are identified, namely service‐delivery options, organization and work structuring, maintenance methodology and support systems. The alternatives available are reviewed: the guidelines for selection of these alternatives, the key decision areas in each of the four dimensions, as well as the critical success factors for the transformation process are discussed. The two factors that permeate in these strategic dimensions are human factors and information flow; the latter can be made more efficient by embracing the e‐maintenance model.
442 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the industry-university partnership in the implementation of this approach and the current activities at the University of Queensland to assist industry in their implementation of the SMM approach.
Abstract: The approach to maintenance management has changed over the last one hundred years. Over the last few years, the Reliability Engineering and Risk Management Group (RERMG) at the University of Queensland has developed an approach called the strategic maintenance management (SMM) approach. The paper outlines the approach and contrasts it with the current approaches. It then discusses the industry‐university partnership in the implementation of this approach and the current activities at the University of Queensland to assist industry in the implementation of the SMM approach.
248 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 50 local authority and housing associations throughout Scotland to identify the extent to which 24 factors impede the optimum application of maintenance cost, such as high expectations of tenants and improper use of the property.
Abstract: One of the findings of the research looking at the application of integrated logistics support (ILS) to the existing building stock carried out by the authors was that many factors have an effect on maintenance cost. In an attempt to uncover the underlying factors, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 50 local authority and housing associations throughout Scotland. The aim of the questionnaire was to identify the extent to which 24 factors impede the optimum application of maintenance cost. This paper describes the objectives of building maintenance and the principal elements of housing maintenance cost. The study revealed that maintenance cost is greatly influenced by factors which can only be evaluated subjectively, such as high expectations of tenants and improper use of the property.
149 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the development of a consistent and flexible framework for collecting whole life cost data for buildings and discuss the taxonomy of the cost breakdown structure, which will be of value to all the project team (designer, contractor, facilities manager, supplier, etc.).
Abstract: Whole life costing analysis is becoming much more important as long‐term building owners and clients start to demand evidence of what their costs of ownership will be. It is also becoming more important as more private companies invest in private finance initiative (PFI), public private partnership (PPP) and prime contracting (PC) projects. One of the main barriers to the successful implementation of whole life costing (WLC), is the lack of reliable and consistent data on elements of whole life cost (capital, facilities management, and disposal) and the performance of building elements and services. The objective of this paper is to discuss the development of a consistent and flexible framework for collecting whole life cost data for buildings. A description of the taxonomy of the cost breakdown structure is given. The proposed data structure will be of value to all the project team (designer, contractor, facilities manager, supplier, etc.) who might be involved in traditional procurement or PFI, PPP, and PC projects. When the cost data structure is populated, it will provide the foundation from which the whole life costs of different alternatives can be estimated and from which the risks such as the technical and financial risks related to WLC elements, operational risks, etc. associated with, PFI, PPP and PC projects can be assessed and minimised.
94 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a simulation modelling, using a simulation language SIMPLE++, was used to study the personnel capacity utilisation in a maintenance department, where each department had its own maintenance unit.
Abstract: A simulation modelling, using a simulation language SIMPLE++, was used to study the personnel capacity utilisation in a maintenance department. Input data included work orders with different throughput times, different personnel profile based on work order requirements, and different prioritisation rules. A decentralised maintenance department was assumed, whereby each department had its own maintenance unit. The effects of personnel organisational policies on the capacity utilisation of the personnel and on the throughput time of maintenance work orders were studied. The results of the simulation show that the best utilisation of the personnel and the best throughput time of maintenance work orders is obtained if the maintenance personnel are allowed to function across the borders of their department (here termed as exchangeability of personnel). Likewise, if there were universal maintenance personnel (i.e. who could take both electrical and mechanical work orders), then there would have been an optimum staffing of the maintenance department.
58 citations
TL;DR: A review of published literature on robot reliability and safety is presented in this paper, where the literature is classified into three main categories: robot safety, robot reliability, and miscellaneous, and robot safety is further categorized into six classifications: general; accidents; human-factors; safety standards; safety methods; and safety systems/technologies.
Abstract: This paper presents a review of published literature on robot reliability and safety. The literature is classified into three main categories: robot safety; robot reliability; and miscellaneous. Robot safety is further categorized into six classifications: general; accidents; human‐factors; safety standards; safety methods; and safety systems/technologies. The period covered by the review is from 1973 to 2001.
56 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the basic concepts of several maintenance approaches and the increasing needs of effectiveness-centred maintenance (ECM) are discussed and discussed the principles and relates them to the measurement of ECM performance.
Abstract: This paper reviews the basic concepts of several maintenance approaches and discusses the increasing needs of effectiveness‐centred maintenance (ECM). It discusses the principles and relates them to the measurement of ECM performance. The development and implementation of the ECM approach is elaborated based on a pilot program in the radio unit of an electricity company in Hong Kong. Two ECM performance indices (i.e. individual system effectiveness (ISE) and overall system effectiveness (OSE)) were introduced to monitor the ECM process in the company. Being an integrated maintenance approach, ECM focuses on system functions and customer service, and may contribute to the continuous improvement of maintenance management practices in organizations irrespective of their business nature and size.
53 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a comparative study based on three independent risk analyses performed on a specific hydro-power plant, and evaluate the performance and results of these analyses, along with various factors that affect the quality of the analyses.
Abstract: For several branches of industry, an increasingly competitive environment has raised important questions concerning maintenance in plant systems. For example, the 1996 deregulation in Sweden’s electricity sector has resulted in increased competition among the country’s power producers. To survive the competition, suppliers have to reduce maintenance costs, i.e. handle maintenance more efficiently. Risk analysis is one tool decision makers can use to help them prioritise as they plan maintenance actions. There are a number of different approaches to risk analysis. As the results of an analysis must form a reliable basis for decision making, it is important to consider whether the quality of the results will vary significantly with the risk analysis approach chosen. This paper presents a comparative study based on three independent risk analyses performed on a specific hydro‐power plant. The comparison and evaluation of the analyses reveal major differences in performance and results, along with various factors that affect the quality of the analyses. The study establishes the importance of a well‐planned requirement specification and the need to analyse and interpret risk analysis results, before making maintenance decisions.
51 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an object/objective-oriented maintenance management (OOMM) approach is proposed, where the objective approach focuses on the managing of the maintenance processes so as to achieve the business objectives, and the object approach emphasizes the object (asset or equipment) and the behavioral failures.
Abstract: Approaches maintenance management in a systematic way so as to achieve its business objectives. From a managerial point of view, this so‐called object/objective‐oriented maintenance management (OOMM) is an integral process of asset (equipment) management with behavior‐based maintenance (BBM) as a major element. Within the OOMM concept, the objective‐approach focuses on the managing of the maintenance processes so as to achieve the business objectives, and the object‐approach emphasizes the object (asset or equipment) and the behavioral failures. Furthermore, combined together, the two approaches reflect the basic characteristics of the maintenance process. Also, both sides affect and influence each other, and are inseparable within OOMM. BBM addresses the monitoring and controlling of the technical and economic behavior of a piece of equipment in two ways.
41 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of the facilities manager as the party responsible for the co-ordination of planning, design and management of facilities within the private finance initiative (PFI) regime is reassessed.
Abstract: The private finance initiative (PFI) is a means of using private finance and skills to deliver capital investment projects traditionally provided by the public sector. Traditionally, public sector bodies have been responsible for the procurement, operation and regulation of capital assets. In PFI, the private sector has the primary role in the operation of constructed facilities, whereas the public sector has a larger role in regulation. There are two parties to a PFI contract: the public sector body or authority, and the private consortium responsible for the delivery of the facility or project. Part of the contract specifies that the private consortium takes on a considerable degree of risk associated with that facility. This paper reassesses the role of the facilities manager as the party responsible for the co‐ordination of planning, design and management of facilities within the PFI regime. The development of strategic long‐term partnerships between client organisations and FM service providers requires the fundamental reassessment of appropriate risk management strategies informed by an integrated information management system that ensures the timely capture and exchange of life cycle data throughout the key stages of the PFI contract.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an overview of maintenance practice in Hong Kong, and introduce the concept of intelligent predictive maintenance, which can automatically schedule maintenance activities in an efficient manner.
Abstract: With the shift of manufacture to mainland China, the utility and building services industries in Hong Kong have become dominant. To ensure adherence to proper routine operations and the provision of quality services, the equipment of these sectors must be maintained in good condition. The results of a recently conducted survey indicate that equipment failure‐driven and time‐based maintenance are most commonly used in Hong Kong. Only a few companies use condition‐based preventive maintenance. This paper presents an overview of maintenance practice in Hong Kong, and introduces the novel concept of intelligent predictive maintenance. In this maintenance system, the seriousness of the damage that is caused by faults in equipment can be determined, and the remnant life of the defective equipment can be predicted. Moreover, the system can automatically schedule maintenance activities in an efficient manner. With such abilities in equipment prognosis and automatic maintenance scheduling, the “fire‐fighting” situations that often occur in failure‐driven and time‐based maintenance can be avoided. Hence, any waste of resources and loss of production that are due to the mismanagement of maintenance can be substantially reduced.
TL;DR: In this paper, a relevant condition predictor (RCP) based maintenance approach is proposed to prevent the failures due to gradual deterioration of mechanical items in order to improve system reliability and availability.
Abstract: The great need for an optimum preventive maintenance strategy coupled with the fast‐developing condition‐monitoring techniques has given rise to the invention of relevant condition predictor (RCP)‐based maintenance approach. The main purpose of this approach is to prevent the failures due to gradual deterioration of mechanical items in order to improve system reliability and availability. This is done by monitoring relevant condition predictors of constituent maintenance significant items of the system, taking into account the availability and cost‐effectiveness of the monitoring techniques. A comprehensive review of all constituent items is carried out and a systematic approach is used to decide an optimum maintenance policy for each corresponding group of items. An optimum time to the examination of relevant condition predictors is derived mathematically with required reliability as the optimisation criterion in order to implement the RCP‐based maintenance activities.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a model that allows consideration of not only the total maintenance costs but also the overall probability of a system breakdown when determining the time intervals between preventive maintenance activities.
Abstract: This paper develops a model that allows consideration of not only the total maintenance costs but also the overall probability of a system breakdown when determining the time intervals between preventive maintenance activities. Using the model, which assumes that component failures follow a Weibull distribution, managers can determine the required preventive maintenance interval to achieve a desired probability of system failure, and they can calculate the total expected costs of both breakdowns and maintenance actions. The model’s application is illustrated using the impact of four different maintenance policies. The model assures top management that the unavailable system time due to equipment breakdown will be within a specified limit.
TL;DR: A whole life costing (WLC) methodology has been developed for determining long term maintenance expenditure requirements for water distribution networks as mentioned in this paper, which uses an accounting scheme that ties the costs incurred by the operator and other stakeholders to the attributes or performance that drive the costs.
Abstract: A whole life costing (WLC) methodology has been developed for determining long term maintenance expenditure requirements for water distribution networks. The methodology utilises an accounting scheme that ties the costs incurred by the operator and other stakeholders to the attributes or performance that drive the costs. It has specifically been derived with the requirements placed by the regulatory regime on the water companies that operate in England and Wales in mind. Expenditure constraints are implied by the regulator through price caps that companies can charge their customers. Appropriate levels of expenditures included as part of the price cap determinations are required by the regulator to be economically robust and tied to the service received by the customers. Therefore, maintenance decisions must reflect more immediate concerns of meeting performance requirements, but must ensure that such levels are sustainable in the long term. The WLC methodology achieves this through an integrated platform that links costs identified within a structured accounting scheme with their performance based drivers commonly modelled based on historical data. Thus, a robust and fully auditable methodology is provided that can address the requirements of all stakeholders. This methodology is the basis for software (WiLCO) that provides decision support in determining appropriate pipe rehabilitation and operational strategy and thus expenditure levels over extended time horizons.
TL;DR: In this paper, the development of a heuristic method for grouping equipment into blocks for application of preventive maintenance overhauls within a series system, so as to minimize total maintenance-related costs for the system.
Abstract: This paper covers the development of a heuristic method for grouping equipment into blocks for application of preventive maintenance overhauls within a series system, so as to minimize total maintenance‐related costs for the system. Previously, group technology (GT) concepts have not been applied to this problem, and this research investigated the applicability of such concepts to the block overhaul problem (specifically, the SLCA method was applied). Performance of the heuristic is analyzed with respect to runtime and solution quality.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present part of an EPSRC research project carried out by the Construction Management Research Unit at Dundee University to apply integrated logistics support to the development of cost-effective maintenance strategies for existing building stock.
Abstract: This paper presents part of an EPSRC research project carried out by the Construction Management Research Unit at Dundee University. The objective of the research was to apply integrated logistics support, to the development of cost‐effective maintenance strategies for existing building stock. Techniques such as failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and reliability centred maintenance (RCM) were tailored for application to construction projects and a pilot study was carried out on a sample of 18 houses drawn from Dundee City Council housing stock. A comparative analysis of condition survey, FMEA and RCM is provided. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the benefits of applying RCM to existing building stock. The pilot study shows that the use of RCM can lead to a reduction of 18.5 per cent in maintenance costs.
TL;DR: In this paper, a preliminary investigation of the correlation of manufacturing and assembly variations with vibrations, using an experimental test rig, is presented, where a factorial design is used to study the effects of various factors.
Abstract: The variations introduced during the production and maintenance of rotating machinery components are correlated with the vibration and noise emanating from the final system during its operational lifetime. Vibration and noise are especially unacceptable elements in high‐risk systems such as helicopters and aircraft engines, resulting in premature component degradation and a potentially unsafe flying environment. In such applications, individual components often are subject to 100 per cent inspection following production and during operation through rigorous maintenance, resulting in increased product development cycles and high production and operation costs. In this work, the aim is to provide engineers with a technique to evaluate vibration modes and levels for each component or subsystem prior to putting them into operation. This paper presents a preliminary investigation of the correlation of manufacturing and assembly variations with vibrations, using an experimental test rig. A factorial design is used to study the effects of various factors. Challenges in developing a process monitoring and inspection methodology to predict performance quality are identified, followed by a discussion of future work.
TL;DR: A conceptual model methodology with which to assess the maintenance proficiency of individual plant operators is presented and an artificial intelligent classification model is proposed as a means of classifying plant operator maintenance proficiency into one of three bandings.
Abstract: Construction plant maintenance practice and its plant operators are inextricably linked. This is because, unlike plant operating within the manufacturing sector, construction plant is largely dependent upon operator skill and competence to maintain the item in a safe, fully operational condition. Research has previously successfully modelled machine breakdown, but revealed that the operator’s impact upon machine breakdown rates can be considerable. A conceptual model methodology with which to assess the maintenance proficiency of individual plant operators is presented. Specifically, an artificial intelligent classification model is proposed as a means of classifying plant operator maintenance proficiency into one of three bandings. These are good, average and poor. The results of such work will form the basis of new prescriptive guidelines, for incorporation into the new certificate of training achievement (CTA) scheme, available to inexperienced construction plant operators. The paper concludes with an indication of the palpable benefits of such research, to plant owners and the construction industry at large.
TL;DR: In this article, a quantitative (statistical) method was used in order to determine the weakness points in the existing maintenance system and several actions and strategies were put in a medium-range plan to resolve the problems and improve the system.
Abstract: In the cement industries maintenance cost consumes approximately 20‐25 per cent of the total production cost, which comes in the second rank after the energy cost. Therefore, cement plants in Jordan, taken as a case study that represents developing countries, are facing big challenges in reducing both energy and maintenance costs. In order to improve the maintenance system in the Fuhais plant, auditing of the existing maintenance system had been conducted, since this step is essential in improving any maintenance system. A quantitative (statistical) method was used in order to determine the weakness points in the existing maintenance system. Where based upon this auditing, several actions and strategies were put in a medium‐range plan to resolve the problems and improve the system.
TL;DR: The maintenance brigade system (MBS), a team-based mechanic assignment technique based on the relay-type, self-balancing bucket brigade system created by Bartholdi and Eisenstein, was developed and tested as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: There has been extensive research on techniques to assign mechanics to machines in order to maximize their availability in corrective maintenance systems. However, the focus has been on achieving high machine availability, while disregarding the utilization of mechanics. The maintenance brigade system (MBS), a team‐based mechanic‐assignment technique based on the relay‐type, self‐balancing bucket brigade system created by Bartholdi and Eisenstein, was thus developed and tested. The MBS was compared to a traditional assignment technique via machine availability and mechanic utilization, each at different levels according to the industrial partner’s opinion of high and low, with medium levels taken to be the status quo. Each system was modeled and, after a validation and verification process, simulated under the same number of machines and mechanics. Results and implications are discussed
TL;DR: In this article, a multi-attribute decision model for preventive replacement of a "magnetic sealing head" in a soft-drink producing factory in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proposed.
Abstract: We formulate a multi‐attribute decision model for preventive replacement of a “magnetic sealing head” in a soft‐drink producing factory in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia In case of failure of this part, the opportunity cost (for production losses) is very important, as the entire production line will be idle We determine in a first case the replacement policy that minimizes the total expected unit cost of replacement (preventive and corrective) Next, we determine the optimal policy that maximizes the expected multi‐attribute utility of the decision‐maker in the factory Four attributes are considered in the replacement problem, namely cost, quality, labor productivity, and cash flow availability The optimal policy in each case outperforms by far the one applied in the plant, which turns out to be costly and inefficient with respect to the utility of the decision‐maker
TL;DR: It is shown that the reliability of the series‐parallel system with the same number of series and parallel tends to one as its number goes to infinity.
Abstract: This paper considers a series‐parallel and a parallel‐series system, and investigates theoretically their fundamental characteristics: it is shown that the reliability of the series‐parallel system with the same number of series and parallel tends to one as its number goes to infinity. It would be of great interest that the golden ratio plays a role in analyzing two systems. Further, an optimal number of units for a series‐parallel system with complexity is derived.