Maintenance Strategies
Maintenance Strategies
Maintenance Strategies
Typically we see plants employing either run-to-failure, only fix after a breakdown, or
preventive maintenance, on a predetermined schedule. However, depending on the value of
the asset or its criticality in the plant’s operations, we may see this strategy escalated to
predictive or even RCM-based maintenance.
No maintenance strategies
Not having a maintenance strategy is the simplest “strategy” to have for asset maintenance.
The absence of a strategy eliminates the need to plan ahead for maintenance.
Unplanned, reactive maintenance is the most likely type of maintenance that will occur.
Despite the fact that no strategy exists, most types of maintenance tasks are still possible. For
example:
Unplanned, reactive maintenance will occur any time the asset breaks down.
Preventative maintenance may occur when the operator (or someone else) decides to do
it. This may include lubrication or cleaning. However, this maintenance is unstructured
and does not occur according to a formalized schedule or due to a trigger.
Predictive monitoring may also occur. For example, a bathroom sink may be subject to
condition monitoring every time it is used. The user may notice a decrease in flow rate,
and initiate preventive repairs for the sink.
Preventive Maintenance (PM)
Predictive maintenance
The aim of predictive maintenance is first to predict when equipment failure might occur, and
secondly, to prevent occurrence of the failure by performing maintenance. Monitoring for
future failure allows maintenance to be planned before the failure occurs. Ideally, predictive
maintenance allows the maintenance frequency to be as low as possible to prevent unplanned
reactive maintenance, without incurring costs associated with doing too much preventative
maintenance. Predicting failure can be done with one of many techniques. The chosen
technique must be effective at predicting failure and also provide sufficient warning time for
upcoming maintenance. Some techniques include vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermal
imaging, and equipment observation. These are described in detail in condition based
maintenance page. Choosing the correct technique for performing condition monitoring is an
important consideration that is best done in consultation with equipment manufacturers and
condition monitoring experts. When predictive maintenance is working effectively as a
maintenance strategy, maintenance is only performed on machines when it is required. That
is, just before failure is likely to occur. This brings several cost savings.
Reactive maintenance
Reactive maintenance (also known as “breakdown maintenance”) are repairs that are done
when equipment has already broken down. Reactive maintenance focuses on restoring the
equipment to its normal operating condition. The broken-down equipment is returned to
working within service specifications by replacing or repairing faulty parts and components.
Emergency repairs cost 3 to 9 times more than planned repairs, so maintenance plans that rely
on reactive maintenance are generally the most expensive. Breakdown maintenance is so
expensive because shutdowns happen during production runs (instead of pre-scheduled
maintenance shutdowns during downtimes); because expedited shipping for spare parts costs
much more than regular shipping; and because maintenance staff is often forced to work
overtime to repair machinery.
A risk based maintenance strategy prioritizes maintenance resources toward assets that carry
the most risk if they were to fail. It is a methodology for determining the most economical
use of maintenance resources. This is done so that the maintenance effort across a facility is
optimized to minimize any risk of a failure.
1. Risk assessment
2. Maintenance planning based on the risk
The maintenance type and frequency are prioritized based on the risk of failure. Assets that
have a greater risk and consequence of failure are maintained and monitored more frequently.
Assets that carry a lower risk are subjected to less stringent maintenance programs.
Implementing a Risk based maintenance process means that the total risk of failure is
minimized across the facility in the most economical way.
The monitoring and maintenance programs for high risk assets are typically condition-based
maintenance programs.
Total productive maintenance (TPM) is a maintenance philosophy that requires the total
participation of the work force. TPM incorporates the skills and availability of all employees
with the focus of improving the overall effectiveness of the facility. Effectiveness is
improved by eliminating the wastage of time and resources. Typically, total productive
maintenance is a concept that is most easily applied to a manufacturing facility.
TPM emphasizes all aspects of production, as it seeks to incorporate maintenance into the
everyday performance of a facility. To do this the maintenance performance is one factor that
is considered when evaluating the performance of the facility. One of the most important
measurements of total productive maintenance is overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). It is
a measure of availability, performance efficiency and quality rate. As such, equipment
stopping, equipment working at less than peak capacity, and equipment producing poor
quality products are all penalized when the OEE is determined.
Not surprisingly, maintenance can add economic value to a business by delivering maximum
availability at the lowest possible cost. To view maintenance as a value driver, senior
executives must move from cost-based thinking to value-based thinking.