On the role of Prognostics and Health Management in advanced maintenance systems

The advanced use of the Information and Communication Technologies is evolving the way that systems are managed and maintained. A great number of techniques and methods have emerged in the light of these advances allowing to have an accurate and knowledge about the systems’ condition evolution and remaining useful life. The advances are recognized as outcomes of an innovative discipline, nowadays discussed under the term of Prognostics and Health Management (PHM). In order to analyze how maintenance will change by using PHM, a conceptual model is proposed built upon three views. The model highlights: (i) how PHM may impact the definition of maintenance policies; (ii) how PHM fits within the Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) and (iii) how PHM can be integrated into Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) programs. The conceptual model is the research finding of this review note and helps to discuss the role of PHM in advanced maintenance systems.EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020, 645733 - Sustain-Owner - H2020-MSCA-RISE-201

Development and implementation of preventive-maintenance practices in Nigerian industries.

A methodology for the development of PM using the modern approaches of FMEA, root-cause analysis, and fault-tree analysis is presented. Applying PM leads to a cost reduction in maintenance and less overall energy expenditure. Implementation of PM is preferable to the present reactive maintenance procedures (still prevalent in Nigeria

A commentary on recent water safety initiatives in the context of water utility risk management.

Over the last decade, suppliers of drinking water have recognised the limitations of relying solely on end-product monitoring to ensure safe water quality and have sought to reinforce their approach by adopting preventative strategies where risks are proactively identified, assessed and managed. This is leading to the development of water safety plans; structured ‘route maps’ for managing risks to water supply, from catchment to consumer taps. This paper reviews the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedure on which many water safety plans are based and considers its appropriateness in the context of drinking water risk management. We examine water safety plans in a broad context, looking at a variety of monitoring, optimisation and risk management initiatives that can be taken to improve drinking water safety. These are cross-compared using a simple framework that facilitates an integrated approach to water safety. Finally, we look at how risk management practices are being integrated across water companies and how this is likely to affect the future development of water safety p

Guidelines for data collection and monitoring for asset management of New Zealand road bridges

Publisher PD

Towards a Simpler Selection Process for Maintenance Strategies

Recent research at four large manufacturing sites in the North East of England showed that maintenance organisations were failing because they were locked in a cycle of quick fix and mend despite deploying extensive planned maintenance policies. Consequently they were unable to plan and formulate strategies because they did not have the time. Simple and quick tools were needed to select the best maintenance approach for the machines and the plant. Two possible selection tools were developed. Firstly a truth table was produced based on the key characteristics of each maintenance approach and these mapped against simplified failure mode combinations. This offered a quick and easy selection method for machines, based on failure mode patterns. Secondly, the macro level was addressed using a conceptual model employing a 2x2 matrix. This consisted of two axes, the level of machine failures and the level of improvement activity. The resulting framework was used to predict how maintenance organisations would progress from a state of reactive maintenance towards world class. Then informed by the truth table it was possible to select an appropriate maintenance approach which was most suitable for each stage. It is suggested that these two methods offer simple and quick approaches to guide vital maintenance decision making at plants in difficulty. This of course does not preclude the need to develop maintenance strategies but rather facilitates this process by freeing up time and resources

Derivation of a cost model to aid management of CNC machine tool accuracy maintenance

Manufacturing industries strive to produce improved component accuracy while not reducing machine tool availability or production throughput. The accuracy of CNC production machines is one of the critical factors in determining the quality of these components. Maintaining the capability of the machine to produce in-tolerance parts can be approached in one of two ways: run to failure or periodic calibration and monitoring. The problem is analogous to general machine tool maintenance, but with the clear distinction that the failure mode of general machine tool components results in a loss of production, whereas that of accuracy allows parts to be produced, which are only later detected as non-conforming as part of the quality control processes. This distinction creates problems of cost-justification, since at this point in the manufacturing chain, any responsibility of the machine is not directly evident. Studies in the field of maintenance have resulted in cost calculations for the downtime associated with machine failure. This paper addresses the analogous, unanswered problem of maintaining the accuracy of CNC machine tools. A mathematical cost function is derived that can form the basis of a strategy for either running until non-conforming parts are detected or scheduling predictive CNC machine tool calibrations. This is sufficiently generic that it can consider that this decision will be based upon different scales of production, different values of components etc. Therefore, the model is broken down to a level where these variables for the different inputs can be tailored to the individual manufacturer

Developing a performance indicators lean-sigma framework for measuring aviation system’s safety performance

The paper introduces a conceptual framework that could improve aviation safety performance and the safety performance measurement process. The framework provides guidance on how organisations could design, implement and use a proactive, performance-based measurement tool for assessing and measuring Acceptable Levels of Safety (ALoS) performance at sigma (σ) level, a statistical measurement unit. Nevertheless, the framework provides a holistic view on how organisations could set leading performance indicators and monitor metrics on the top of identified root-causes that affect system's safety performance or how to set lagging indicators and feedback metrics on the top of safety outcomes. In fact, the framework adapts and combines classical Quality Management tools, a leading indicators programme and Lean-Six Sigma methodology to formally and continuously improve a stable and in-control safety management process. Finally, the paper underlines the necessity of a new way of thinking for the development of a robust, proactive process for measuring aviation safety performance and system performance variability

Sustainability indicators: A compass on the road towards sustainability

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The Role of Maintenance and Facility Management in Logistics: A Literature Review

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a literature review on the different ways of carrying out Facility Management and related topics in order to uncover that there is limited research regarding the impact of Facility Management on the logistics and operational performance of warehouses. Design/methodology/approach - Four different focus areas have been identified and for each one different methodologies and streams of research have been studied. Findings - The study underlines the importance of Facility Management for the logistics operations; therefore it supports the notion that investments aiming at preserving the status of the building and service components of warehouses are crucial. Originality/value - This paper aims to suggest to Facility Management managers that they can contribute to enhance business performance by designing effective Facility Management strategie