If you’ve got a problem with the reliability of an asset or process – and reliability encompasses safety, environmental integrity, product quality, availability, costs, customer service and efficiency – then RCM is probably the best technique you can use to identify improvements. Here are 14 reasons why:
- Robust methodology developed in the most demanding reliability & maintenance environment of all
- Proven by decades of extensive and universal application
- Combines the technical and financial points of view in the decision-making
- Considers risks in the decision-making
- Considers all maintenance strategies (Preventive, Failure-Finding, Condition-based and run-to-failure)
- Provides the technical basis for maintenance task intervals
- Requires appropriate detail and information to make the decisions that matter
- Captures the knowledge and experience of people that know the asset best
- Provides an audit trail which facilitates continuous improvement of asset reliability and allows objective engagement with insurers, regulators, safety bodies and manufacturers
- Takes into account the different operating context of assets
- Improves safety by removing non-value-adding and counterproductive activity
- Eliminates inappropriate maintenance based simply on time-based ideas, and provides the framework for challenging and reviewing manufacturers maintenance recommendations
- Defined by standards written by major international standards authorities e.g. SAE, IEC
- Incorporation of RCM principles in PAS55 and ISO 55000/1/2 international standards on asset management
- Defined by standards in industries that have their own specific standards e.g. Civil aviation, the military
In short, RCM is the most comprehensive and most widely used technique for developing maintenance programmes and ensuring reliable operation of physical assets. It is used extensively in high risk and cost sensitive industries worldwide.
