Asset Maintenance Framework and Benchmarking

This chapter demonstrates the framework for maintenance strategy and practices for planning and execution at an organizational level, which is empirically tested through the research study conducted among operations-intensive organizations with the inputs from practicing asset/facility managers and engineers. The asset maintenance strategy processes are maintenance strategy formulation, maintenance strategy selection, and maintenance strategy implementation. These processes are interlinked and impact asset maintenance planning and execution in an organization. The enablers of asset maintenance strategy formulation are maintenance performance, planning and scheduling, materials management, human resources, Information Technology, employee empowerment, maintenance tactics, reliability analysis, maintenance policies/maintenance budget, and maintenance challenges. The maintenance strategy selection process is based on Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) development suited to organizational requirements and execution of specific maintenance strategies for a particular process/equipment recommended by the equipment manufacturer or process licensor. Asset maintenance strategy processes must be aligned with the business strategies and operational strategies of an organization. Implementation of maintenance strategy and maintenance practices is followed by the formulation of maintenance strategy and selecting a proper mix of maintenance strategy for the process/equipment/operations. It can be achieved using modern maintenance tools and techniques and software applications. An organization-wide integration of maintenance practices helps the organization implement the maintenance strategies efficiently across the organization. Further, elements related to maintenance practices toward benchmarking with a framework for benchmarking are also discussed in this chapter.