RCM
What is RCM?
Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a process that evaluates your equipment’s condition and then determines the maintenance requirements for each piece of equipment in operating context.
Why should you use RCM?
RCM is designed to help you maximize the life of your fixed assets.
Advantages:
- Can be the most efficient maintenance program
- Increased component reliability
- Incorporates root cause analysis
- Eliminates unnecessary maintenance or overhauls
- Minimizes frequency of overhauls
- Reduces probability of sudden equipment failures
- Focusing maintenance activities on critical components
Disadvantages:
- Can have significant startup costs, training, equipment, etc
- Savings potential not readily seen by management
RCM Methodology
- Develop a Master equipment list identifying the equipment in your facility.
- Prioritize the listed components based on importance to process.
- Assign components into logical groupings.
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Determine the type and number of maintenance activities required and periodicity using:
- Manufacturer technical manuals
- Machinery history
- Root cause analysis findings - Why did it fail?
- Good engineering judgment
- Assess the size of maintenance staff.
- Identify tasks that may be performed by operations maintenance personnel.
- Analyze equipment failure modes and effects.
- Identify effective maintenance tasks or mitigation strategies.
