Significance Of Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)

In a corporate setup, there is a dire need to deploy an effective maintenance program. The reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) is a powerful maintenance strategy that helps optimize such programs and enhance the functions of the company or firm. By improving the efficiency of the maintenance, productivity is consequently augmented. Most importantly, the methods implemented are cost-effective!

Reliability Centered Maintenance System

 The Four Principles Of An RCM Are As Follows:

1) Preserve system functions.
2) Identify failure modes that can affect the system function.
3) Consider failure modes as a top priority.
4) Select appropriate actions to control the failure modes.

Here are the 7 steps that are required to implement reliability-centered maintenance.

1) Choosing The Equipment For RCM Analysis:

The first step involved in setting up the RCM Analyzer is to select a piece of equipment for analysis. The equipment chosen is to be critical with its operational effects and previous repair costs and preventive maintenance costs.

2) Equipment Systems Boundaries And Functions Setting:

The equipment involves a system which performs crucial functions. It could be either large or small. However, the functions of the system - its inputs and outputs, are to be known.

3) Define Failure Modes - Ways Of System Failure:

Here, the objective is to list all ways of system failure. For instance, the conveyor belt might fail when it is unable to transport goods from or it might fail if the speed is not fast enough.

4) Identification Of The Failure Root Causes:

Taking the assistance of experienced technicians, operators, equipment experts, and RCM software experts, the root causes every failure mode may be identified. For example, the failure root causes of the conveyor might be lack of lubrication on rollers, fault of bearing, or even a loosened belt.

5) Assessment Of The Effects Of Failure:

Here, the effects of all failure modes are taken into account. It is important to note that equipment failures potentially lead to the hazard of safety, operations, and equipment. There is a need to prioritize the failure modes based on their impacts.

6) Choosing A Dedicated Maintenance Technique For Each Failure Mode:

Here, the most effective technique for each failure mode is found and chosen. It must be economically feasible so that it can be employed for the long-term. Condition-based maintenance and preventive maintenance are selected depending on the ability to detect the onset and reduce of the risk of the failure modes.

7) Execute The Maintenance Techniques And Frequently Review Them:

Once the most effective techniques are sough, they have to be put into practice to make sure that they continue to boost the productivity of the system. The recommendations must be reviewed and renewed from time to time as more information is retrieved.

Openwave offers excellent solutions and products to boost the production and manufacturing processes of various different industries. If you are interested in adopting an Reliability Centered Maintenance System and boosting the productivity of your business, get in touch with our experts today! 

We also develop RCM web applications, should you be interested in them as well.