How does it work?

The strength of Reliability Centred Maintenance is that it brings together (in peer groups) the relevant operation and maintenance expertise associated with the equipment (in many instances we have found that this has been the first occasion production and maintenance staff have ever shared their knowledge). Under the guidance of an experienced RCM facilitator they are asked seven basic questions within a study group:

• What are the functions and associated performance requirements of the asset in its presented operating context? (Functions)
• In what ways can it fail to fulfil its functions? (Functional Failures)
• What physical event can cause each functional failure? (Failure Mode)
• What happens when each physical event occurs? (Effects)
• How does the loss of function matter? (Consequences)
• What can be done to prevent the physical event occurring? (Proactive tasks)
• What should be done if the physical event cannot be prevented? (Failure management)

Many organisations consider by-passing the full Reliability Centred Maintenance process and conduct ‘quick and dirty’ RCM by analysing the current maintenance solutions rather than starting from a blank page. The flaw in this process is that you analyse what maintenance is THERE not the maintenance that SHOULD BE THERE!