Inspection Data Management: The Connection With RCM (Reliability Centered Maintenance)

One thing is certain - major changes in maintenance programs are being implemented in process plants. These changes are spawned by an increased demand for equipment availability, longer, safer run-times and government and industry compliance. To embrace these challenges, owner-operators are looking at techniques such as RCM (Reliability Centered Maintenance). John Moubray defines RCM as "a process used to determine what must be done to ensure that any physical asset continues to fulfill its intended functions." As Moubray defines the RCM process he presents the following questions designed to be asked about every asset:

• What are the functions and associated performance standards of the asset in its present operating context?
• In what ways does it fail to fulfil its functions?
• What causes each functional failure?
• What happens when each failure occurs?
• In what way does each failure matter?
• What can be done to prevent each failure?
• What should be done if a suitable preventive task cannot be found?