A GUIDE IN THE USE OF EXISTING MAINTENANCE AND RELIABILITY THEORIES TO ENHANCE EQUIPMENT RELIABILITY AND AVAILABILITY IN CARIBBEAN INDUSTRIES

Abstract

In order to improve the Equipment Reliability and Availability in the Industries in the Caribbean this paper discusses the use of existing Maintenance and Reliability theories in the areas of condition monitoring techniques, root cause analyses, quality systems, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Planning and Scheduling, Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), the Ishikawa Diagram in addition to introducing a guide to facilitate their application. It describes the management accounting system, driven by leading and lagging Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), which ensure sustainability in the implementation of the improvement recommendations in the maintenance and reliability systems in these industries. Emphasis is placed on the need for Engineers and other professionals in the industry to play key roles in deciding when and for how long equipment shall be run and subsequently taken out of service. This can only be achieved by “placing their shoulders to the wheel” and working with passion towards their focused goals. They need to celebrate and learn from their successes and be innovative and critical thinkers to efficiently and effectively surmount any barriers in their way.