Optimisation of Maintenance Operations Involving Three Integrated Departments at a Local Oil Company in Trinidad

Abstract

A simulation case study was conducted to assess the utility of predictive maintenance and database management for lean maintenance applications within a Petroleum Company. At this company the maintenance of pumps was performed internally where feasible. The study explored a proposed lean strategy on the operations of three departments related to the maintenance of pumping equipment. These departments were, the Pump Shop, Stores Department and Shipping and Receiving. Rockwell Automation’s Arena® simulation software was used to study existing and proposed models of the maintenance system and track the key performance indicators of Flow Time, Waiting Time, and Work-in-Process. Analysis of the performance indicators showed a 76% and a 96% reduction in average Flow Time and Waiting Time, respectively. No difference was determined for Work-in-Process at the 95% confidence interval.