Application and comparison of three maintenance techniques for replacement decision making - a case study in the pulp manufacturing industry

The current paper presents the application of three maintenance techniques, namely, age replacement-based maintenance (ARBM), wear rate-based maintenance (WRBM), and output-based maintenance (OBM), for replacement decision making. The first two techniques are available in the literature, whereas the third one is a technique proposed in the present paper. The theory and principles underlying each technique are briefly discussed before the applicability of each is validated through a case study in the pulp manufacturing industry. The results of each maintenance technique for replacement decision making are compared and discussed from a practical point of view. The present paper concludes that OBM, the proposed technique, provides a more realistic approach towards replacement decision making compared with the other two techniques for functional failure type component. This conclusion is supported by a review of the entire process of replacement decision making based on four practicability criteria, namely, the basic theory and principle of each technique, data requirements and challenge in data collection, data analysis/modelling, and the decision process. Future research recommendations for the application of OBM are also given.