“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there”
The first step any organization should undertake when looking to improve asset reliability is to understand their current performance and processes in the key areas that drive improvement. What most assessments miss during this key step is to understand what the plant’s maintenance needs are as compared to internal perceptions and industry best practices.
In many cases, a blind comparison to industry best practices doesn’t yield the best outcomes because industry best practices may not align to the specific needs of the plant.
Typically, people establishing a reliability improvement initiative rely on intuition and experience. They assume that their processes are sufficient to meet organizational objectives (cost per unit, throughput, quality, safety, environmental targets and customer service). This narrow reliance on personal experience is limiting. Instead, it’s recommended that you undertake a formal assessment of reliability process and practices.
Such an assessment is the first stage in any facility’s overall reliability improvement initiative. Improving asset reliability will reduce life-cycle costs, increase asset contribution and improve bottom line profitability. The old adage, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there,” demonstrates an organization thirst for a shared vision of Asset Management. A sound, reliable asset management imitative provides the roadmap an organization needs to steer towards optimum performance. A reliability assessment seeks to understand an organization's current performance and processes in the key areas that drive improvement.
At the beginning of an asset reliability improvement initiative, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the organization’s needs as it compares to world-class standards. Also, a thorough Gap Analysis that lists the barriers that prevent the organization from hitting its desired goals. Lastly, what most assessments miss during this crucial step, an understanding of what the organization's needs are as compared to internal perceptions and industry best practices. The tendency for organizations is to rely on intuition and experience. They assume that their processes are enough to meet organizational objectives (cost per unit, throughput, quality, safety, environmental targets, and customer service). This narrow reliance on personal experience limits the understanding leading to reduced performance.
To better compete in our global economy, it is essential that organizations embrace a shared vision for Asset Management. When utilization of assets best practice processes are misaligned unnecessary downtime increases and performance declines. Improving asset reliability will reduce life-cycle costs, increase asset contribution and improve bottom line profitability.
How the Assessment works
A Reliability Maturity Assessment helps companies measure and, where required, identifies how they should improve their maintenance business process. It provides a formal, documented assessment of maintenance and reliability practices, and includes recommendations on how to take a more proactive approach to maintenance to achieve improved asset reliability.
Performing an assessment at the beginning of a reliability improvement project provides a baseline measurement of effectiveness and establishes areas to target for reliability improvements.
A Reliability Maturity Assessment looks at two specific dimensions of the maintenance function. The first is an evaluation of the way that people conduct the business of maintenance. This is referred to as the “elements” of the maintenance business process. At the same time, the other dimension is to evaluate the degree to which certain requirements are in place to support an effective maintenance business process.
The assessment focuses on both Organizational Structure and Culture, and Asset Management Systems. To achieve this, performance is mapped and measured in seven detailed key areas:
- Strategy
- Organization and Human Resources
- Work Planning and Scheduling
- Maintenance Tactics
- Materials Management
- Performance Management
- Reliability Engineering
The outcome of the Reliability Maturity Assessment is a detailed action plan with recommendations to close identified gaps and proposed solutions that will help to deliver value in the short, medium, and long term.
Learn to conduct a reliability maturity assessment
Understand key principals and learn to conduct a reliaiblity maturity assessment for your organization with our Reliability Maturity Assessment training.
