Plantfactories typically contain equipment that can be class

Plant/factories typically contain equipment that can be classified as critical, essential or general-purpose. List three (3) relevant factors under each classification that help categorise the equipment.

Solution

1. Breakdown Maintenance
This is one of the earliest maintenance program being implemented in the industry. The approach to maintenance is totally reactive and only act when the equipment needs to be fixed. This strategy has no routine maintenance task and also described as no scheduled maintenance strategy. To rectify the problem, corrective maintenance is performed onto the equipment. Thus, this activity may consist of repairing, restoration or replacement of components. The strategy is to apply the corrective maintenance activity only, which is required to correct a failure that has occurred or is in the process of occurring.

2. Preventive Maintenance
This is a time-based maintenance strategy where on a predetermined periodic basis, equipment is taken off-line, opened up and inspected. Based on visual inspection, repairs are made and the equipment is then put back on-line. Thus under this equipment maintenance strategy, replacing, overhauling or remanufacturing an items is done at a fixed intervals regardless of its condition at the time. Although this is a well-intended strategy, the process can be very expensive as typically 95% of the time everything was alright. Nevertheless, some preventive maintenance is necessary as some regulation such as DOSH regulation require that annual/bi-annual boiler inspection to be conducted.

3. Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance is a more condition-based approach to maintenance. The approach is based on measuring of the equipment condition in order to assess whether an equipment will fail during some future period, and then taking action to avoid the consequences of that failures. This is where predictive technologies (i.e. vibration analysis, infrared thermographs, ultrasonic detection, etc.) are utilized to determine the condition of an equipment, and to decide on any necessary repairs. Apart from the predictive technologies, statistical process control techniques, equipment performance monitoring or human senses are also adapted to monitor the equipment condition. This approach is more economically feasible strategy as labors, materials and production schedules are used much more efficiently.