Using Risk Based Maintenance Optimization RBMO to Save Costs

Maintenance is a crucial pillar in plant integrity and availability. Saving money in maintenance should be established without affecting the asset's integrity. Based on this, the core of work is to maximize the maintenance return on investment (ROI). Maintenance ROI is the ratio between invested money in maintenance to mitigated risks due to maintenance actions. The objective is to minimize maintenance cost while maximizing assets integrity and availability. RBMO starts with ‘Maintenance Criticality Assessment’ (MCA) at unit/system level to define high (20 % of systems that represent 80% of risks), medium (20% of systems that represent 15% of risks), and low critical systems (60% of systems that represent only 5% of risks). Based on system criticality, a dedicated risk assessment is implemented to evaluate risks at tag level to define the worst maintenance action/s. High critical systems’ maintenance programs are developed using ‘Reliability-Centered Maintenance’ (RCM). Medium critical system maintenance program is developed using ‘Failure Mode, Effects and criticality analysis’ (FMECA). "Maintenance strategy for Low Critical item" guideline document is developed to define the best maintenance strategy for low critical units. All risks are evaluated using the standard ADNOC risk matrix. The risk is converted to monetary value in $ to evaluate maintenance actions using a formula. A special program was developed to facilitate MCA evaluation for each system and represent risk as monetary value using ADNOC Risk Matrix taking into consideration the redundancy and demand on a system during operation. MCAs were completed for all ADNOC Onshore Assets, see results below. Optimization starts by evaluating maintenance programs for low critical systems to save costs where low critical systems represent 50% to 60% of total systems in ADNOC Onshore. Based on this the total number of work orders has decreased by 6856, which is equivalent to saving $1M annually. In parallel, RCMs are conducted on high critical systems. Risk mitigation calculator in $ value was developed and embedded in the RCM information sheet to calculate cost benefit from implementing maintenance programs that were developed. RBMO is a systematic and traceable methodology to minimize maintenance cost and at the same time maximize system integrity and availability. This work showed the importance of reviewing the low critical systems’ maintenance program, as a first step in RBMO after implementing MCA, where low critical systems represent 50% to 60% of total assets and only 5% of total risks. ADNOC Onshore developed a dedicated guideline document "Maintenance Strategy for Low Critical Item" to facilitate decision making for proper maintenance strategy for low critical systems. Adding RCM risk mitigation calculator to RCM to calculate RCM cost benefit.

Methodology of adjusting the strategy of technical systems maintenance and repair according to the results of their operation

In the publication the authors solve the problem of forming the optimal volume of control actions to maintain the technical systems (TS) service availability. To achieve the desired result the analysis of the TS as a service object was carried out. As a result of the analysis the system elements with a level of reliability below the required level are assigned to a separate group for which the maintenance modes are formed later, their actual state being taken into account. Namely, the decision is made what work on these elements can perform and what forces and means of the technical support system will be required for their operation. To form a list of necessary operations, the functional scheme analysis of the TS considered is carried out, during the analysis the functional as well as degradation characteristics of the system elements are determined as well as the significance (weight) of each element in the system. The analysis of the functional scheme of the TS is performed by using the functional-topological method.

Modeling of intelligent transport systems maintenance processes

The paper describes the problems of modeling of technical support systems of transport systems related to organizational and technical systems based on the implementation of the system approach to information technologies. It gives the theoretical basis for the description of technical maintenance of intelligent transport systems taking into account cybernetic representation. The paper also justifies the formalization of the process of technical maintenance of information systems, which include intelligent transport systems. It shows that a modern maintenance system of intelligent systems should be able to quickly adapt to needs and, if necessary, increase the amount of recovery works without disrupting the existing mode of operation.

Utilização do Software VisuAlg no Ensino da Lógica de Programação

ResumoA crescente demanda de profissionais de Tecnologia da Informação em empresas, universidades e outras instituições é notória e, para tal, é necessária a formação de programadores para darem suporte à criação e manutenção de sistemas computacionais. O algoritmo, base para a criação dos softwares, pode ser ensinado de forma a facilitar o aprendizado dos estudantes, utilizando-se o Português Estruturado. Nesse sentido, foi realizada uma prática pedagógica, na qual se utilizou o Software VisuAlg como ferramenta auxiliar no ensino de algoritmos. O objetivo foi analisar as potencialidades do VisuAlg como recurso didático nas aulas de Algoritmos. A pesquisa, que é de cunho qualitativo, tem aproximações com estudo de caso. Os dados coletados foram analisados tendo como base a Análise Textual Discursiva. Os resultados encontrados apontam que: a) a utilização de diferentes técnicas e ferramentas auxiliou no ensino da lógica de programação, pois instigou os estudantes a experimentar e testar os algoritmos; b) a criação de algoritmos na Língua Portuguesa ajudou os estudantes a pensarem em sua lógica, não sendo necessário compreender comandos em inglês; c) a motivação dos estudantes aumentou, pois pode-se comprovar que os códigos criados estavam funcionando; d) o VisuAlg permitiu encontrar os erros nos códigos facilmente. Portanto, o Software VisuAlg pode ser considerado uma ferramenta que auxiliou no ensino da lógica de programação e estimulou o interesse dos estudantes da área de programação. Palavras-chave: Recuso Didático. Algoritmos. Português Estruturado. AbstractThe growing demand for professionals of Information Technology (IT) in companies, universities and other institutions is notorious, and for that, it is necessary the programmers formation to creation support and computer systems maintenance. The algorithm, the basis for the software creation, can be taught in a way that facilitates the student’s learning, using Structured Portuguese. In this sense, a pedagogical practice was performed, in which VisuAlg Software was used as an auxiliary tool in the algorithms teaching. The objective was to analyze the VisuAlg potential as a didactic resource in the Algorithms classes. The research, which is qualitative, has approximations with case study. The collected data were analyzed based on the Discursive Textual Analysis. The results show that: a) the use of different techniques and tools helped in the teaching of programming logic, as it instigates students to experiment and test the algorithms; b) the algorithms creation in Portuguese Language helped students to think in their logic, not being necessary to understand commands in English; c) the students’ motivation increase, because it is possible to verify that the codes created are working, as well as the facility of being able to find the errors. Therefore, the use of tools that help teaching the programming logic, and stimulate the students’ interest in this area, is increasingly used by different teachers. Keywords: Didactic Resource. Algorithms. Structured Portuguese.

Maintenance cost assessment for heterogeneous multi-component systems incorporating perfect inspections and waiting time to maintenance

Most existing research about complex systems maintenance assumes they consist of the same type of components. However, systems can be assembled with heterogeneous components (for example degrading and non-degrading components) that require different maintenance actions. Since industrial systems become more and more complex, more research about the maintenance of systems with heterogeneous components is needed. For this reason, in this paper, a system consisting of two groups of components: degrading and non-degrading components is analyzed. The main novelty of this paper is the evaluation of a maintenance policy at system-level coordinating condition-based maintenance for the degrading components, delay time to the maintenance and an inspection strategy for this heterogeneous system. To that end, an analytic cost model is built using the semi-regenerative processes theory. Furthermore, a safety constraint related to the reliability of the degrading components is imposed. To find the optimal maintenance strategy, meta-heuristic algorithms are used.

Designing of control and expulsion equipment for the pitot-static system of passenger airplanes

The article discusses the issue of automating the serial process of bleeding and control of the pitot- static system of passenger airplanes. A functional diagram and basic design of some parts of the combined equipment are proposed. This equipment makes it possible to alternate the above-mentioned operations with great effectiveness. At the system control stage, the pressure or vacuum in it is created by a pressure-vacuum pneumatic unit. This pneumatic unit consists of a compressor and a set of electromagnetic valves that allow the compressor to be connected to the pumping or scavenging line. The value of the generated pressure is regulated by the flow rate in the pressure/scavenging channel and in the venting channel. Simulation of changes in ambient temperature is achieved due to blowing heated or cooled air over the temperature sensors of the aircraft. Pressure or vacuum in the controlled system is created in turn, in each of its lines. At the expulsion stage, a compressed-nitrogen cylinder acts as the pressure source. The pressurized gas passes through the pitot and is released into the atmosphere, cleaning out the contaminations. No manual operations are required for installing and removing connection hoses after connecting the proposed combined equipment to the pitot-static system. Remote-controlled electromagnetic valves connect the channels of the controlled system to the pressure-vacuum pneumatic unit and the source of compressed nitrogen. This reduces the duration of successive operations for the systems maintenance.

Land Administration Maintenance: A Review of the Persistent Problem and Emerging Fit-for-Purpose Solutions

A contemporary review of land administration, from the perspective of systems maintenance, is provided. A special emphasis is placed on emerging fit-for-purpose land administration solutions. The research synthesis uses reputable sources from the contemporary era. Results show the challenges of maintaining land administration systems and the data held are long recognized. The 1970s–1980s gave the issue impetus as data and processes moved from paper-based and manual to digital and automated. The 1990s recognized concerns on maintenance, albeit as a secondary issue: system establishment was the primary concern. The 2000s placed more emphasis on more holistic sociotechnical systems but, again maintenance was supplementary. The fit-for-purpose era deliveres a vast range of new social and technological innovations; however, scaled and sustainable implementations still struggle with system maintenance. From the findings, a consolidated model for analyzing maintenance problems and solutions at jurisdictional level is developed. Maintenance of a land administration system can be understood by identifying the level of change, method for change, components to change, and options for what to change to. The United Nations-endorsed Framework for Effective Land Administration is then used to identify specific maintenance challenges and available solutions. It is suggested that due to the scope and size of what can be considered maintenance issues, there exists no single solution—instead the country should identify its persistant maintenance problems, and the most appropriate solution set from the suite of available options. Emerging solutions and challenges include ensuring interlinkage to maintenance of spatial planning, land valuation, and marine administration; exploiting survey data ‘back capture’ initiatives; supporting grassroots IT; and giving serious attention to cybersecurity concerns.