Preventive Maintenance Optimization at Paranal Observatory

Observatories are important for the evolution of astronomical research. Equally important is their maintainability. Of course, the management of our fixed budget as well as assuring reliability, availability and system efficiency is directly related to the maintainability of this center of observation. Can we manage this situation and maintain reliability, availability and efficiency? The answer is, yes. There are new maintenance techniques that allow us to deal with these requirements. PMO, Preventive Maintenance Optimization is one of the new techniques that has recently grown in popularity and it is structured as follows: Prepare PMO Define System or Equipment according to Reliability Requirements Review Existing PM Screen Task for Removal Optimize Remaining Tasks Fill Gaps on PM Review Manufacture Recommendations Optimize PM Work Order Implement Change Evaluate Improvement. The implementation of PMO is a process that will allow the Observatory to increase the efficiency of the Maintenance plans. The results of this new process will not be evident immediately and will be evaluated in the future.