Development of a systematic approach for cost optimum predictive maintenance based on MRO component failure mode identification

A methodology towards optimum Predictive Maintenance (PdM) through the implementation of a systematic maintenance activities hierarchy, is presented and discussed. It forms part of an ongoing project aimed to provide an industry tool for classifying Maintenance, Repair and Operation (MRO) components on their criticality with respect to the system availability to nominal performance. An expert system shell, currently under development, creates and continuously updates an intuitive/intelligent database where MRO materials are arranged into general broad groups exhibiting similar Failure Modes. These Failure Modes demonstrate unique failure signs which are detected by the use of the appropriate PdM method(s). The proposed methodology, with the development of a series of parameters and criteria, illustrates an effort to bridge the gap between component Failure Modes and corresponding detection methods with the objective of determining the appropriate contribution role of PdM techniques in an advanced integrated maintenance system.