The relevance of a maintenance hypermedia application to concurrent engineering

In order to reduce equipment downtime at an automotive engine assembly plant, a pilot hypermedia application for the retrieval of maintenance information was developed for a piston to connecting rod assembly machine. The pilot system, which is a hypermedia information system, was formally evaluated by a sample of shop floor operators. Considering the positive results, the automotive company is now in a position to consider the specification of digital maintenance manuals from the suppliers of their future equipment. Although the pilot system was created by Cranfield researchers using information from the automotive company, all the information relevant to machine maintenance has been created or identified by the machine supplier during the design process. The preparation of digital maintenance manuals is therefore best done by the machinery supplier. From the supplier's perspective, providing such a hypermedia manual need not cost more than a paper equivalent as long as this is done concurrently during the design process. The maintenance hypermedia application can serve as an internal and external communication aid. Internally, it can assist design team members during review meetings and encourage the design of an easy to maintain machine. Externally, the application allows the supplier to have more productive discussions with their client. It also gives the client's shop floor operators the opportunity to review the design, suggest improvements, and learn about the equipment before it is installed.