Things to Think About and Do in 2011: Sustained

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Sustained

One of the objectives of setting goals is to improve performance for a given process, area or event. Each time I perform an RCM [Reliability Centered Maintenance] Blitz™ analysis, I set a goal with the RCM team before moving on to the next analysis. Having facilitated hundreds of RCM analyses, I have a good idea of what it takes to implement the tasks and I also understand the implications of not achieving this first goal.

After achieving this first goal of implementing the RCM tasks, while we might take a moment to celebrate, we must realize that our work is not complete. Analyzing the failure modes and implementing the mitigating tasks is only two-thirds of the equation when it comes to having a successful RCM effort. A successful effort can only be achieved by now completing the implemented PL and PdM tasks as scheduled on a routine basis. The results of your effort can only be recognized by having the leadership, structure and discipline required to plan, schedule and complete this new strategy.

The objective of performing Reliability Centered Maintenance is to improve the reliability of your assets, and while achieving the goal of implementing you RCM analysis is a good start, it doesn’t make your equiptment or your company reliable.

Reliability, afterall, can only be achieved by demonstrating a sustained level of performance over a scheduled period of time. 

An RCM effort, therefore, can only be deemed successful when the implemented strategy delivers an improved and sustained level of reliability.

—Doug Plucknette