Mobile solutions for engineering asset and maintenance management

Purpose-This paper seeks to present an overview of current trends in employing wireless solutions to engineering asset and maintenance management. Design/methodology/approach-The paper reviews literature and technological advances in wireless technologies and their applications in engineering asset and maintenance management from the viewpoint of assessing their potential impact, use and penetration in industrial practice. Rather than attempting a literature survey, the paper highlights emerging opportunities, benefits and potential hurdles in the adoption of mobile application solutions for industrial assets. Findings-Despite the fact that the use of advanced application solutions in manufacturing, production or process facilities takes place at a different scale, the emerging trend has already shown that mobile technologies have a great potential to redefine and re-engineer the conventional setting for industrial asset and maintenance management. They have already begun to form the basis for offering advanced and smart solutions to remotely manage complex, high-risk, and capital-intensive assets, regardless of the geographical location, building agile information and knowledge networks. The key characteristics of the emerging environment include: 24/7 connectivity for active data management, enhanced web-based interactivity, ready access to knowledge and information, and growth of use of advanced communication networks. Research limitations/implications-The paper focuses on analysing current trends and concludes by highlighting promising research directions in employing wireless and mobile solutions for engineering and maintenance asset management. Practical implications-Managerial and engineering personnel, as well as practitioners, can examine on a case-by-case basis the specific benefits that can be offered by the introduction of mobile technologies for engineering asset and maintenance management. Originality/value-The recent penetration of mobile technologies in industrial practice highlights the need to assess the benefits of the technology in maintenance engineering. Much of the literature focuses on the contribution of ICT in maintenance, without analysing the impact of mobile technologies. The paper goes some way towards examining and analysing the current practice and prospects of implementing mobile application solutions in maintenance.