The maintenance management framework A practical view to maintenance management

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to define a process for maintenance management and to classify maintenance engineering techniques within that process. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents a generic model proposed for maintenance management which integrates other models found in the literature for built and in-use assets, and consists of eight sequential management building blocks. The different maintenance engineering techniques are playing a crucial role within each one of those eight management building blocks. Following this path it characterizes the "maintenance management framework", i.e. the supporting structure of the management process. Findings - The paper offers a practical vision of the set of activities composing each management block, and the result of the paper is a classification of the different maintenance engineering tools. The discussion of the different tools can also classify them as qualitative or quantitative. At the same time, some tools will be very analytical tools while others will be highly empirical. The paper also discusses the proper use of each tool or technique according to the volume of data/information available. Practical implications - As a consequence, of the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies and just-in-time production systems, the nature of the production environment has changed during the last two decades. This has allowed companies to massively produce products in a customized way. But the increase in automation and the reduction in buffers of inventory in the plants clearly put more pressure on the maintenance system. The present maintenance management framework has been proposed in order to diminish this pressure. Whatever the model an organization adopts, it has to be evolving to continue being useful against the fast changes that occur in business, communications and industry. A key to achieve this could be the incorporation of the techniques proposed in this paper besides the integration of platforms known as "next generation manufacturing practices" This implies the use of e-maintenance as a sub-concept of e-manufacturing and e-business. Originality/value - This paper presents not only a process but also the framework and techniques to manage and improve maintenance effectiveness and efficiency. This paper will be useful to researchers, maintenance professionals and others concerned with maintenance management.