Reliability Assessment

By collecting the data relevant to the unscheduled maintenance activities carried out on an asset type, information can be derived to indicate the reliability of the asset. This can then be compared with manufacturer’s predictions for reliability, Where a significant difference exists between the predicted and actual reliability figures, this could trigger an investigation into post design activities aimed at re-design to improve reliability and thus reduce cost of ownership and whole life costs.

By recording the time taken between the requirement for a replacement occurring (i.e. a demand being placed for a replacement item), and the time when the replacement item is available to the maintainers, information can be calculated on the availability of the repairable asset. Such information is invaluable in management of contracts let on the basis of contractor availability performance, and can be recorded to define levels of payment according to the contracted payment schedule.

If, as part of the recording of the maintenance activities, the time taken to undertake the defect rectification is also recorded, an indication of the maintainability of the asset can also be derived.

Improvements in reliability, availability and maintainability figures are all contributory factors to reducing stock levels of repairable items. With the emergence of contracts which place more responsibility on the contractor to bear the costs of ownership of spares in support of projects, such savings are becoming more essential considerations in the conduct of such contracts on the part of the contractor.

LSC Group has many years of experience of supporting asset management systems in the defence arena, and is a market leader in providing software tools in support of Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) contracts.