8 - Implementation—Carrying RCM to the Floor

Abstract

Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) program initially focuses its planning and execution on completing the systems analysis process. RCM execution is not a one-time, once-through event. Instead, RCM is a philosophy and a journey—RCM is a paradigm shift in how maintenance is perceived and executed. No matter at what stage the preventive maintenance (PM) program is—the beginning with a pilot project to see if RCM is suitable for the organization, in the middle implementing the improvements on critical and not-so-critical systems, or later on down the road keeping vigil and executing living RCM program—truly cost-effective PM program can be realized by executing the concepts outlined in this chapter. Virtually all maintenance personnel, management and technician alike, are consciously (or unconsciously) wired to the concept of “preserve equipment.” That is, their very first thought immediately focuses on hardware (equipment) whenever the issue or discussion turns to the subject of “Improvement.” In every RCM program, there are bound to be new and modified PM tasks that will require the generation of new or modified procedures before the task can be performed on the floor. The degree of formality and detail required of these procedures will vary considerably from plant to plant, with safety systems/equipment in a nuclear power plant probably representing the extreme requirement for such formality and detail.