Chapter 4 - Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM Analysis)

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the concept of system performance indexes such as reliability, availability, and production efficiency as well as the approach to predict such performance indexes. Therefore reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) analysis is the basis of complex system performance analysis. To demonstrate such methodology the RAM analysis steps, such as scope definition, lifetime data analysis, modeling, simulation, critical analysis, sensitivity analysis, and conclusions, will be discussed. In fact, RAM analysis simulates the system behavior in terms of subsystem and equipment failures along the life cycle, To perform such simulation the reliability diagram block model is very necessary, as will be demonstrated. In addition, the main object of study in RAM analysis rather than predicting the performance index is to analyze the influence of external factors on system performance, such as logistics, spare parts, redundancy configuration, as well as the effect of preventive maintenance in performance indexes. Each of such factors influence in asset performance will be demonstrated by example in this chapter. Moreover, to predict the necessary performance improvement the improvement allocation and optimization concepts will be discussed. The chapter will present different case studies applied to real asset project and operation phase solutions to improve different system performances.