Maintenance practices in an economic downturn: the Irish experience-survey results

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of the current original research is to determine the effect that the current period of economic recession has had on maintenance practices in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach – A survey, which was aimed exclusively at senior maintenance management level, was designed to assess the impact that this period of recession and subsequent austerity has had across three chosen indicators-technical, personal and economical-from a maintenance perspective. Findings – It was determined that maintenance practices in Ireland, irrespective of the origin of the organisation, were not immune from budget reductions and reductions in the levels of maintenance personnel. The survey suggests that retrenchment was the option of choice for organisations with 19 per cent increasing maintenance intervals and 11 per cent reporting a decrease in machine availability as a result. An analysis was also undertaken to accept or reject the hypothesis that the maintenance practices of indigenous Irish organisations have been more adversely affected than those of their non-indigenous Irish-based counterparts. The hypothesis was accepted. Research limitations/implications – Although the analysis is based upon simple descriptive statistics-it provides invaluable information to maintenance policy decision makers. Originality/value – The work is entirely original. Any work from other authors is duly referenced.