Provision Of Maintenance Services Research Articles

Decision tool of medical endoscope maintenance service in Chinese hospitals: a conjoint analysis

BackgroundMedical devices are instruments, apparatus, appliances, software, implants, reagents, materials or other articles that are intended for use in the treatment or diagnosis of disease or injury in humans. Concerning medical endoscope devices, which enable doctors to observe and manipulate the area under examination through a puncture hole in the body cavity or organ, hospitals predominantly consider the quality and cost of maintenance services when making their selection. The effective and efficient provision of maintenance services plays a crucial role in ensuring cost-effective and high-quality management of medical devices. In this study, we have developed an innovative decision tool that analyzed key factors impacting the choice of medical devices’ maintenance service. This tool assists hospitals in evaluating and selecting appropriate maintenance services for medical device, specifically endoscopy devices. Moreover, it also serves as a valuable resource for manufacturers and suppliers to enhance their after-sales service offerings.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 50 Chinese hospitals, including primary and tertiary hospitals. Moreover, 56 medical staff and 65 medical engineers were recruited from 50 Chinese hospitals to participate the survey. A comprehensive set of factors were defined and investigated. Conjoint analysis and orthogonal design were used for survey design and statistical analysis.ResultsFactors importance and utility values of decision-making factors were analyzed at the aggregate, occupation, and medical institution levels. (1) At the aggregate level, the most critical factor is “maintenance response” and the least important one is “maintenance efficiency”. (2) At the occupation level, medical staff paid more attention to “maintenance response” while medical engineers paid more attention to “maintenance quality”. (3) At the medical institution level, Primary hospitals paid more attention to “maintenance price”, while tertiary hospitals paid more attention to “maintenance quality”.ConclusionsIn general, this study provides a more scientific decision-making tool to both hospitals in choosing maintenance service for medical device such as endoscopy, and it also helps manufacturers and suppliers improve the after-sales service.

Prepaid water meters and water distribution system improvement: A case study of Jenin city, Palestine

A total of 1792 prepaid water meters (PPWMs) were installed along with the activities to improve water distribution in Jenin City, Palestine. The tariff collection rate, previously at 40%, increased to over 90%, thereby resulting in a revenue increase of 1.93 times. PPWMs reduced the need for direct contact between utility staff and customers, resulting in less susceptibility to COVID-19 than conventional meters. The PPWMs fostered water distribution equity by promoting conservation. While these meters boost the revenue of water utilities, increasing user satisfaction by optimizing water distribution is essential, ensuring suitable PPWM installation rates and sustainability. Concerns linger about consistent customer resistance to PPWMs, support for low-income households, and the provision of maintenance services post-warranty.

Econometric modeling of cost per flying hour of civil helicopters

Subject. The article addresses factors of the growing cost of flying hour, which is an integral indicator of helicopter efficiency at the stage of its operation. Objectives. The purpose is to develop an econometric model of dependence of cost per flying hour on the main relative aircraft performance characteristics that determine the effectiveness of design and technological solutions for civil and multi-purpose helicopters, to make a decision at the preliminary design stage regarding the efficiency of designed product during the operational phase and the feasibility of R&D. Methods. The study rests on basic provisions of the theory of the firm, the theory of fundamental value of assets, international standards of the aviation equipment operation manual. Results. Based on econometric analysis, the main determinants of cost per flight hour are identified from the set of relative flight characteristics of the helicopter. The paper demonstrates that the number of products in operation, the cost of flight hour, the efficiency and transparency of logistics infrastructure in the provision of maintenance services represent a tool for managing the cost of product life cycle during its operation. Conclusions. The main factors having the greatest impact on the efficiency of after-sales service of products in the aviation industry are fuel efficiency, specific fuel consumption (fuel consumption per unit of power). The cost per flight hour is an integral indicator of the effectiveness of after-sales service and depends on relative flight characteristics of aircraft in operation.

The contribution of Smart Glasses for PSS

Servitization is considered as a strategic option for manufacturers who need to develop higher-value offering. As a result, a manufacturer can include service to its product offer, in order to obtain different types of product service-systems (PSS). Several companies have been relying on digital technologies to enhance the PSS, especially those that allow data collection and sharing. Smart Glasses are one of the wearables digital tools that can provide more advanced service solutions. However, this technology is still emerging and, therefore, empirical research on its use for servitization is still scarce in the literature. Thus, this paper aims to provide empirical evidences of the contribution of Smart Glasses for the provision of maintenance services in manufacturing companies, as a part of the PSS offer. Using a case study approach, we analyze in a multinational manufacturer of elevators the difference in performance of maintenance technicians before and after adopting the use of Smart Glasses. The assessment is made by means of operational and managerial perceptions provided through semi-structured interviews. Our findings show that the performance of almost half of the technicians was improved with the use of Smart Glasses, however some technicians had a decreased performance. The technology was more effective for technicians with less experience in maintenance services. Other external factors, as the aptitude for the technology, were relevant for the evolution in performance of these operators. Our results provide initial evidence that Smart Glasses can support the development of PSS, supporting a more advanced service offering.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ УПРАВЛІННЯ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНИМИ ПРОЕКТАМИ У СФЕРІ ОБСЛУГОВУВАННЯ ЛІТАКІВ

The current state of the development of aircraft industry requires continuous improvement of the scope of provision of maintenance services for airplanes after their commissioning, which must comply with international regulations, requirements and standards. The timely provision of services in be achieved by implementing a project approach not only in aircraft engineering, but also in the field of aircraft maintenance. The aim of the work is to identify the features of management by organizational projects in the field of aircraft maintenance. Today, in the world, there is a problem of airplanes maintenance outside the factories, so there is a need for the creation of new companies that will provide these services at airports and on specially equipped areas outside of them. The article analyzes the process of creating a new enterprise, examines the application of the project approach to the implementation of organizational projects in the field of aircraft maintenance, identifies the features of these projects, describes their classification, analyzes problems with human resources that can destroy the idea of these projects, as well as identified risks, which have an impact on these projects. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the development of models and methods for managing organizational projects in the field of aircraft maintenance is relevant and re-quires further development.

Application Potentials for an Ontology-based Integration of Intelligent Maintenance Systems and Spare Parts Supply Chain Planning

In today's evermore complex manufacturing systems, effective and efficient maintenance has become crucial for achieving operational competitive advantages. Breakdowns and system failures caused by insufficient maintenance can lead to significant economic impact such as higher costs, diminishing profits and declined customer satisfaction. In order to avoid unforeseen systems’ unavailability, it is necessary to accurately and precisely forecast maintenance demand in advance – including the provision of maintenance services and spare parts. Moreover, the management and planning of spare parts supply chains has become more important in order to ensure the availability of spare parts and maintenance personnel at the required location and time while operating at reasonable costs. Both issues are recently targeted by the research domains of intelligent maintenance systems (IMS) – forecasting machine failures using a condition-based maintenance (CBM) approach – and spare parts supply chains (SPSC) – planning and providing related maintenance services and spare parts. A proper integration of these two domains enables the exchange of relevant information that could be applied for advanced failure forecasting, machine control and SPSC planning. However, the challenge of integrating both domains is to deal with the different meanings and knowledge, e.g., the concepts being applied in both domains vary in their level of granularity and importance. This paper addresses the integration problem of IMS devices and SPSC planning systems by presenting a refined ontology including concepts that semantically connect the different systems and thus provides the basis for a conceptual integration architecture and a deduced service-oriented architecture facilitating dynamic communication services to support the information exchange. Furthermore, the applied design of the ontology is described for an industrial case and the application potentials to be achieved by the integration of both system types are highlighted.

Value-in-use of e-maintenance in service provision: survey analysis and future research agenda

Servitisation strategies entail many benefits to manufacturing industry. In this context, e-maintenance can bring support to new industrial services by enhancing the effectiveness of service delivery processes, thus, improving the ultimate benefits obtained by service provision. This article presents a study on the value-in-use that different technological innovations can offer to maintenance service provision. The final results of a survey capturing experts’ knowledge into a method for value analysis are discussed and eventually a future research agenda is suggested to investigate further how the use of e-maintenance technologies can potentiate the value-in-use of industrial service provision.

World trends and innovations in production asset management—case studies from Australia and North America

Australia is transitioning to become an energy superpower—the $43 billion Gorgon LNG project and the other comparably sized projects lining up behind the Gorgon project confirm this. There are predictions that around $80 billion of CAPEX on LNG projects will be approved for expenditure for the 2010 financial year with much more to be invested in the following years. And, we are on the cusp of further coal seam gas developments in Queensland, which could see annual production rise from 130 to more than 3,000 petajoules per annum once the infrastructure is in place. What are the skills needed to realise the true potential of these investments? An appropriate asset management plan is key. Asset management is more than the provision of maintenance services—it is about developing a systematic approach to managing an asset during its life and achieving the outputs required by the owner of the asset. Program and project management of brownfield capital works, maintenance services and infrastructure projects are also essential technical capabilities to help meet the demand of the burgeoning LNG and coal seam gas industries. These skills will determine who can deliver on schedule, or ahead of it. The other key capability will be mobilising, managing and retaining people. There is speculation that the Queensland coal seam gas industry alone will generate approximately 12,000 jobs. The industry needs to be prepared to be innovative in engaging, training and upskilling people. As the only true global resources and industrial provider in Australia, Transfield Services will share its key learnings on effectively managing assets, projects and people from its work with clients including Canada’s largest energy company, Suncor Energy.

Maintenance communities – a new model for the networked delivery of maintenance services

Emerging industrial service process development combined with managing complexity in service supply networks is an area where literature is still scarce. This paper seeks to critically analyse traditional maintenance business practices and to present a model to support the new production paradigm based on collaborative, value-adding networks. This paper is based on interviews and structured discussions with experts in different fields, and analysis of the results of industrial case studies. Our constructive research approach includes formulation of an advanced model to support a collaborative and networked maintenance business based on the identification of the current key challenges. Value networks are still lacking methods, models and practical business scenarios that support the collaborative provision of maintenance services. Adoption of the model presented in this paper is assumed to support service suppliers in coping with the challenges in dynamic maintenance service supply networks. The originality of our work lies in providing an integrated depiction of our model from several perspectives.

Contract Type and the Cost of Provision: Evidence from Maintenance Service Contracts*

AbstractMore than half a billion dollars are spent each year on the maintenance of Australia's urban water and sewerage networks. Expenditure is governed through a mix of in‐house and outsourced maintenance service contracts. We re‐examine issues relating to the relationship between the cost of maintenance service provision and the type of contract used. We take advantage of the fact that water retailers in Melbourne use a mix of contract types – including fixed‐price (FP) and cost‐plus (C+) contracts – for the provision of water and sewerage network maintenance services. Our results suggest that the C+ contract results in substantial savings.

Maintaining the Flow: Maintenance Service Provision in the Alto Río Lerma Irrigation District, Mexico

Through irrigation management transfer inMexico poorly functioning governancemechanisms for maintenance were replaced.New actors, new roles, and newresponsibilities in the maintenance ofMexican irrigation systems wereestablished. This article analyzes themaintenance service delivery mechanisms inthe Alto Rio Lerma Irrigation District(ARLID), to evaluate if and how theinstitutional arrangements establishedthrough management transfer ensure adequateservice provision. After presenting themain actors currently involved inirrigation maintenance, the rules andregulations underlying the servicerelationships between the actors involvedin maintenance in ARLID are analyzed. Thisis done by detailing how theserelationships are formally organized, howthey work in practice, and which incentivesexist for the service providers to providean efficient service and for the servicerecipient to pro-actively participate inservice provision. We conclude that the newinstitutional framework for maintenanceservice provision is quite coherent andthat the governance mechanisms that havebeen established work well, especiallythose between the farmers and theirorganizations. This has led to improvedmaintenance services.

Cycle and Carriage vs. Parallel Importers of Mercedes Benz Cars

Cycle and Carriage (C&C) was a leading distributor of motor vehicles in Singapore. So successful had its efforts been in developing the market for its flagship brand of Mercedes Benz cars that parallel importers entered the market to compete for a slice of the pie. C&C had tried to counter the parallel importers through various means such as negative advertising, withdrawal of warranty services and discrimination against Mercedes that were not purchased from the company in the provision of maintenance services, but all to no avail. To worsen matters, DaimlerChrysler withdrew the exclusive distributorship status of C&C with effect from 1 January 2001, leaving the company with a distribution right that is restricted to retailing only.

Agent-based product-support logistics system using XML and RDF

The capability of the timely provision of maintenance services and service parts is critical to the competitiveness of industrial systems. To enhance the timely operations in a product-support logistics chain, business partners (equipment manufacturers, parts distributors, customers) may have to collaborate for the efficient exchange of relevant information. We propose the architecture of an agent-based product-support logistics system. Emphasis is placed on the problems of sharing and exchanging information through agent communication. We adopt the Resource Description Framework (RDF) schema for information modelling in product-support logistics domain. The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) serialization generates messages for agent communication. The use of XML and RDF enables software agents to understand the contents of messages correctly and consistently. We demonstrate the feasibility of our agent architecture using a scenario in logistical support processes. We believe that the approach can provide a promising way to the automation of business processes in product-support logistics through seamless communication among the partners.