What Are the Types of Maintenance Tools?

Not every maintenance tool fits on a tool belt, and not every maintenance tool is designed for repairing assets. Other tools exist that help maintenance teams improve things beyond physical assets. For instance, various types of analyses are used to gather insights about why and when assets fail. And standards, regulations, and other documentation exist to keep maintenance teams organized and compliant.

Using these maintenance tools will help you build an environment in which proactive maintenance and precision maintenance can thrive.

Analyses

P-F Curve

A P-F curve is a graph that shows the health of equipment over time to identify the interval between potential failure and functional failure.

FMEA

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a process that is available to organizations to identify potential failures with assets and other areas of business.

Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a systematic process of identifying the origin of an incident.

Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma is a process that aims to systematically eliminate waste and reduce variation.

SCADA System

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are a computer system used to monitor and control plant processes.

Planned Maintenance Optimization

Planned Maintenance Optimization (PMO) is a method of improving maintenance strategies based on existing preventive maintenance (PM) routines and available failure history.

Standards

ISO 55000

To comply with ISO 55000 you must have an asset management system. The goal of an asset management system is to establish the policies, objectives, and processes needed to achieve an organization’s goals.

ISO 55001

The components of an asset management system that are listed out in ISO 55000 are elaborated on in ISO 55001. These components include organizational context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement.

ISO 55002

ISO 55002 provides the most significant details needed to achieve compliance with ISO 55000.

SAE JA1011

SAE JA1011 was initially developed by the commercial aviation industry to improve the safety and reliability of their equipment. Because of this, it’s known as a Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) process.

Regulations

FDA Maintenance Regulations

FDA inspections are typically conducted by reviewing systems which correspond to the Subparts that are applicable to the type of product/facility being audited. In the case of maintenance, Subparts for Buildings and Facilities and Equipment are of the main concern.

OSHA Maintenance Regulations

Maintenance workers are among the many workers that are exposed to workplace hazards on a daily basis. OSHA aims to protect them by providing access to information for vulnerable workers in high-risk jobs.

IRS Maintenance Regulations

There are specific deductible and capital improvement costs that are directly related to maintenance operations and the IRS provides information about how it allows businesses to recover those costs.

Documents

Equipment Maintenance Log

An equipment maintenance log is a document that records activities that have been performed on an asset.

Operation and Maintenance Manual

An operation and maintenance manual is a comprehensive document that provides all the details necessary about a physical plant as well as individual pieces of equipment to help the maintenance staff keep everything running smoothly.