Blogs

 

5 ways to manage maintenance failure risk

By intouch * posted 21-05-2018 15:30

  

The increasing emphasis on Chain of Responsibility means fleet managers need to be proactive in their risk management strategies.

Here are five ways to help manage maintenance failure risk:

1. Maintain detailed records

Businessman-Letting-Or-Preventing--Dominoes-Chain-Toppling-814347288_2122x1416.jpegWhether repairs and maintenance are conducted in house or by external contractors, good recording and monitoring systems need to be in place. This is to ensure that repair and maintenance times are controlled, costs are managed, performance standards are met and that accurate records of each repair are kept.

Apart from monitoring cost and performance, detailed records of servicing, repair and maintenance, are essential to avoid the issue of liability in the case of operational incidents being open to question.

Good records also provide the basis for feedback to operations supervisors on the reasons for failures when a failure is due to either the operator or inappropriate use of the item. This provides the supervisor with the information needed to take corrective action with the operator.

2. Use genuine parts

Genuine manufacturer’s parts or manufacturer approved generics should be used, as a minimum, in all repairs and maintenance wherever possible. Whenever there is a move away from genuine or approved parts the alternative must be assessed by a competent person and the basis for the change documented. Warranty on genuine spare parts often ensures subsequent premature failures are also covered. Where evidence can be produced that genuine parts have been used this will normally improve the resale value.

3. Programmed safety checks

Safety checks on every item of plant and vehicle are critical. 

  • Miscellaneous (small) plant must be checked every year as a minimum. 
  • Low utilisation plant should be checked and serviced regularly (every six months minimum) to ensure there is no downtime accumulated from flat batteries and the like when the plant or vehicle is required for operational use.

4. Repairs to manufacturer’s specifications

When specifying repairs, ensure that the repair is undertaken to the plant or vehicle to manufacturers’ specifications as a minimum. Whenever there is a move away from manufacturers’ specifications the alternative must be assessed by a competent person and the basis for the change documented. In many circumstances items are repaired just to keep them running, but this often causes more failures. Where repairs are undertaken by an in-house workshop to manufacturer’s specification there is a greater likelihood that warranty claims will be accepted.

5. Oil sampling and analysis

Oil analysis is an important risk management tool to predict failures and should be an integral part of the condition monitoring program of the fleet even beyond warranty. An oil analysis program can identify abnormal trends and pinpoint the wearing components as well as the severity of wear taking place. This allows for appropriate action to be taken rather than ‘unscheduled reactions’.
0 comments
9 views