Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM2), is the worlds leading maintenance task development methodology from the Aladon Network. Asset Dynamics Asia is an Aladon RCM2 licensee and has a long track record of successful analyses and implementations.
What is RCM2?
RCM2 is a process used to determine the maintenance programme for any physical asset based on its operating context.
The RCM2 process begins by documenting what the users expect from their physical assets. This is defined in terms of primary performance parameters such as output, throughput, speed, range and carrying capacity. Where relevant, the RCM2 process defines what users expect in terms of risk avoidance (safety and environmental integrity), quality (precision, accuracy, consistency and stability), control, comfort, containment, economy, customer service and so on.
The RCM2 process identifies the ways in which the asset can fail to live up to these expectations (failed states), followed by an FMEA (failure modes and effects analysis), to identify all the events which are reasonably likely to cause each failed state.
Finally, the RCM2 process seeks to identify a suitable failure management policy for dealing with each failure mode in the light of its consequences and technical characteristics. Failure management policy options include:
- predictive maintenance
- preventive maintenance
- failure-finding
- change the design or configuration of the system
- change the way the system is operated
- run-to-failure
The RCM2 process provides powerful rules for deciding whether any failure management policy is technically appropriate. It also provides precise criteria for deciding how often routine tasks should be done.
One of the features of RCM2 that distinguishes it from other interpretations of the RCM philosophy is the cross-functional groups of users and maintainers that perform the analyses. After training, these analysis teams apply the process to their assets to produce the most cost-effective asset reliability programs.
RCM2 Review Groups
The application of RCM2 completely transforms the view that any organisation has of its physical assets. Not only does it revolutionise views about maintenance and how maintenance and operations work together but it also leads to a far broader and deeper understanding about how things work.
From the viewpoint of the business which operates the assets, these changes are both profound and profoundly important. They mean that assets not only become more reliable because they are better maintained, but they also mean that operators are less likely to do things which cause their assets to fail. A better understanding of how systems work also means that operators are far more likely to react quickly, confidently and correctly when things do go wrong – a capability which is quite literally priceless, especially in complex, hazardous, tightly coupled facilities.
In nearly every case, it also transpires that people who live with the asset on a day-to-day basis are an invaluable source of information – information that transforms what would otherwise be an occasionally valid collection of incomplete data into a solid, valid business tool.
This leads inevitably to the conclusion that from both viewpoints – technical validity and capability development – it is folly not to involve the people who live with the assets directly in the application of the RCM2 process.
The Aladon Network has developed a profound understanding of what must be done to ensure that RCM2 is correctly applied by multi-disciplinary review groups.
However, before anyone can participate effectively in such a group, they need to learn how RCM works (“learn the language”) and, more importantly, they need to come to terms with the paradigm shifts embodied in the RCM2 philosophy.
Our RCM2 Training programs are designed to enable them to do so.
RCM Standards
RCM2 complies with SAE Standard JA1011 “Evaluation Criteria for Reliability-Centered Maintenance RCM Processes.”
For a more comprehensive description of the RCM2 process, see John Moubray’s book “Reliability-Centered Maintenance”.
To gain a better understanding of how RCM2 works, consider attending one of our RCM2 Training courses.
RCM Software
Bentley’s Assetwise Performance Management (APM) is the leading asset reliability strategy development software providing a unique combination of rigor, speed and risk sensitivity. APM allows organizations to apply a cohesive strategy across an entire equipment base using one, single application. This unique solution supports multiple plant and asset level methodologies in a single integrated application making it possible to develop the right management strategy for each asset.