Maintenance Solutions:
What is maintenance and why is it performed? The dictionary defines maintenance as follows: “the work of keeping something in proper condition; upkeep.” So maintenance should be actions taken to prevent a device or component from failing or to repair normal equipment degradation experienced with the operation of the device to keep it in proper working order.
The need for maintenance is predicated on actual or impending failure – ideally, maintenance is performed to keep equipment and systems running efficiently for at least service life of the component.
There are three categories to group maintenance practices:
1- Reactive Maintenance
2- Preventative Maintenance
3- Predictive Maintenance
Reactive Maintenance
Reactive maintenance is basically the “run it till it breaks” maintenance mode. No actions or efforts are taken to maintain the equipment as the OEM originally intended to ensure predicted life is reached. And actually 57% of operational maintenance is dealt with this way in the drilling industry.
Preventative Maintenance
Preventive maintenance can be defined as actions performed on a time schedule that detect, preclude, or minimize degradation of a component or system with the aim of sustaining or extending its service life through controlling degradation to an acceptable level. In our industry only 29% of operational maintenance is done in such a manor.
Predictive Maintenance
Basically, predictive maintenance differs from preventive maintenance by basing the maintenance need on the actual condition of the machine rather than on some preset schedule. Predictive maintenance is any action taken that detects the onset of system failure thereby allowing causal stressors to be eliminated or controlled prior to any significant failure in the component service life. Roughly 12% of our industry uses some sort of this approach to maintenance.
The advantages of predictive maintenance are many. A well-orchestrated predictive maintenance program will all but eliminate catastrophic equipment failures. Clients will be able to schedule maintenance activities to minimize or delete call out cost. You will be able to minimize inventory and order parts, as required, well ahead of time to support the planned maintenance requirements.