Title: Spare parts criticality for unplanned maintenance of industrial systems

Authors: D. Tsakatikas, S. Diplaris, M. Sfantsikopoulos

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Heroon Politechniou 9, 157 80, Athens, Greece. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Heroon Politechniou 9, 157 80, Athens, Greece. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Heroon Politechniou 9, 157 80, Athens, Greece

Abstract: The paper presents a methodology and Decision Support System (DSS) for the establishment of spare parts criticality with a focus on industrial unplanned maintenance needs. The obtained criticality is used to rationalise the efficiency of the plant spare parts inventory. Through a top-down Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) that is appropriately adapted to the unplanned maintenance requirements and through the introduction of the Component Dynamic Criticality concept, the components of an industrial production facility are ranked. For those with criticality lying above a calculated threshold, additional spares are suggested to be kept in the plant spare parts inventory. An application example demonstrates the method. [Received 14 May 2007; Revised 25 July 2007; Accepted 13 September 2007]

Keywords: spare parts inventory; unplanned maintenance; spare parts criticality; criticality analysis; production downtime; industrial systems; decision support systems; DSS; failure modes effects and criticality analysis; FMECA; component dynamic criticality.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIE.2008.016331

European Journal of Industrial Engineering, 2008 Vol.2 No.1, pp.94 - 107

Published online: 18 Dec 2007 *

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