Title: Sensitivity analysis of a preventive maintenance scheduling model

Authors: S.A. Oke, A.E. Oluleye, F.A. Oyawale, O.E. Charles-Owaba

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Room 10, Mezzanine Complex, Akoka-Yaba, Nigeria. ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, University of Ibadan, Engineering Annex Building, Ibadan, Nigeria. ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, University of Ibadan, Engineering Annex Building, Ibadan, Nigeria. ' Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, University of Ibadan, Engineering Annex Building, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract: This contribution establishes a new approach to evaluating the sensitivity of a preventive maintenance scheduling model that is based on an integrated operations-maintenance activity schedule in a resource constrained environment. In particular, this paper deals with sensitivity analysis of Total Preventive Maintenance (TPM) scheduling cost using optimal Gantt Charting principles as the framework. The approach has been tested in a shipping company. The work is motivated by the need to improve on the quality of maintenance scheduling models through the development and application of robust models in practice. From the results obtained, it was shown that some shipping maintenance scheduling parameters are sensitive and could therefore be manipulated for the best performance of maintenance scheduling models. The framework seems promising for other applications, and opens up a new gate of investigations that may keep researchers busy for some decades to come.

Keywords: maintenance scheduling; sensitivity analysis; shipping industry; operations; preventive maintenance; Gantt charts; maintenance costs; resource constraints; total preventive maintenance; TPM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2008.017422

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2008 Vol.3 No.3, pp.298 - 323

Published online: 07 Mar 2008 *

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