Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A systemic approach to integrated E-maintenance of large engineering plants

  • Published:
International Journal of Automation and Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Large engineering plants (LEPs) have certain unique features that necessitate a maintenance strategy that is a combination of both time and condition based maintenance. Although this requirement is appreciated to varying degrees by asset owners, applied research leading to a systematic development of such a maintenance strategy is the need of the day. Such a strategy should also adopt a wholesome “systemic” approach so that the realization of the overall objectives of maintenance is maximized. E-maintenance has several potential benefits for large engineering plants. In this paper, a three pronged strategy is suggested for the successful implementation of e-maintenance for LEPs. Firstly, an integrated condition and time based maintenance framework is proposed for LEPs. Secondly, reference is drawn to models for condition and time based maintenance at systemic levels. As a part of the ab initio development of a condition monitoring system for a LEP, one of the characteristics of the condition monitoring system, namely, predictability, is discussed in detail as a sample for a systemic study. Thirdly, emphasis is laid on the information and expertise available in the domain of plant design, operation and maintenance and the same is tapped for incorporation in maintenance decision making.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. K. Verma, P. G. Ramesh. Multi-objective initial preventive maintenance scheduling for large engineering plants. International Journal of Reliability, Quality and Safety Engineering, vol. 14, no. 3, pp 241–250, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. D. I. Cho, M. Parlar. A survey of maintenance models for multi-unit systems. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 1–23, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. H. Wang. A survey of maintenance policies of deteriorating system. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 139, no. 3, pp. 469–489, 2002.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. K. Schneider, C. R. Cassady. Fleet performance under selective maintenance. In Proceedings of Annual Symposium on Reliability and Maintainability, IEEE, pp. 571–576, 2004.

  5. J. Carretero, JM Pérez, F García-Carballeira. Applying RCM in large scale systems: A case study with railway networks. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 82, no. 3, pp. 257–273, 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Crocker, U. D. Kumar. Age-related maintenance versus reliability centered maintenance: A case study on aero engines. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 67, no. 2, pp. 113–118, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. A. K. S. Jardine, D. Lin, D. Banjevic. A review on machinery diagnostics and prognostics implementing condition based maintenance. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, vol. 20, no. 7, pp. 1483–1510, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. R. Kothamasu, S. H. Huang, W. H. VerDuin. Systemhealth monitoring and prognostics — A review of current paradigms and practices. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, vol. 28, no. 9–10, pp. 1012–1024, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. K. B. Goode, J. Moore, B. J. Roylance. Plant machinery working life prediction method utilizing reliability and condition monitoring data. In Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, vol. 214, no. 2, pp. 109–122, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Y. Wei, F. Xu, Y. Min. Study and modeling on maintenance strategy for a thermal power plant in the new market environment. In Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies, IEEE, vol. 1, pp. 200–204, 2004.

  11. A. Starr, A. Ball. Systems integration in maintenance engineering. In Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, vol. 214, no. 2, pp. 79–95, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. C. W. Kang, M. W. Golay. An integrated method for comprehensive sensor network development in complex power plant systems. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 17–27, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. H. Wu, D. P. Buse, J. Feng, P. Sun. E-automation, an architecture for distributed industrial automation. International Journal of Automation and Computing, vol. 1 no. 1, pp. 17–25, 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Muller, A. C. Marquez, B. Iung. On the concept of emaintenance: Review and current research. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 93, no. 8, pp. 1165–1187, 2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. B. Iung, E. Levrat, A. C. Marquez, H. Erbe. Conceptual framework for e-maintenance: Illustration by E-maintenance technologies and platforms. Annual Reviews in Control, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 220–229, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. T. Han, B. S. Yang. Development of an e-maintenance system integrating advanced techniques. Computers in Industry, vol. 57, no. 6, pp. 569–580, 2006.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  17. S. V. Amari, L. McLaughlin, H. Pham. Cost effective condition based maintenance using Markov decision processes. In Proceedings of RAMS, pp 464–469, 2006.

  18. W. J. Moorer, A. G. Starr. An intelligent maintenance system for continuous cost based prioritization of e-maintenance activities. Computers in Industry, vol. 57, no. 6, pp. 595–606, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. A. K. Verma, A. Srividya, P. G. Ramesh. Machinery condition monitoring system selection — A multi-objective decision approach using GA. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering and Technology, IEEE Computer Society, pp. 787–792, 2008.

  20. S. Prabhudeva, A. K. Verma. Coverage modeling and reliability analysis using multi state function. International Journal of Automation and Computing, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 380–387, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, 400 076, India

    Ajit Kumar Verma, A. Srividya & P. G. Ramesh

Authors
  1. Ajit Kumar Verma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Srividya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. G. Ramesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. G. Ramesh.

Additional information

Ajit Kumar Verma received the B.Tech. (Hons) and Ph.D. (Eng.) degrees from Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, India. He is currently working as a director of the International Institute of Information Technology, Pune on lien from IIT Bombay, India, where he is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He has supervised twenty three Ph. D. dissertations and eighty four master dissertations at IIT Bombay. He has been a guest editor of special issues of various international journals. He is a senior member of IEEE and life fellow of IETE.

His research interests on reliability engineering include interdisciplinary applications in software engineering, computing, maintenance, quality management, and power systems.

A. Srividya received the B.Eng. degree in 1982, and M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees in reliability engineering from IIT Bombay, India in 1985 and 1994, respectively. She has been with IIT Bombay as a faculty since 1988 and is currently a professor in Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay. She has supervised/co-supervised seventeen Ph.D. dissertations and fifty masters dissertations at IIT Bombay. She is a recipient of leadership in Reliability Engineering Education & Research awarded by the Society of Reliability Engineering, Quality & Operations Management.

Her research interests include reliability modeling, life testing and reliability estimation, structural reliability, and reliability optimization.

P. G. Ramesh received the B. Sc., B.Tech. (Mechanical) degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India in 1992, and M.Eng. (Mechanical) degree from the University of Pune in 1998. He is a marine engineer by profession with 20 years of experience in maintenance management of shipboard machinery. He is currently a research scholar at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India.

His research interests include maintenance and reliability engineering, machinery condition monitoring and diagnostics, systems engineering, and project management.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verma, A.K., Srividya, A. & Ramesh, P.G. A systemic approach to integrated E-maintenance of large engineering plants. Int. J. Autom. Comput. 7, 173–179 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-010-0173-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-010-0173-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation