For critical equipment, consider implementing a Predictive Maintenance (PdM) update protocol. The way it works is this:
- While the repair team is gathering parts and engaging in other mobilization to perform the repair, another team performs as much PdM as conditions permit. This gives you the “before” picture, which may be useful for failure cause analysis under less stressful conditions.
- Once the repair is complete, the PdM team performs all PdM that can be performed before the equipment is re-energized. Once the equipment is back in service, the team performs the remainder of the PdM.
At first blush, this seems like wasted manpower. Won’t the PdM team just be standing around during the repair? If the repair won’t take long, yes. If it is going to be a while based on the best estimate, that’s why we have radios and phones. They can roll their test cart into the shop for quick deployment later and do something else until they get word that the repair is almost complete. Alternatively, since this is critical equipment, the PdM team might be tasked with support activities.
Taking the “as left” PdM data increases confidence in the repair and (depending on the repair) provides new baseline data.
