Wyle’s approach to Reliability-Centered Maintenance, Versatile Reliability Centered Maintenance (VRCM), identifies policies that must be implemented to preserve the function of an asset in its operating context. VRCM focuses on preserving the function of the system, not just maintaining equipment operation. This distinguishes RCM from traditional maintenance analyses. By focusing on system functions rather than equipment operation, myriad possibilities are addressed that may be overlooked with a traditional maintenance analysis.
VRCM considers scheduled maintenance, design changes, training improvements, operational changes, run-to-failure and other one-time changes as function preservation options. Each option is evaluated for its technical feasibility and its impact on safety, the environment, operations, and cost. The option that meets safety and environmental requirements with the least impact on operations and cost is selected and implemented.
With VRCM, scheduled maintenance is based on the failure characteristics of the component in its operating context. Scheduled maintenance takes many forms that include visual inspections, sophisticated inspection techniques such as vibration analysis and thermal analysis, scheduled overhauls and others. RCM provides the analytical technology to get the most out of these tools. In many cases, valuable tools are over used or inappropriately used. This results in inefficient maintenance programs that consume valuable resources and profits. By ensuring that the equipment’s operating context drives scheduled maintenance, the right maintenance can be performed at the right, most efficient time.
Wyle’s VRCM recognizes that "fix when fail" or "run to failure" is a valid option when it is cost effective and there is no potential impact on safety or the environment. Precious maintenance resources are often used to maintain primary systems when back-up systems are available and capable of maintaining safe operations if the primary system fails. Depending on the failure modes, much of this maintenance may be unnecessary.
One-time change considerations are valuable considerations in the VRCM process. Throughout the process, operations and maintenance personnel are working together to ensure that the use and maintenance of the system is proper and correct within the operating context. Often the analysis process clears up misunderstandings by or between operations and maintenance, leading to more efficient system use. Experience has shown that these increased efficiencies can pay for the entire analysis.
Hence, VRCM provides a proactive approach to maintenance planning. This proactive approach is designed to ensure that the right people perform the right maintenance at the right time in the right way with the right training and equipment to gain the maximum benefit of the system or process.
Wyle’s general RCM process is comprised of: Obtaining or building a plant registry of assets; Establishing functional hierarchy based on primary function; Establishing system/asset boundaries for RCM analyses and prioritize analyses; Identifying analysis resources; Beginning the analyses based on priority; Package failure mode management strategies for the entire system; and Implementing improved maintenance program.