RCM TASK-SELECTION
This requires a highly-structured evaluation and policy-selection algorithm for each
failure mode. It incorporates precise and easily understood criteria for deciding which ( if
any) of the proactive tasks is technically feasibly in the present context, and also deciding
how often and by whom the actions should be undertaken. It incorporates criteria for
deciding whether any task is worth doing, a decision that is governed by how well the
algorithm deals with the consequences of the failure. Finally, if a proactive action cannot
be identified that is both technically feasible and worth doing, the algorithm should lead
the user to the most suitable default action for dealing with the failure.
This approach means that proactive tasks are only specified for appropriate failures,
which thereby leads to substantial diminution in routine workloads. If RCM is correctly
applied to existing maintenance programmes, it reduces the amount of routine work (in
other words, tasks to be done on a cyclic basis) in each period, usually by 40 to 70%. If
RCM is used to develop a new maintenance programme, the resulting scheduled
workload should be much less than if the programme is developed by traditional
methods. Less routine work also means that the remaining tasks are more likely to be
done more thoroughly. This, together with the elimination of counter-productive tasks,
leads to more effective maintenance.