The major
challenge for a maintenance engineer is to implement a
maintenance strategy which maximizes availability and
efficiency of the equipment; controls the rate of equipment
deterioration; ensures a safe and environmentally
friendly operation; and minimizes the total cost of the
operation. This can only be achieved by adopting a structured
approach to the study of equipment failure and the
design of an optimum strategy for inspection and maintenance.
Maintenance management techniques have been
through a major process of metamorphosis, from focusing
on periodic overhauls to the use of condition monitoring,
reliability-centered maintenance, and expert systems.
Most recently, risk-based maintenance
methodologies started to emerge.