There is probably some of you professionals that use some kind of Availability/Reliability Modeling/Analysis Software to help you better understand what is happening in your maintenance organization, time of failure, availability, reliability, maintenance analysis, etc.

What kind of software are you using, how good they are? I using some Excel spreadsheet personally maid but I know there are some professional program for maintenance to this job...what do you suggest and what are your experiences?

Enrique,
What does your business do?
Power, Manufacturing, Mining???

It is Mining...

Do you have a CMMS?

Hello Enrique,
I have been using RCMCost and Avsim from Isograph for the past 7 years. The software is now called Availability Workbench. I have had some excellent results with using this software.
It can be used for simply reviewing your current maintenance plans or doing full RCM studies of your plant. I suppose it depends on what outcomes are required to how deep you need to go.
See the attachment http://www.isograph-software.com/awb-intro.htm

Also ARMS Reliability Engineers have a base in Europe and are Reliability consultants who have vast experience in the software and the training of personnel in the use of the software. You will see some case studies on their website.
See http://www.reliability.com.au/

I would suggest getting a trial version of the software from Isograph and if you require assistance on a particular project or a pilot study using the software, I would contact ARMS Reliability Engineers. They would get you up and running to a point you would be self sufficient in the use of the package.
Personally, I am just embarking on Reliability Improvement project and have just been given permission to purchase the software to assist in the project’s success.

I hope this helps.

Cheers - Gary

Hi Enrique,

Our EAM/CMMS software, IMMPOWER, includes a Reliability module and other supporting modules that may meet your needs. We have customers in the petroleum and metals industries using the reliability functions of our system.

For more information, visit http://www.revereinc.com/Produ...OWER_Reliability.htm.

Regards,
Myles Owens
Revere, Inc.

Dear Gary,

Could you please advise contact details of the ARMS base in Europe. (website mentions N.America & Australasia).Thank you.

cheers

Hello Rennie,

The contact for ARMS Europe is Paul Daugalis and can be contacted via pdaugalis@globalreliability.com

Cheers Gary

Enrique,
There are likely to be simple solutions available to you that will not consume a lot of your time. Modelling can work if you have a lot of good data and tomorrow is going to be the same as yesterday.
If you want to find out what is happening in your plant, I suggest you get a good relationship with your technicians and operators and ask them. Believe me - this is your best and easiest source of valuable information. In most cases, we find the answer is there on the shop floor. All one needs to do is go there with an open mind and the will to listen.
Rgds
Steve

Enrique,

Steve is correct when he says the technicians and operators are a valuable source of information. The thing is what do you do with that information? You could enter it into Microsoft excel or Microsoft access. I transfer the information into the Isograph software Availability Workbench. This now enables me to make smart maintenance decisions, produce budgets, optimise spares, predict plant availability etc etc.

Cheers Gary

Enrique,
I agree with Gary. If you are planning to move from the basic level, which you should have achieved before you start on this journey, then Reliability Modeling is a good way.
Reliasoft is another company that makes a range of relatively inexpensive software which includes simulation modeling. There are some very expensive and effective software packages which work well, but these are not worth considering till you get some familiarity and can justify their need. These include e.g., Witness, Maros, Miriam etc.

The good thing about modeling is that, at least to start the work, we can use ball-park data. Once some items stand out as critical (we can get a ranked list of items that contribute to downtime), then we spend extra effort to get 'good' data for those items. One such effort would be, as Steve suggested, go and talk to the those close to the scene of action.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Vee,

to vee first thing is to make a cost spread sheet which will tell you were your money is going you can take a average for lets say 2 months your going to show managment were the money is going than going to show your labor cost pre personnel you have in house do you have 3 shift operation rule of thumb is 1 mech for 20 production personnel after all this cost analyst work will tell you what type of program is right for you it also depends on what inventory you have in house softward is only as good what you put in the system

Randy,
I am not sure I understand your point. Enrique's query is about modeling Your note seems to be about manpower numbers. If so, please start a new thread.
I am afraid I do not accept 'rules-of-thumb' methods, but others may do as they see fit.

I staid a side not adding anything...This was a great information for me, thanks a lot to all you...and yes Vee you are write am am interesting about CMMS and Availability/Reliability Modeling/Analysis Software, make it together to better understand what is happening in maintenance and to make better and more reliable maintenance decisions and how much it costs...