Page 58 - RCM - A practical Guide_V1

RCM - A Practical Guide

❑ Ensure mission system and logistic support system are complimentary, for example, by using
existing personnel & skilling levels, and utilising existing levels of repair.
❑ Standardisation - To reduce number of spares and different types reducing spares holding and
admin costs.
❑ Parts count reduction – a lower number of parts will impact upon spares holdings, which will
reduce capital investment costs.
❑ Support-free design - The System can be designed to reduce the need for support equipment e.g.
by using built-in-test (BIT), which requires less test and calibration equipment and the support of
that equipment.
❑ Using low risk resources – e.g avoid obsolescence or resources that are critical and available
from only one source, a lack of which is likely to have an adverse impact on availability.
❑ Etc
LSA - The early life cycle stages
During the early stages of equipment procurement RCM should focus on the establishment of
operational requirements, in order that these can inform any further analysis and so that RCM can
influence the design (by enabling On Condition tasks to be carried out for example). As the design
becomes established, a System Breakdown Structure can be developed. Reliability predictions for
each system will be produced.
Project definition as the design matures
Once one of the designs under evaluation is selected for further development the RCM process can be
taken to its next stage. This will enable Significant Items (SI’s) to be selected, but probably only at a
system level. Once selected a FMEA / FMECA can be developed and the functions of each system well
defined. This will inform the design process.
RCM in full development
During this life cycle phase full RCM can take place and the scheduled maintenance requirement for all
levels of maintenance developed. RCM will not be required for all LSA candidates and must be
accomplished fairly high up the indenture level.
The identification of scheduled maintenance enables further LSA tasks to be completed. The
preventive maintenance plan identifies requirements for many other support items which will be
necessary throughout the life of the equipment. Some of these items will require further analysis in
order to assess their impact on the overall support strategy.

RCM during deployment
This phase of RCM really falls into the verification and / or Age Exploration stage. It is possible that
some tasks will be refined or the frequencies modified as more accurate information becomes
available. If this is the case the original analysis should be re visited to ensure that the original
considerations are not corrupted unnecessarily.
Figure 16 - Overview of RCM / ILS Interface provides an overview of the principle activities during an
ILS programme.

58
© ASPIRE CONSULTING LTD +44 (0) 1827 723820