Continuous improvement of maintenance process for the cement industry – a case study

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the most important areas of maintenance management system for heavy industries for helping maintenance mangers to focus on measuring the effectiveness of maintenance system. This work aimed at inferring relationships between maintenance management, maintenance practices and maintenance improvement. Design/methodology/approach – In relation to maintenance management, as a case study approach, it can be applied to continuous improvement maintenance systems through 15 maintenance process areas. Findings – The general picture evidences some criticalities, such as those areas which help in the success of maintenance management and areas which lead to the failure of maintenance management. It was found that by using the maintenance management system in the cement industry, it was possible to measure and improve about 15 percent maintenance performance which can be achieved by enhancing maintenance in the suggested areas. Practical implications – Continuous maintenance improvement (CMI) is an ongoing effort to improve maintenance aimed at maintenance process simplification and reduction or elimination of maintenance process waste. To support CMI, maintenance engineers continually examine maintenance processes to discover and eliminate problems. Originality/value – Other researchers have reported on the maintenance management system, but most of them have focussed on limited areas. The lack of useful and practical research has been determined. It seems that the scientific knowledge of maintenance management still needs more effort. This study is one of the first in-depth studies into actual condition-based maintenance practice to test 15 maintenance process areas.