Antonio J. Guillén

On the role of Prognostics and Health Management in advanced maintenance systems

Abstract The advanced use of the Information and Communication Technologies is evolving the way that systems are managed and maintained. A great number of techniques and methods have emerged in the light of these advances allowing to have an accurate and knowledge about the systems’ condition evolution and remaining useful life. The advances are recognised as outcomes of an innovative discipline, nowadays discussed under the term of Prognostics and Health Management (PHM). In order to analyse how maintenance will change using PHM, a conceptual model is proposed built upon three views. The model highlights: (i) how PHM may impact the definition of maintenance policies; (ii) how PHM fits within the condition-based maintenance; and (iii) how PHM can be integrated into reliability-centred maintenance programmes. The conceptual model is the research finding of this review note and helps to discuss the role of PHM in advanced maintenance systems.

Availability Simulation Based on Pseudo-random Failure Rates: A Case Study on Industrial Process

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the availability of different possible configurations for an industrial facility which provides loading and unloading services of LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) at the quay of a plant. Specific service availability is calculated with the support of OREDA database and applying random values for failure rates, which have been obtained from the mean failure rate and standard deviation provided by the mentioned database. As an additional objective, this paper shows a sensitivity analysis for service availability modifying the reliability of involved elements, which helps for example to review the physical stock structure or to readapt maintenance policies in the plant.

Standards as Reference to Build a PHM-Based Solution

PHM (Prognostics and Health Management) is key factor for reaching more proactive maintenance models. Its applicability depends, among others, on the development of general methodological approaches to guide the design process of new maintenance strategies where the potential of PHM can be exploited. Despite there are few specific standards that treat PHM is possible to use current standards of maintenance and diagnostic as the bases of the development of this general methodologies. This paper offers a revision of some of the available standards that can serve as guidelines to develop such solutions including a proposal of methodology to design and implement PHM solutions that combines current standards.