Peter Söderholm

A system view of the No Fault Found (NFF) phenomenon

When a unit is tested outside a technical system, it has normally been removed due to a fault. However, in some cases the external test may not discover any fault and a No Fault Found (NFF) event may occur. The NFF phenomenon is a major problem when dealing with complex technical systems, and its consequences may be manifested in decreased safety and dependability and increased life cycle costs. There are multiple interacting causes of NFF, demanding tough requirements for successful solutions. The purpose of this paper is to describe the phenomenon of NFF and to highlight possible improvements for the prevention of causes of NFF and the reduction of its consequences. The study was performed as an explorative literature study, and the analysis was based on a holistic system view. The identified causes and solutions are related to life cycle stages, availability performance factors, and system stakeholders.

A process view of maintenance and its stakeholders

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe maintenance in a generic process model, in order to support an alignment of maintenance with other company internal processes aimed at fulfilling external stakeholder requirements.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed maintenance process model is based on existing theories and is illustrated by examples from a paper‐mill case study related to the maintenance of DC‐motors.Findings – The proposed model supports a holistic view of maintenance and the alignment of the maintenance process with other company internal processes, in order to fulfil external stakeholder requirements.Research limitations/implications – Further research could include an application of the proposed maintenance model to test its usefulness to identify stakeholders and also hazard diagnosis.Practical implications – The importance of vertical and horizontal alignment between the maintenance process and other processes in order to achieve effectiveness and efficiency is illustrated....

Uncertainty Estimation in Railway Track Life-cycle Cost: A Case Study From Swedish National Rail Administration

Abstract Life-cycle cost (LCC) is used as a cost-effective decision support for maintenance of railway track infrastructure. However, a fair degree of uncertainty associated with the estimation of LCC is due to the statistical characteristics of reliability and maintainability parameters. This paper presents a methodology for estimation of uncertainty linked with LCC, by a combination of design of experiment and Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed methodology is illustrated by a case study of Banverket (Swedish National Rail Administration). The paper also includes developed maintenance cost models for track.

Selection of Maintenance Actions Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP): Decision-making in Railway Infrastructure

A methodology for prioritising between different maintenance actions in the railway infrastructure is presented. The consistency of the prioritisation and the feasibility of the applied methodology are investigated. Criteria describing the diverse effects of maintenance are developed and presented to track managers, together with a set of maintenance actions that are specific for each track manager. Then, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used to obtain preferences for the criteria and for the different actions. The track managers roughly agree on the prioritisation of criteria. However, the discrepancies between the results of the two ways employed to elicit the preferences for the actions are rather large. The track managers consider it easy to understand the rationale of the AHP and to enter their preferences. It is proposed that preferences are recorded as they are in this paper, in order to document the rationale of the decisions and to facilitate mutual learning among decision-makers and over time.

Development of ICT‐based maintenance support services

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a taxonomy for an eMaintenance management framework (eMMF) based on a service‐oriented approach, in order to facilitate the development of information and communication technology (ICT)‐based maintenance support services aimed at actors within the maintenance process related to complex technical industrial systems.Design/methodology/approach – To fulfil this purpose, a case study of a modern multi‐role combat aircraft is selected as an appropriate research strategy and supported by a literature study. Empirical data are collected through interviews, workshops, document studies, and observations. A framework is developed and evaluated using a prototype within the studied case. The study is performed in close cooperation with the aircrafts type certificate holder and the customer representative and operator in one country.Findings – The proposed eMMF aids in the identification and development of ICT‐based maintenance support services tailored for specific ...

Integration of RCM and PHM for the next generation of aircraft

With global cuts in defense budgets, air forces have to sustain the same level of readiness with a reduced number of aircraft. To succeed with this challenge, it is not sufficient to improve current maintenance concepts, but also new ones have to be introduced.

Continuous Improvements of Complex Technical Systems: a Theoretical Quality Management Framework Supported by Requirements Management and Health Management

Continuous Improvements are a core value of Quality Management. This work is often a response to changed stakeholder requirements. However, the increasing complexity and criticality of many of today’s technical systems require that the improvement work is systematic in order to manage properly the changes and avoid unwanted effects. This paper explores how Requirements Management and Health Management can support Quality Management, in order to systematize the management of continuous improvements of complex technical systems in response to changed stakeholder requirements. The result is a theoretical management framework based on a combination of the three management areas. The framework is intended to facilitate a systematic work with continuous improvements of complex technical systems, in the context of dynamic stakeholder requirements.

Exploiting SOA within emaintenance

SOA is being exploited in many various business domains. One of them is industrial maintenance. In this paper, we outline an eMaintenance Platform (eMP) for maintaining complex technical systems. This platform is part of the eMaintenance Management Framework (eMMF). Our primary goal is to explore how SOA can be exploited within industrial maintenance. Our secondary goal is to provide eMP as an effective tool for organizations to conduct their maintenance and support.

Application of information and communication technology for maintenance support information services: Transferring experiences from an eHealth solution in Sweden

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the transferability of ICT‐solutions for providing support information services from eHealth to eMaintenance.Design/methodology/approach – The applied research approach takes the form of a single‐case study supported by a literature study. Empirical data were collected through documents, observations and interviews. The conclusions of the study were verified by key informants.Findings – The study indicates some major problems that have to be overcome when implementing support information services using an ICT‐solution (e.g. to manage heterogeneous organizations; manage heterogeneous eService‐environments; and enable context and situation awareness in eServices). Further, the study has identified and graded some solutions, which address these problems and are transferable from eHealth to eMaintenance.Practical implications – The studied case is in the forefront of eHealth solutions and can therefore act as a guidance for those involved at different stages o...

Positioning embedded software maintenance within industrial maintenance

Little is known about of how software embedded in complex industrial technical systems is maintained. In this paper, we identify industrial maintenance process steps and position software maintenance activities within them. We do this in the context of JAS 39 Gripen, a multi-role combat aircraft developed by Saab.