Incorporating EAM Maintenance Standards in EAM Systems

Making EAM Systems Even More Powerful with EAM Maintenance Standards

While many of today’s asset-intensive organizations are using all (or most) of the features of their enterprise asset management (EAM) systems, others are using specific elements of their systems for more basic planning, scheduling, and documenting work, or are using select subsets of available features because of limitations within their industries. For others, the use of EAM maintenance standards tailored to their specific needs offer opportunities to include best- and better- practices in their maintenance and repair processes.  These standards and guidelines can run the gamut from horizontal functionality to insight into vertical, industry-specific capabilities.  Examples of three maintenance standards and guidelines can be found below.   

ISO 55000 Series of Industry Standards

The ISO 55000 series of standards is widely applicable and can help a wide variety of organizations deliver added value to maintenance and operations teams. These standards can apply to private and public sector businesses, product manufacturing, utilities, service providers, regulated and unregulated environments, and other functions.

The ISO 55000 series of standards were developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 251, Asset Management. ASTM International is the ANSI-accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) administrator to TC 251.

The guide explains the role of the three standards within the ISO 55000 family and provides simple practical advice and examples of asset management within different environments. It identifies the potential benefits of adoption of the following standards:

• ISO 55000: Asset Management Overview, Principles, and Terminology

• ISO 55001: Asset Management Systems and Requirements
• ISO 55002: Asset Management Systems Guidelines for the Application of ISO 55001

ATA VMRS 2000 Reporting Standards 

The American Trucking Associations Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (ATA VMRS) were developed primarily with rolling stock in mind, and much detail is available on trucks, tractors, trailers, and other vehicles, as well as associated equipment, assemblies, and subassemblies.    

The primary VMRS categories include information, such as:

• The VMRS Equipment Master Record: This includes information about the specifications for a piece of equipment, including engines, transmissions, axles, bodies, refrigeration units, tailgates, and other equipment, depending on the type of asset.
• Equipment Vocation Codes: Vocation codes are used to identify the primary activity or vocation of a piece of equipment.  A wide range of vocations are identified.  Such activities as linehaul, pickup and delivery, combination service, heavy haul, refuse, and mining are examples of vocation code types.
• Reason for Repair Codes: These codes are used for identifying repair reason types, such as maintenance, including preventive maintenance, routine maintenance, driver’s report, breakdown, management decision, outside influence, etc.
• Work Accomplished Codes: This category is used to identify what tasks were performed to the piece of equipment.
• Failure Code: Information about why a part or assembly failed.
• System Level Coding: Used to identify equipment systems.
• Assembly Level Coding: Used to identify equipment subsystems.
• Component Level Coding: Used to identify equipment components.
  • Note: The above system, assembly, and component-level codes are typically used together.  For example, within the cranking system code (system #032), 032-001-000 denotes a complete starter, but a drilldown to identify specific parts, such as a starter solenoid, armature, or brushes, could be used to further identify specific parts at the assembly and component levels.    

• Position Codes: Used to identify the position where a part or component are placed (e.g., a left front position on the vehicle).

• Equipment status codes: Used to identify the status of parts in the repair proves, such as onsite repair, repair in progress, parts on order, waiting for authorization, etc.
• Warranty codes: Codes to help fleets to communicate with OEM suppliers and aftermarket suppliers to manage and track warranty claim information.

APTA Transit Asset Management Framework to Achieve a State of Good Repair (SGR)

With many transit agencies interested in the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) State of Good Repair initiative, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) offers a recommended practice for transit operators.  While not meant to be a step-by-step guide to meeting the criteria, it is meant to be a way to document the experience of agencies that have found measures that work in a real-world setting

The document provides guidance on communicating an agency’s transit asset management plan to achieve a state of good repair (SGR) transit asset management (TAM) plan.  This recommended practice identifies a method a transit organization could use to simplify its TAM plan communication efforts, including examples that support best practice and federal requirements. The guide offers insight into currently available materials, as well as to provide some examples of real-world experience in implementing previous initiatives.