ABSTRACT
Why should we look at maintainability? Because maintainability provides information about the vital characteristics of manufacturing machinery
and equipment that enable suppliers and customers to be world-class competitors. Efficient production planning depends on a process that yields high-quality parts at a specific rate without interruption. Predictable equipment R&M (i.e., reliability and maintainability) of the manufacturing machinery and equipment is a key ingredient in maintaining production efficiency and the effective deployment of justintime (JIT) principles. Improved equipment R&M leads to lower total life-cycle costs that are necessary to maintain the competitive edge. Improved equipment R&M also results in improved availability, while highly available production machinery produces consistently high-quality products at lower costs and higher output levels.
