Software Solution Design for Application of
Reliability Centered Maintenance in Preventive
Maintenance Plan
David Lazeck, Vladimr Krl, Stanislav Rusek, Radomr Goo
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
VB - Technical University of Ostrava
Ostrava, Czech Republic
david.lazecky.st@vsb.cz, vladimir.kral@vsb.cz, stanislav.rusek@vsb.cz, radomir.gono@vsb.cz
AbstractThe implementation of Reliability Centered
Maintenance into Preventive Maintenance Plan scheduling is one
of the possible paths towards cost reductions in the fields of
diagnostics and operating personnel. There is also the assumption
of maintaining acceptable reliability of individual devices within
the entire network. The devices to be considered suitable for
application of RCM concern network elements present in
sufficient quantities, supported with enough experience relevant
to maintenance and with the data obtained through operative
measurements and protection available. This data set forms ideal
fundamentals for analysis and status assessment of a particular
device. Provided the current status of a system element is known
and it future development can be expected, the maintenance
interval can be adjusted giving priority to PMP applicable to
devices in unsatisfactory condition and postponement of PMP for
devices in good condition. This paper describes the design of
software for PMP priority assessment pursuant to the RCM
method with respect to priority assigned to electric power supply
and evaluation of consequences for customers.
KeywordsReliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), asset
condition, Preventive Maintenance Plan, software improvement,
power distribution assets
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Description of RCM
The costs of asset management with the maintenance costs
present one of the largest items in most manufacturing
companies, as well electric power enterprises. Decisions about
the maintenance strategy have significant impact on the
companies economy. Speaking of the maintenance strategy,
one may not avoid the discussion about reliability of equipment
and optimal costs of reliability as required.
As far as reliability is concerned, maintenance is such
condition of equipment, when a particular element (or a group
of elements) would be unable to perform their functions, since
it is subject to the maintenance downtime. Each maintenance
downtime interval then basically means a reduction in
reliability of a particular system.
Any element subject to maintenance is neither in operation
nor in standby mode. Looking at the reliability system as a
This research was partially supported by the SGS grant from VSB -
Technical University of Ostrava (No. SP2017/54) and by the project
TUCENET (No. LO1404).
978-1-5090-6406-9/17/$31.00 2017 IEEE
whole, a maintenance downtime causes a drop out of the whole
system. For a parallel reliability system, the maintenance
downtime induces a reduction of entire system reliability;
hence, it has an impact on intensity and the mean time between
failures.
The periods of 1960s and 1970s led to development of
methodology known as the reliability centered maintenance
(RCM), starting in the aircraft industry and spreading into other
industries later on. It entered the field of power engineering
during 1990s only. It is basically a decision-making tool
enabling control over maintenance programs. This tool
provides data for logical decisions used for alteration or
redefining of existing maintenance programs. RCM is capable
of improving the efficiency and optimisation of the existing
programs. RCM is based on the assumption that reliability is a
construction characteristic implemented and preserved during
operation.
The aim of this reliability centered maintenance is to create
such maintenance strategy that helps minimise the total
operating costs while preserving the necessary level of
reliability, safety and tolerance to the living environment for
equipment operation as described in [1], [2], [3].
B. SW support for RCM
To enable setting an optimal order before maintenance
depending on condition of particular equipment and with
respect to the selected methodology, it is necessary to choose
such SW concept that would enable flexible adjustment of the
calculation algorithm itself, as well as the structure of input
values database expressing the condition and importance of
particular equipment.
The overall concept of this SW is therefore based on the
following requirements:
The input data for calculation and its results in a
generally extended format, enabling subsequent analysis
and evaluation,
simple and intuitive operation of the program,
calculation speed,
synoptic graphic presentation of results,
functionality on most common PC operation systems.
 The environment selected for its development was Visual TABLE I. EXAMPLE OF EQUIPMENT IDENTIFICATION
Basic (VB). That was due to the relative simplicity of this Morava Dev01 Dev02
language, availability of all the functionalities and
Substation name Name01 Name02
programming technologies required. Programming in Windows
using C and C++ is very complicated, whereas VB enables Shortcut R02_S02 R06_S06
achievement of the same results with far lower literacy Region R02 R06
requirements and it is feasible by amateur programmers too. Place of the device T101 T102
This language enables utilisation of all the options of ID A1034105217 A2000231023
object-oriented programming. The environment provides its Mfg. year 2005 1989
application version VBA (Visual Basic for Application) to Serial No. 335793 338621
enable easy linkage to other Microsoft products. Type Type A01 Type B03

II. CREATION OF SW FOR INPUT VALUES OF MAIN

ALGORITHMS
TABLE II. EXAMPLE OF CRITERIA FOR TECHNICAL CONDITION
ASSESSMENT
A. SW for Input Values of Main Algorithms
The SW for input data represents an interface for Morava Dev01 Dev02
processing of raw input data formed by outputs and exports Age 12 28
from database and information systems and these may refer to Average Load [%] 45 30
a certain part of the network as well as individual elements. Operational Time [%] 90 76
Their processing and standardisation have been facilitated Short-circuit current count 0 0
using macros in EXCEL to enable further standardisation of
Total short-circuit current time 0 0
these operating, diagnostic and other outputs for further use to
allow their utilisation in the SW for optimisation of Max. current value [kA] 0 0
maintenance. Unless the data have been supplied in the Failure count 0 0
precisely defined format and structure, it is not possible to Failure time 0 0
ensure correct operation of the SW or to obtain any relevant
results.
Each macro is operable with its particular template, TABLE III. EXAMPLE OF IMPORTANCE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
defining the quantity and order of both the values obtained
from primary files as well as in the files created as their output. Morava Dev01 Dev02
A file with macro and a template would then form one Backup no yes
functional unit. Total number of customers interrupted 12684 34
Number of important customers 2 9
B. Input Data
The input data can be divided into several categories. The
division depends on output from individual information It is evident that certain parameters of input data and
systems, so the categories may be as outlined below. categories assessed will differ per type of equipment. The
parameters observed and evaluated on switches differ from
The first category is represented by data enabling accurate those on transformers. The groups of individual elements
identification of equipment within a building, its location and assessed can be considered for various numbers of criteria
basic data from the manufacturers tag. This data has no impact (several units). However, the pre-defined data structure
on the calculation. (completion of values for all criteria) must be preserved at all
times.
The second category comprises parameters of individual
criteria for assessment of condition (6 9). Those are mainly The input data for calculation may include the weights of
details from the operating-information systems, protection and individual criteria and the maximum maintenance intervals.
diagnostic records, to allow complex assessment of the existing These values also enter the calculation. However, they are
condition of particular equipment. The number of criteria has amended by the standards, regulations and maintenance
to be chosen with respect to the relevant details concerning a requirements in place. That is why these can be considered
specific element. Too many criteria will necessarily result in a constant output values without requests for frequent changes.
great complexity of algorithms and increase of requirements
regarding performance to be reserved for real time assessment.
The third category of input data also needs to be included
within the calculation. This data ensures identification of
equipment within the network with respect to its importance
for the network (2 4). These are criteria assessing the
category of uninterrupted supply of power, backup options, the
range of consumers/areas struck by a potential failure, etc.

C. Processing of Input Data
Each category of equipment assessed is assigned a separate
file. The raw data described above are processed into jointly
formatted tables using macros in EXCEL.
Graphics is used to differentiate the parts containing data
for equipment identification (12 16 values; imported mainly
from the first category of data), the technical condition details
(7 8 values; imported mainly from the second category of
data) and the details defining importance of equipment in the
network (2 4 values; imported mainly from the third category
of data).
Those files (joint tables) are then evaluated using the SW
for application of RCM.
III. CREATION OF MAIN ALGORITHMS FOR APPLICATION OF
RMC ON POWER DISTRIBUTION ASSETS
The main algorithm represents the essential calculation
segment of the whole SW. The equations are same for all the
individual categories and based mostly on principles described
in [4], [5], [6], [7]. If all the input data are entered in the
defined form (assessment criteria, their weights and maximum
maintenance intervals), it will be used to produce a database of
results for further work.
The equation (1) below describes the example of the
calculation process of the Maintenance priority of the asset
based on relevant criteria and RCM methodology. The
components of the formula are described beneath the equation.
The output is calculated in percentage of the asset maintenance
priority. In the graph the outcome of the equation is inverted
and presented as (final) Technical Condition.
PO = (100 - TS)(1 - kTSDV) + DVkTSDV
PO ..... Maintenance priority of the asset
TS ...... Technical condition of the asset
DV ..... Specific importance of the asset
kTSDV .. Division coefficient of TS and DV
TIS
Input Values
Importance
RCM
Criteria Program
Main Algorithm
Coordinates of the
piece of equipment
Fig. 1 Block diagram
The block diagram of the main algorithm is presented in
Fig. 1. TIS Technical Information System(s) is the only
source of the technical data for the software. The gathering
process of the input values is described in the previous
chapter. Criteria, where Importance is only one subcategory of
the whole group, are described above. The output of the
process generates optimal order of maintenance (Coordinates
of the piece of equipment).
IV. RESULTS
Once the calculation is finished, the database of results will
be displayed using tables and graphics. The outcome from
main calculation algorithms is to determine an optimal order of
maintenance on elements contained within the database of
source data.
An example of output assessment for transformers rated
110/22 kV is shown below. There is no formal difference
between this parameters and the assessment for other elements
concerned (especially MV and HV switches).
The top part of this window shows a graphic evaluation to
determine the optimal order of maintenance. The horizontal
axis emphasizes the importance of equipment within the
network, the vertical axis refers to technical condition of the
equipment. Values on both axes are expressed as percentage.
The bottom part shows the table with output data from the
algorithm, which is the source of values for graphic illustration.
The data in this table are not ordered in any way.
The graphic evaluation may be divided into several zones
that point out appropriate reaction according to the condition of
the evaluated asset as shown in Fig. 2.
Description of the zones:
A: asset condition is very well; no maintenance needed
B: asset condition is good; maintenance should be
planned
C: asset condition is bad; maintenance needed a. s. a. p.
D: asset condition is very bad; immediate shutdown
Summary
Zone D
Technical Condition
Zone C
Zone B
Zone A
Importance
Fig. 2 Description of the graphical output
 Fig. 3 Output of the main algorithm for transformers rated 110/22 kV
V. CONCLUSION
The RCM is one of the means for optimisation of
maintenance costs. The paper deals with SW support for
potential implementation of RCM on the vital elements of
power distribution assets, i.e. transformers rated 110/22 kV,
power switches rated 110 kV and MV power switches. The
output from so called main algorithms represent an optimal
order of elements for maintenance with respect to their
importance and technical condition. The input data available
must be processed with the auxiliary SW to ensure the data
structure complies with requirements for input data for main
algorithms. The methodology described here is absolutely
versatile, enabling to change the input data, its scope and
weight. That is why this methodology is applicable even to
other elements within the power distribution grid as well as
power distribution assets.
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