RCM BASICS PART 1

What is
RCM?
IN A NUTSHELL

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RCM is NOT a tool or a
piece of software.
It is an internationally
defined, structured
decision-making
process to develop or
optimise a Preventive
Maintenance Program.
It is the GOLD STANDARD
for analysing and
developing PM Programs
RCM focusses on
preserving system
functions rather than
preserving equipment.
When done well, RCM will
deliver highly effective and
efficient PM programs...
but implementing RCM
requires SIGNIFICANT
expertise and resources.
So you need to use it wisely.
RCM is defined through a set of
international standards:
To ensure that our process is actually RCM, we
have to adhere to a standard.

And the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

have developed two widely accepted
international standards to define what RCM is
and how to apply it.

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©2023 R2 Reliability Pty Ltd www.roadtoreliabity.com
SAE JA1011 and JA1012
SAE JA1011 titled "Evaluation Criteria for
Reliability Centered Maintenance
Processes" outlines what criteria process
must meet before it can be deemed an
RCM process.

SAE standard JA1012 titled "A Guide to The

Reliability Centered Maintenance Standard"
provides a lot more background and
explanation to help you understand the
first standard.

Brought to you by: Road to Reliability™ Erik Hupjé

©2023 R2 Reliability Pty Ltd www.roadtoreliabity.com
Let’s look at SAE JA1011:
JA1011 outlines the requirements a process
must adhere to if it's allowed to call itself an
RCM process. And really, it all boils down to
answering seven questions.

Brought to you by: Road to Reliability™ Erik Hupjé

©2023 R2 Reliability Pty Ltd www.roadtoreliabity.com
The most fundamental requirement of any
RCM process is that it must adequately and
completely answer the following seven
questions:

1. What are the functions and associated design

performance standards for the asset in its current
operating context?

2. In what way can the asset fail to fulfill its

functions?

3. What causes each possible functional failure?

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continuation...
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4. What happens when each function of failure
occurs.

5. In what way does each failure matter?

6. What should we do to predict or prevent each

failure?

7. What should we do if a suitable proactive task

cannot be found?

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continued
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These seven questions form the backbone
of the RCM methodology.

But, when you start looking at what is required

around these seven questions, you'll see that
the standard JA1011 does actually add in a lot
of additional requirements that you need to
meet for an analysis to be considered RCM.

I summarised it all in the following chart:

continuation...
The RCM Process on a Page
Q1: Functions
What are the functions and required performance standards?
Define and document the Operating Context
Define Primary Functions and Secondary Functions
Define & quantify Performance Standards

Q2: Functional Failures

In what ways can it fail to fulfill its functions?
Define all the possible failed states for each function

Q3: Failure Modes

What causes each functional failure?
Identify all failure modes reasonably likely to cause each
functional failure
Include past failures, failure modes from existing PMs and new,
credible failure modes

Q4: Failure Effects

What happens when each failure mode occurs?
Describe what happens when the functional failure occurs
Describe Failure Effects at Local, System and Plant level
The RCM Process on a Page

Q5: The RCM Process on a Page

In what way does each failure mode matter?
Assess the consequence of each failure mode
Differentiate between Safety, Environmental, Production and
Financial consequences
Identify Hidden Failure Modes explicitly

Q6: Proactive Tasks

What should be done to predict or prevent
Select the appropriate proactive and technically feasible
maintenance task for each failure mode
For failure modes without HSE consequences ensure task is
economical

Q7: Default Actions

What should be done if a suitable proactive task
cannot be found?
If no suitable proactive task can be found, consider default
actions
Default actions include failure finding maintenance (for hidden
failure modes), no scheduled maintenance (run-to-failure) or
redesign
Download Printable File
There is a lot more to be said on
RCM and I will discuss further in
the rest of this RCM series:

1. What is RCM (this post)

2. When to do RCM
3. The drawbacks of RCM

Brought to you by: Road to Reliability™ Erik Hupjé

©2023 R2 Reliability Pty Ltd www.roadtoreliabity.com
Are you
implementing
RCM in your
organisation?
Let us know in the
comments.

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©2023 R2 Reliability Pty Ltd