A framework for managing maintenance using performance measurement systems

The role of maintenance in modern manufacturing is becoming ever more impor tant, with companies adopting maintenance as a profit-generating business e lement. As a result, traditional terms used to describe maintenance such as "necessary evil" seem to be obsolete. It would appear that the aim of the maintenance function is to contribute towards an organisation's profit, cle arly bringing the need for maintenance operations to be in harmony with cor porate business objectives. As the measurement activity provides the link b etween the actual output and the desired results, performance measurement s ystems are crucial to those who have a stake in maintenance, to ensure that they are not in conflict with the overall business needs. This paper looks at the role of performance measurement systems (PMS) in maintenance, with particular reference to developing a new PMS using the quality function dep loyment (QFD) technique. First, a literature review on performance measurem ent is presented, in which the key factors for an effective PMS are identif ied. Second, common PMSs for maintenance are examined. Then, based on the p rinciples of an effective PMS a discussion on PMSs is presented, when appli ed to the maintenance function. Next, a framework is developed to embrace t hese key facets, which is followed by a discussion of its practical implica tions, in the light of its application within a SME.