From the viewpoint of the business which operates the assets, these changes are both profound and profoundly important. The assets not only become more reliable because they are better maintained, but it also means that operators themselves are less likely to do things that cause their assets to fail. A better understanding of how systems work also means that operators are far more likely to react quickly, confidently and correctly when things do go wrong – a capability which is quite literally priceless, especially in complex, hazardous, tightly coupled facilities.

In nearly every case, it also transpires that people who live with the asset on a daily basis are an invaluable source of information – information which transforms what would otherwise be an occasionally valid collection of incomplete data into a solid, valid business tool.

This leads inevitably to the conclusion that from both viewpoints – technical validity and capability development – it is folly not to involve the people who live with the assets directly in the application of the RCM process.

The Aladon Network has developed a profound understanding of what must be done to ensure that RCM is correctly applied by such multi-disciplinary review groups.