Improving Decision-Making Grid based on interdependence among failures with a case study in the steel industry

Abstract

Purpose

Decision-Making Grid (DMG) is used for determining maintenance tactics and is associated with the reliability and risk management of assets. In this grid, decision making is performed based on two indicators of Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and frequency of failures. The purpose of this paper is to improve DMG by recognizing interdependence among failures.

Design/methodology/approach

Fault Tree Analysis and Reliability Block Diagram have been applied for improving DMG. The proposed approach has been examined on eight equipment of the steel making and continuous casting plant of Mobarakeh Steel Company.

Findings

Findings indicate different positions of equipment in the cells of the new grid compared to the basic grid.

Research limitations/implications

DMG is limited to two criteria of frequency of failures and MTTR values. In both basic and new DMGs, cost analysis has not been performed. The application of the proposed approach will help the reliability/maintenance engineers/analysts/managers to allocate more suitable maintenance tactics to equipment. This, in turn, will enhance the equipment life cycle and availability as the main objectives of physical asset management.

Originality/value

A major limitation of basic DMG is that the determined tactic based on these two indicators might not be an appropriate solution in all conditions, particularly when failures are interdependent. This has been resolved in this paper.

Citation

Shahin, A., Labib, A., Emami, S. and Karbasian, M. (2019), "Improving Decision-Making Grid based on interdependence among failures with a case study in the steel industry", The TQM Journal, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 167-182. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-03-2018-0043