Version: 15 October 2022 Table of ContentFollow for updates Jan Stoker
The Art and Science of Upkeep – Tracing the Evolution of Maintenance Management
Maintenance Management, often nestled within the broader discipline of Asset Management, has its own chronicle of growth, revolution and maturity. It is more than the preservation of assets; it is an evolving tale of techniques, technologies and tenets that have continuously adapted to meet the ever-changing demands of industries and infrastructures. In this chapter, the author delves deep into the annals of Maintenance Management, charting its transformative journey from reactive tasks to proactive, risk-informed and value-driven strategies.
From the rudimentary days when maintenance was merely a response to breakdowns, through the dawn of preventive methodologies, and into the current era where predictive, reliability-centred and risk-based maintenance are established practice, we will traverse the milestones that have shaped this vital domain. Alongside this historical arc, we will examine how overarching Asset Management frameworks such as PAS 55 and the ISO 55000 series, in combination with the European CEN/TC 319 maintenance standards, have provided the structure, language and line-of-sight that now underpin modern Maintenance Management.
Within this CEN/TC 319 family, standards such as EN 13306 (terminology) have created a common vocabulary; EN 17007 has organised maintenance into coherent processes and performance indicators; EN 17485 has positioned maintenance explicitly within physical asset management over the whole life cycle; EN 17666 has framed Maintenance Engineering as a discipline in its own right; and EN 15628 has defined roles, competences and qualification requirements for maintenance personnel. Together, and in alignment with the ISO 55000 series, these standards have helped Maintenance Management evolve from fragmented practice into a systematised, internationally recognisable profession.
Readers will be introduced to the pioneers of maintenance thought, the paradigm shifts they instigated and the technological advancements that acted as catalysts for change. The author explores how the concept of maintenance matured from being perceived as a cost centre to being recognised as a creator of value; from an operational necessity to a strategic differentiator that directly supports organisational objectives, risk management and sustainability. The influence of digitalisation, Industry 5.0 principles and data-driven decision-making will be viewed through the lens of this standardised landscape, where ISO 5500x and CEN/TC 319 jointly frame the “why”, “what” and “how” of Maintenance Management.
Through a rich tapestry of case studies, expert insights and historical retrospectives, we aim to provide a holistic understanding of how Maintenance Management has responded to challenges, integrated innovations and contributed to organisational resilience and reliability. The chapter will show how standards, methods and technologies have converged into a coherent Maintenance Management system that is both technically robust and aligned with broader Asset Management aspirations.
By the end of this chapter, you will not only have a comprehensive grasp of the present landscape of Maintenance Management, but also a deep appreciation of its storied past and an informed excitement about its promising future. Embark with us on this enlightening expedition, retracing the steps of Maintenance Management’s evolution, and witness the unfolding of a discipline that, over time, has only grown in significance, sophistication and normative clarity.
Welcome to the chronicle of care and commitment that defines Maintenance Management in the era of the ISO 55000 series and CEN/TC 319.
Content The Evolution Maintenance Management