A maintenance optimisation framework in application to optimise power station boiler pressure parts maintenance

Abstract

Purpose

The boiler pressure parts are a major asset of a power station, and the maintenance cost is often accountable for a huge portion of the annual budget. In the power generation industry, the outage costs due to loss of production, both planned or forced, are very significant and thus it is of interest to seek for a meaningful approach to the management of boiler pressure parts maintenance such that the enterprise performance is optimised. This paper aims to do this.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a framework that introduces the division of the enterprise objectives into the three decision dimensions. The framework is applied to the case of power station boiler pressure parts maintenance to optimise maintenance outages decisions for Loy Yang, a power station in Victoria, Australia.

Findings

The study finds that the framework provides meaningful approach to optimising maintenance decisions and is generic for application in different cases.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new insight and integrated approach to optimising asset maintenance for an enterprise with the use of a case study.

Citation

Tam, A.S.B., Price, J.W.H. and Beveridge, A. (2007), "A maintenance optimisation framework in application to optimise power station boiler pressure parts maintenance", Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 364-384. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552510710829461