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Mechanization level assessment and technology identification for productivity improvement in petrochemical facility maintenance

Zhe Yin (Construction Industry Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA) (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA)
Carlos Caldas (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA)
Daniel de Oliveira (Construction Industry Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA)
Bon-Gang Hwang (Department of Building, School of Design & Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Ming Shan (School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China)

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering

ISSN: 1355-2511

Article publication date: 2 January 2020

Issue publication date: 16 February 2021

299

Abstract

Purpose

Facility maintenance is critical for the operation and management of petrochemical plants. Maintenance work completed with higher productivity eventually contributes to better plant performance. Mechanization reduces workforce demand and can increase the productivity of maintenance work. The purpose of this paper is to assess the current mechanization level of the maintenance activities and then identify applicable technology solutions for productivity improvement in petrochemical facility maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper utilizes a mechanization level assessment method for global maintenance data collection and analysis. Subject matter experts’ interviews and market scanning were used to identify corresponding technology solutions.

Findings

The study discovered numerous maintenance activities with lower mechanization levels and identified more than 50 technology solutions applicable for maintenance productivity improvement.

Originality/value

This paper provides a roadmap for petrochemical maintenance work participants to assess their mechanization level status quo and identify technology solutions for higher maintenance work productivity. The method adopted is replicable and customizable for further applications with different plant conditions in the petrochemical sector and other industrial contexts.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research work is a part of the Mechanization Study conducted by a research team formed by representatives from the Construction Industry Institute (CII), University of Texas at Austin and National University of Singapore. The study was sponsored by governmental entities and industrial organizations in Singapore, including the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Association of Process Industry (ASPRI) and Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC).

Citation

Yin, Z., Caldas, C., de Oliveira, D., Hwang, B.-G. and Shan, M. (2021), "Mechanization level assessment and technology identification for productivity improvement in petrochemical facility maintenance", Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/JQME-11-2018-0097

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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