TO SELECT BEST MAINTENANCE STRATEGY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENTS

Abstract

Present day Construction projects are capital intensive where deployment of large and heavy equipments & machinery so as to ensure earlier accrual of benefits, is ubiquitous. High mechanization entails heavy initial investment on the construction equipment which may be as high as 25 to 30 percent of the cost of the project. However, in the long run, if the equipment is operated, maintained and managed efficiently, then the investment will pay more than what it costs Therefore, it is important to maintain the equipment because idle equipment due to lack of maintenance not only can add to losses, but also the equipment is likely to be rendered unserviceable due to lying unused. Their periodic maintenance, brings the equipments near to its original condition. Hence maintenance of these equipments is of vital importance to ensure that these are in the perfect condition for use on the works. The Objective of this study is to identify procedures, by which the maintenance of equipment can be carried out efficiently and effectively in order to achieve maximum economical production from the equipment, with minimum breakdowns. Hence, the procedures and models in maintenance of equipment are discussed for achieving the overall economy of maintenance. The essential requirements for an efficient maintenance programme like scheduled maintenance, inspections and repair or overhaul with minimum waiting are also covered. This topic includes discussion of some of system models for maintenance to achieve the objective of efficient maintenance programme. The application of waiting line model, sequencing model, assignment model, replacement model are of great use in achieving the maximum profit and ,least downtime of equipment and their use has been illustrated.