The status of maintenance management in Swedish manufacturing firms

Abstract

Presents a model of five linked maintenance management components (strategy, human aspects, support mechanisms, tools/techniques and organization). Analyses the present status of these components in Swedish manufacturing firms through a survey of 284 respondents. Shows that fewer than half have written maintenance strategies or computerized maintenance information systems and several give maintenance low status. The figures are lowest in small firms and in the timber industry. Preventive maintenance at fixed intervals and corrective maintenance are the most common maintenance techniques. However, condition monitoring is common in large paper and chemical firms. Also indicates that Swedish firms have not fully made maintenance a company‐wide issue, and that centralized maintenance departments dominate resources in large firms, but outsourcing has become important in small firms. Many of these figures are considered not to be optimal, but the average firm should be able to improve.