03AssetManagement_QualityControl-PT2– Click To Download PDF

ASSET MANAGEMENT & QUALITY CONTROL (PART 2)

Albert K. Fletcher
CEO / PM Consultant
(Dataman System Consultancy)


KEY RESULT AREAS

Asset Management and Quality Control aim to deliver long-term operational excellence and safety. Below are the five key result areas, each critical to the performance and economic success of plant operations.


1. Safety

The objective is the removal or control of hazards to eliminate injuries to people and protect assets.
This ensures that facilities and maintenance activities comply with statutory requirements and regulations aligned with national and international standards, codes of practice, and the Asanko way of operations.


2. Environment

The objective is to eliminate or control hazards that could cause environmental damage.
Facilities and maintenance practices must meet national and international environmental standards, regulations, and codes of practice.


3. Plant Performance

The objective is to set challenging yet achievable performance targets, ensure their attainment, and drive continuous improvement.

Business plans must consider:

  • Business performance requirements

  • Plant capability

  • Maintenance needs

  • Associated costs

Five significant dimensions of asset management affecting plant performance:

  • Availability

  • Reliability

  • Capability

  • Quality

  • Integrity

Cost is treated as a separate key result area.

Plant performance is continually analyzed to identify improvement opportunities. Enhancements can be achieved through:

  • Modified operating practices

  • Updated maintenance strategies

  • Improvements in maintenance execution

  • Plant design changes


4. Cost Performance

The objective is to set realistic but ambitious targets for operating and sustaining capital expenditure, achieve budget compliance, and enhance cost efficiency.

Budgets are developed based on:

  • Business performance needs

  • Plant capability

  • Maintenance requirements

  • Cost structures (operational or capital)

Cost performance is reviewed to identify improvement opportunities through:

  • Improved operating practices

  • Optimized maintenance techniques

  • Better resourcing strategies

  • Design enhancements


5. Management

The objective is to establish controlled and sustainable asset management processes that consistently achieve required performance and cost objectives.

A strong Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) plays a critical role in enforcing and monitoring these processes.

Management improvements may involve:

  • Better work design

  • Work sampling and analysis

  • Improved planning & scheduling

  • Optimized labor and materials management

  • Strengthened execution practices

  • Effective work completion feedback


MEASURING ASSET MANAGEMENT OUTCOMES

Asset management performance is assessed across six key dimensions:

  1. Availability

  2. Reliability

  3. Capability

  4. Quality

  5. Integrity

  6. Cost

Each dimension offers a unique perspective on performance, and no single metric provides a complete picture.

Most performance indicators are lagging metrics, meaning results of changes may take months or years to reflect.


LEADING INDICATORS: The True Predictors of Success

If the following occur consistently, future plant performance is likely to meet expectations:

  • The right jobs are done

  • At the right time

  • In the right way

  • With high safety standards

These are leading indicators of asset management effectiveness.


MAINTENANCE STRATEGY MANAGEMENT

Sustaining critical equipment performance requires:

  • A defined maintenance strategy

  • Continuous refinement

  • Effective execution through robust work management processes

This ensures all maintenance activities are executed at the correct intervals, supported by accurate planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.


(End – Part 2 – to be continued…)

 

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