Operation & Maintenance

Engineering

For new plants, we begin our examination with an analysis of possible ways of organising future maintenance requirements and coverage.

As regards already operational plants, Uhde Services starts to work to the specified maintenance procedures and cycles. In the comprehensive maintenance review, the current situation is evaluated, the capacity of structures is checked and assessed, processes are inspected and maintenance standards and practices are developed and safeguarded. Guidelines and procedures are drawn up with specific objectives.

In conjunction with detailed engineering of all maintenance activities, Uhde Services may recommend organisational changes to its customers based on its maintenance organisation experience.

Setting basic targets is typical of the engineering phase, which entails providing the same or improved availability and economic savings through longer maintenance cycles. The implementation or enhancement  of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) is often recommended, an innovative approach which Uhde Services operates at customers’ premises.

Uhde Services is proficient in all current methodologies and decides on a focus in consultation with the customer on a case-by-case basis. This may entail:

• Ensuring the reliability of the plant (Reliability Centered Maintenance, RCM)
• Minimising the risk of failures (Risk Based Inspection, RBI)
• Closely coordinating maintenance and production with a view to ensuring optimal production (Total Productive Maintenance, TPM)

The strategic approach taken varies accordingly:

• Corrective Maintenance (CO), which entails scheduled or unscheduled corrective action during the production process.
• Preventive Maintenance (PM), which enables unexpected failures to be prevented through regular interventions.
• Predictive Maintenance (PdM), enables a rapid and targeted response through condition monitoring and continuous measurement of oscillations, oil levels and quality, thermographic imaging and threshold monitoring.

In the engineering phase, the appropriate methodology and strategy are determined, key indicators for maintenance are stipulated, specific plant structures are developed and incorporated and the necessary audits are scheduled and implemented.