Implementation of Computerized Maintenance Management System based on Conceptual Strategic Asset Management Maintenance Framework for Oleochemical Industry

Abstract

Oleochemical industry is expanding rapidly due to surge in global production and demand. Modern Oleochemical plants are being erected in Malaysia and Indonesia. These modern plants with excellent raw material integration, gives producers in ASEAN an importance competitive advantage over other global competitors. In order to ensure the industry stays competitive with reliable operation and maximize the return of the capital investment, it is prudent to have all invested assets to perform their design intended function in a safe, effective and efficient manner. This can only be achieved through established asset management system. However, one of the major challenges in Oleochemical industry is managing sophisticated assets with deficient asset management system to maintain production. Technology advancement and effective deployment of information technology in support of maintenance has created new options for maintenance such as computerized maintenance management framework (CMMS) which allow seamless flow of asset maintenance information and performance measurement. CMMS is computer-based software programs used to control work activities and resources used, as well as to monitor and report work execution which in turns become part of asset history. CMMS also served as a tool for data capture and analysis. It provides management with value added information necessary for maintenance decision making. CMMS often seamlessly links with enterprise resources planning (ERP) system to improve overall asset performance, such as from breakdown maintenance to preventive maintenance. Recognized the complexities in maintenance, the industry needs to leverage the new advancement in technology and CMMS to support maintenance function and as a basis of asset management system. Without a proper asset management framework, structural CMMS is hard to be established in Oleochemical industry. Therefore, it is important for oleochemical industry to implement CMMS based on conceptual strategic asset management maintenance framework in order for this industry to stay competitive. However, there is a need for theoretical as well as empirical research in the future to validate the multifaceted perspective in the present study and to obtain more insights into the nature of asset maintenance and management, to further improve the conceptual framework to suit the Oleochemical or other similar industry.