Application of Reliability-Centered Maintenance with a Computerized Maintenance Management System for the Wheelset in Rolling Stock

Abstract

Maintenance plays an important role in ensuring the reliability and safety of rolling stock in the railway sector. This study focuses on the application of an integrated Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for wheelsets in a wheel profiling measurement system. The combined use of RCM and CMMS helps optimize key reliability indices, such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), and Availability. The results demonstrate that automation enhances performance, with MTBF increasing from 500 to 800 hours and MTTR decreasing from 8 to 4 hours. Additionally, CMMS improved inventory management efficiency from 60% to 90% and reduced emergency repairs, resulting in annual savings of ₹2,325,000. Despite the higher initial investment of ₹6,375,000, automation proved more cost-effective over a five-year period. Furthermore, system availability increased from 97.3% to 99.1%, minimizing downtime and improving operational efficiency. These findings have been shared with the maintenance manager of the system under study for further implementation and testing.