Improving maintenance workflows through the use of activity sampling to identify and remove barriers to productivity

Abstract

The way we design and implement our maintenance management processes directly impacts the productivity we can achieve from our maintenance workforce. Activity sampling is a method that can be used to directly measure the direct utilisation achieved in the field by the craft labour and more importantly help identify the delays and support activities that are preventing craft from "getting on with the job". This information is used to target specific changes that will remove barriers to improving both wrench time and overall maintenance workforce productivity. Benefits include reduced cost and increased plant uptime. This paper discusses the elements that make up overall craft productivity and describes Australian experience in the application of activity sampling in the heavy industrial maintenance environment in both union and non union workplaces.