An investigation into inefficiency in the condition based maintenance process

Current figures indicate that approximately half of the UK Construction Industry output is carried out in the repairs and maintenance of existing buildings. Despite this building maintenance is still generally perceived as the "poor relation" in the construction cycle. The evolution of maintenance management methodologies endorses the prevention is better than cure thinking that culminates in the development of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) programs. These are seen as the industries standard 'cost effective' method of managing repairs to building fabric and plant. Current PPM strategies rely heavily on the use of condition surveys. These subjective methods of condition assessment do not support the more desirable whole life performance (sustainable) approach. It could be argued that several factors, including the performance of the component in relation to the client's needs/expectation, should be taken more fully into account. This Project aims to outline the position, at the current time, of planned and responsive maintenance. In particular it considers the deficiencies and problems inherent in planned maintenance. It also considers the key problem of the inability of maintenance management systems to forecast or accurately predict maintenance requirements. This is validated with raw data from Residential, Commercial and Leisure sectors. It is hypothesised that significant amounts of waste are inherent within the PPM system and that condition based maintenance strategies may not be the epitome of efficiency. If successful the project will scrutinise the relationship between user, building and environment. It will also provide a conceptual model that is perceived to be more accurate and predictive of maintenance inefficiencies and applies sustainable whole life performance principles to the maintenance process.