Exploring an Optimization Strategy at the Maintenance Department of an Oil Company

Abstract

This paper looks at applying predictive maintenance and automated data storage and retrieval to reduce waste within a Petroleum Company. In this company, all pump maintenance was performed internally. The study explores the potential effect of the proposed strategy on the operations of three departments relevant to pump maintenance. These departments were, the Pump Shop, Stores Department and Shipping and Receiving. Rockwell Automation’s Arena® simulation software was used to model an existing and proposed maintenance system comprised of these three departments and track the performance measures of Flow Time, Waiting Time and Work-in-Process. Analysis of the performance measures revealed a significant reduction in average Flow Time and Waiting Time by 76% and 96% respectively with no significant change to Work-in-Process.