Evaluating the effectiveness of maintenance strategies

Abstract

Purpose: To provide a framework that can identify and evaluate the effectiveness of a given maintenance strategy in a company. This can help in the strategic management of maintenance.Design/methodology/approach: The framework is developed using Hayes and Wheelwright's four‐stage framework on manufacturing strategy as a guideline. To gain a clearer understanding of the framework and its usefulness the subject topic is elaborated in two phases: definition of maintenance strategy, framework description and operationalization using case examples. The scope of the paper is limited to performance measurement of maintenance strategies. Findings: It is found that the framework is applicable and useful for the strategic management of the maintenance function. The case example depicting the fourth stage shows that maintenance can also contribute to enhancing the competitive advantage of a company. Practical implications: Given the current position of maintenance, the framework used in this paper also suggests the strategic direction to progress for long‐term effectiveness. It helps in stimulating practising managers to manage maintenance with a strategic thinking and mindset. It also helps them to visualize the capabilities of maintenance in enhancing the competitive advantage of a company. Originality/value: Unlike other functions like manufacturing and business, the strategic literature on maintenance is meagre. Many tools and techniques have been developed and applied in other fields. However, the applicability of those tools to maintenance function has never been tried. In that respect this topic is new. It helps in managing maintenance more effectively, given its growing technical and technological complexity.