Reliability and Maintenance News: Spare Parts Classification

The definition of ‘spare parts classification’ can fluctuate depending on the vision and / or focus assumed at any given moment.

Some examples of definitions:

• Part criticality
• Parts grouping or commodity
• Part type

At IDCON INC we have a definition of part classification as follow:

• What type of spare is it when it sits on the shelves?
• Does it influence the plant performance?
• Is it hard to find?

Looking at it in this perspective, we have classified spare parts as follow:

• Critical – We can’t live (or sleep) without it
• Insurance – Yes, let’s have it in case of
• Low risk – No problem (I can still sleep) if we need it now
• Non-stock – We will pick it up tomorrow
• In order to define a part with these classifications, asking simple questions can give us a type of approach that can be objective.

They are usually answered by a skilled craftsperson, supervisor, store room attendant, craft leads or reliability engineer (sorry, purchasing agents usually are not the best resource).

In an existing inventory, we will have the parts transaction data (good issues, parts used) available that will support us in this effort. When new equipment is purchased, these questions can be supplied to the equipment manufacturer (NOT vendor) for their input (I strongly suggest a review by the plant).; plus a special joint session with RPTA focusing on Operator Driven Reliability.

Special events

IDCON participates in conference world-wide. Here are some of our upcoming events:

PaperCon 2013 April 27 to May 1. On April 30, Christer Idhammar will be presenting ‘ODR Mill Application Update: What’s Been Tried, Who’s Succeeded, What’s Failed, and Why as part of PaperCon’s special one day OpEx Reliability Workshop’. The OpEx Reliability Workshop, a one-day event taking place during PaperCon, is designed for mill maintenance and reliability teams interested in bringing the latest techniques and best practices back to their mill.

Sessions topics include: Improving the Maintenance and Reliability Function; Advances in Asset Management; and T Maintenance Work Force Structuring and Education; plus a special joint session with RPTA focusing on Operator Driven Reliability.