Workflow management combined with diagnostic and repair expert system tools for maintenance operations

The authors present an integrated framework for effective management of maintenance operations that addresses two key problems: the shortage of resources; and the performance differences between the individual available resources, and specifically, the human resources. Software tools are proposed for these two problems. W-6 assists in improved cost-effective utilization of the available resources. That is, assigning the right person, to the right job, at the right time, and with the right resources. AITEST and OnDoc contribute in increasing the productivity and work quality of each individual service person. Software integration is not centered on sharing of data because most of the data and knowledge required by one tool is not required at all by the others. The proposed EPI (External Program Interface) tool implements integration that is centered on the concept of workflow management. The different software systems exchange messages that are characterized by control-passing and by division of labor, with relatively small amounts of data being shared. A case study of a large depot facility where this framework has been implemented is described