Evaluation of Preventive Maintenance Task Intervals Using Field Data from a Complete Life Cycle

In this paper the appropriateness of initial preventive maintenance task intervals and the improvement of changed intervals are evaluated. The evaluation criteria are partly derived from logic found in the RCM (Reliability-Centered Maintenance) methodology. Empirical data is related to the whole life cycle of the Swedish military aircraft system FPL 37 Viggen, from 1977 to 2006. The analysis shows that the maintenance intervals are partly appropriate and that some performed changes are improvements. These conclusions are strengthened if the phase-out of the aircraft system is considered, where the preventive maintenance strategy has been replaced with a corrective one, in order to achieve cost-effectiveness. Considering the perfect repair assumption, it seems that the overhaul tasks essentially bring the items back to a state as good as new. The performed evaluation mostly considers when the failures are recognized, i.e. during operation or during maintenance. Hence, aspects such as item accessibility, personnel skill levels, and maintenance task intervals for other items are not included in the evaluation.