What does equipment reliability centered maintenance (RCM) focus on?

Equipment reliability centered maintenance (RCM) primarily focuses on prioritizing equipment reliability based on criticality and context. This approach aims to identify the most critical and vulnerable components of equipment and ensure that their reliability aligns with the operational requirements and safety needs of the organization.

RCM emphasizes understanding how equipment is used in a specific environment, which allows organizations to develop maintenance strategies that maximize the reliability of those critical components while optimizing resources. By focusing on the context in which equipment operates and its criticality to operations, RCM ensures that maintenance efforts are aligned with the goals of improving overall equipment performance and minimizing unplanned failures.

This method supports a systematic approach to maintenance, contrasting with practices that might prioritize cost reductions or production efficiency without adequately addressing the foundational need for reliable operations.