RAMS-Ten-Matrices Approach

RAMS-Ten-Matrices Approach

In order to identify and establish a proper approach that takes care of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety, one should consider the intersections points among RAMS and other matrices and how they affect each other and can be affected by other matrices, factors and elements. That enables the company to reduce or eliminate failures, minimize costs and improve processes and quality which in turn leads to enhance company’s profitability and its competitiveness.

The Table below exhibits the ten matrices approach that is divided into three major sections, Non-defense, Manufacturer and Defense. In addition to that it also shows how RAMS - influence other matrices, and how it can be affected by them.

The Table Is Confidential:

An assumption:

All elements that in column “Defense-sector” already are existing in “Non-defense-sector”, however the elements that in column “Non-defense-sector” are not necessarily existing in “Defense-sector”.  The reason behind this division is to avoid the duplicating. Furthermore, the colored cells are main maps, which means it contain some elements.

Ex:

Maintenance can be affected by manufacturer when OEM is not proper, inaccurate documents or data, poorly test etc. and can be also affected whether the manufacturer did not considered (maintainability, Supportability and Safety early at design’s phase). On the other hand it can also be influenced if company/defense does not take into account the following:

1.       Maintenance Concept that include the following issues such as (maintenance strategies, maintenance instructions, maintenance documents, maintenance planning & scheduling etc.)

2.       Spare Parts Management that includes the following issues such as (logistics, storage, integrations etc.)

3.       Local Environment

4.       Out sourcing (i.e. poor communication with maintenance crew, insufficient skills, unclear vision(s) etc.)

5.       Tools, Systems & Instruments

6.       Vision(s)

7.       People, including the following issues such as (leadership, motivation, training, management, skills, training, competences, administration etc.)

8.       Economy

The interpreting of the table should be based on the above mentioned Example in order to understand the whole concept.

The figure below exhibits the direction of decision making “Bottom-up” because the assumption is based on that Safety, Environment and Economy are the foundation for every decision that company/defense makes.

The Figure Is Confidential:

The figure below shows the dependence, reciprocation and the relationship among RAMS-matrices, on the other hand it also shows how they could affect each other and become affected by other matrices, factors and elements.

The Figure Is Confidential:

High tech and well-designed systems and equipment are vital to have in place, however people are the most important asset that must be taken into account in order to achieve the desired result, because they operate these system(s), thus if they haven’t the sufficient motivation, good leadership, training, knowledge, skills, resources etc. then the strategic goals of the compnay will not be achieved.

Best regards

Hamid Al-najjar