ARMS Reliability Engineers have had a great deal of success with water utilities combining the use of the powerful Isograph software suite with technical knowledge and application. Maximising availability and reducing ongoing maintenance costs through the use of RCM tools such as FMEA analysis and RBD Diagrams have been the cornerstone of our approach with water.

Our methods and strategies have been implemented at leading water utilities such as Sydney Water, SA Water, Watercare, Water Corporation, South East Water and The Water District of Southern California.

Services we have performed for Water Utilities include

• Pump & Sewer Station Modelling
• Maintenance Strategy Optimisation and RCM Modelling
• FMEA Analysis
• Budget Predictions and Zero Based Budget
• Criticality Models
• RBD Modelling
• Ongoing Support

Pump Station Modelling

The approach taken was to build a Failure Mode Effect and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) model that represented the likely failure modes, which provided an assessment of the Effects of Failure, and allowed the most effective maintenance tasks to be chosen. Once the maintenance tasks were chosen, the information was loaded into an Availability model so that the predicted spares are generated.

Maintenance Strategy Optimisation

The assessment of RCMCost is based on plant failure frequencies that have been determined using data from the CMMS and data from equipment suppliers as well as existing maintenance practices.

Budget Predictions

RCM (Reliability Centred Maintenance) analysis undertaken aimed to quantify the monetary impact associated with replacing/not replacing plant and equipment at various sewage treatment facilities that is deemed to be reaching the end of its economic life cycle due to rising maintenance requirements. Comparisons were made using plant upgrade scenarios with consideration being taken for maintenance costs and the cost of risk

Criticality Modelling

Undertaking a high level criticality model of an entire water pipe network including dams, reservoirs and treatment plants has been completed with a number of clients.
This was a Reliability Block Diagram model which generated a criticality ranking of elements within the network in order to assist long term asset planning.