Having a maintenance system in place is one of the most important aspects of keeping a ship seaworthy. Machinery and equipment in a ship require being in very good condition to ensure the efficient working and safety of all onboard the ship. Should a system fail, it can affect the ship, its crew, and the shipping company. A maintenance system has to be efficient, cost-effective, and suitable for your particular needs.

There are different types of maintenance systems. Industrial systems either follow a planned maintenance approach or a predictive maintenance approach. These are different from each other in many ways. But they are similar in that they take action before an event. It does not wait for a piece of equipment to break down to take action. Since maintenance is done while the machinery is still working, they can both be called proactive maintenance systems.

Now, let us look at what these are and how they differ. Knowing them in detail can help you pick out the right system for your ship’s needs.

What is Planned Maintenance?

Planned maintenance, as the name suggests, involves a planned approach. It is a proactive approach that focuses on minimizing costs and the downtime a ship can face. 

A planned maintenance system involves finding a goal and setting tasks to reach the goal. Suppose a maintenance challenge you want to address is the lifespan of particular equipment. You would then anticipate, schedule and document the different steps required to help reach that goal. 

Ship planned maintenance thus involves a rigorous process of inspections, inventory control, process descriptions and work prioritization. Doing these at regular intervals ensures that desired goal is reached.

What is Predictive Maintenance?

Predictive maintenance, as the name suggests, predicts the need for maintenance ahead of time. Predictive maintenance is a proactive approach as it does the maintenance work before the equipment breaks down. 

While this is where the predictive approach and preventative approach are similar, the similarity ends here. The predictive approach constantly monitors the condition of the equipment to assess the condition in real-time. The data collected from this equipment are then used to make sound decisions that negate the need for reactive maintenance. 

Preventative maintenance is a data-driven approach. The live data is processed using intelligence systems to derive useful data.

Planned Vs. Predictive Maintenance

Now that we have discussed what planned and predictive maintenance are, let us look in detail at how they are different. Both have their own set of challenges and benefits. While the benefits of both may be similar, the challenges they pose are unique. 

  • Need for maintenance – Planned maintenance may be addressing an issue that doesn’t exist and maintenance occurs according to plan regardless of whether or not it is required. Preventative maintenance does the maintenance work if and only if it is needed. The condition monitoring ensures it. 
  • Inventory management – In planned maintenance, there is a need for replacements and a stocked inventory all the time. However, a predictive system anticipates the maintenance work and the inventory needs to be procured only when required. 
  • Complexity – Planned maintenance system is less complex and more straightforward while predictive maintenance can be more complex. Since it involves intelligent, data-driven systems, it also required trained personnel to operate the related software.
  • Infrastructure – Planned maintenance systems do not require new infrastructures in place. However, a predictive maintenance system needs continuous reading from machinery which requires installing instruments for the same.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right maintenance system can mean a world of difference to how your ship functions. Based on your resources, the best system will make your ship more efficient, increase its lifespan, and will be cost-effective. 

With the above information, you can make informed choices and find the right one for you. For further assistance, you can contact us today and our experts would be happy to help you.