Conclusions and Recommendations

Abstract

A trend towards well-founded forms of maintenance management of electricity distribution networks is observed worldwide. This new approach is generally associated with risk-based maintenance management. Risk-based maintenance regimes are intended to ensure higher efficiency and ultimately establish a broader view on maintenance as a business function, i.e. a potential profit contributor. At the same time, it is intended to find efficient and practical mixes of maintenance activities for distribution network assets beyond the sole technical aspects of maintenance. Maintenance departments will be expected to function in a broader sense and move away from “silos” thinking. These days, maintenance departments are required to consider more financial aspects and manage maintenance budgets. Furthermore, risk-based maintenance processes are required, maintenance and asset key performance indicators (KPI’s) are needed, and resources and new skills need to be managed. Maintenance department decisions are accountable for strategic, tactical and operational aspects of an organisation. The promise of risk-based management can hence only be fulfilled once explicit and straightforward frameworks, analytical tools and technological methods for developing and supporting maintenance management decision are set in place. Thus, an integral, multidisciplinary, approach towards maintenance management needs to be established, which is a challenge that has been taken up in this book.