Towards cleaner and more productive maintenance in petrochemical facilities: Mechanization and an assessment method. (20th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shan, Ming; Hwang, Bon-Gang; Caldas, Carlos H.; Yin, Zhe; Oliveira, Daniel P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 259(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-20
• Subjects: Mechanization -- Assessment -- Maintenance tasks -- Petrochemical facilities; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120864
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Maintenance in petrochemical plants is often characterized as labor intensive and may give rise to such problems as being costly, diminishing productivity, and emitting pollutant. To mitigate such problems, managers have tried mechanizing the maintenance tasks. This study elaborated the concept of mechanization, proposed a method named Petrochemical Maintenance Mechanization Assessment (PEMMA), which can help assess mechanization levels of the maintenance tasks and provide corresponding improvement recommendations This study presented the development process of the PEMMA method and applied the method in the context of Singapore. Results showed that the mechanization level of the maintenance tasks in Singapore is relatively low. The developed method is arguably the first to be presented and therefore, it contributes to the existing body of knowledge. In addition, the developed method is beneficial to the practice as well, because it can help diagnose and then improve the mechanization levels of petrochemical plants, which would eventually make the petrochemical industry more productive and cleaner. Highlights: Maintenance is critical to the cleaner production of petrochemical industry. Major work types, activities, sub-tasks, and tools involved in petrochemical facility maintenance were identified. A method that can help assess mechanization levels of maintenance tasks were developed. The developed method was applied in the petrochemical industry of Singapore and the assessment results were presented.