Spare parts decision analysis - the missing link in CMMS's (Part 1)

The management of spare parts inventory for maintenance is recognised as offering considerable scope for the development of a Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) module. Despite many manufacturers possessing multi-million pound spare parts inventories, little research or analysis has considered how these spares may be better managed and controlled in a practical approach. This is largely because spare parts inventories are notoriously difficult to manage, due to variable and unpredictable demand, erratic lead-times for replenishment and difficulties in determining stockout costs (Sandvig and Allaire, 1998). In this paper, we briefly discuss the maintenance problem. We then examine the role of CMMSs as an aid to address the different challenges facing maintenance especially in terms of management, current deficiencies and spare parts inventories. We focus our investigation on problems with maintenance inventory in terms of conflicting objectives and its unique characteristics. We extend our review to inventory policies and how they relate to maintenance inventory control.