Q) What do you mean by RAM Analysis?
RAM analysis is a proven approach and effective tool for assessing system reliability, availability and
maintainability.
Definitions:
Reliability: Reliability is the probability that an item will perform its intended function for a specified
interval under stated conditions.
Availability: The total time a system is in an operative state. The total time in the operative state is
the time spent in the active use.
Maintainability: The measure of the ability of an item to be retained in or restored to specified
conditions when maintenance is performed. The ability to be timely and easily maintained (including
servicing, inspection and check, repair, and/or modification).
Q) Why do we need to perform RAM Analysis?
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Demonstration of Availability Performance of the system/design to ensure the uptime of the
system.
Production Efficiency linked to the availability which ultimately leads to revenue.
Identity the Weakness in your system.
Optimize Capital Expenditure.
Optimize Spares Holding Strategy.
Optimize labor and tooling resources.
Minimize lifetime costs and production losses.
Assist with decisions through design and operation.
Through RAM Analysis you could get the answers to questions like
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Has the design met all the RAM requirements and targets?
Can the design or operation be modified to increase the availability of the system?
Can the maintenance strategy be revised to reduce downtime in the event of a failure?
Q) When should we do RAM Analysis?
RAM analysis can be conducted at various stages of the life cycle of the project based on the
availability of data. Pre-FEED, FEED, and Detail Engineering at any stage. But during every stage, the
level of details and depth differs.
Whilst the process is in operation, conducting a RAM study using the data of the as-built facility can
bring the benefit of identifying unreliable equipment which may be a leading cause of production
losses.
It is continuously performed in an operation industry to increase the overall profit
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Incorporate operational strategies, logistics & economics.
Quantify technical & economical risks.
Ongoing Optimization, e.g., application of operational data, assists with design changes.
Evaluate the impact on performance from revamping and debottlenecking.
Asses need for modification.
Who do RAM study for Pakistan Industries?
For detailed study, industries go you the consultant like Velosi, Siemens etc.
Using a RAM software, the one like Aspen Fidelis is considered they are part of the RAM analysis.
Besides it you need to identify many other things like scenarios and physical measurements.
Q) Why don't Pakistani industries perform RAM study by themselves or why don't they use any
RAM Analysis modeling tools much?
The design projects are typically contracted out to the contractors. At that stage, it’s the
responsibility of the contractor to prove on the Base of RAM that the design meets the targets of
reliability, availability and maintainability.
But the operation industries never operate like the guidance of design companies.
So, the point is in Pakistan the industries never actually moved from the RAM model at the Design
Stage to the operation one. They can’t get most out of there plant unless they go to the contractor
again for RAM Study. And this cycle continues because the health of plants and their life cycles
continues to changing. So, they have to go to the contractor again and again.
The other side is accountability, they don’t want to be accountable for RAM study of their plant.
Additional topics
Reliability Centered Maintenance
Before understanding it, you need to understand Failure Mode Effective Analysis (FEMA) which is a
supporting activity for RCM
This analysis is done to answer the questions like
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In what ways can any item fail to provide the required functions?
What are the events that cause each failure?
What happens when each failure occurs?
In what way does each failure matter?
What systematic task can be performed proactively to prevent, or to diminish to a
satisfactory degree, the consequences of the failure?
The term FEMA is most commonly used by Reliability Engineers. And they want to get the answers
for all of the above questions. Some of the above questions can be answered using the Aspen Fidelis.
Reliability Centered Maintenance: Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a corporate-level
maintenance strategy designed to optimize maintenance programs by establishing safe minimum
levels of equipment upkeep.
Reliability centered maintenance is a process for finding the best maintenance strategy for each of
your assets. For example, it makes more sense to use run-to-failure for light bulbs. But for a forklift,
you would want to use preventive maintenance.
This means the RCM is based upon the critical and no-critical area. The Aspen fidelis can help you
with that. But performing a full-scale RCM is not possible in Fidelis.
Q) Does Aspen Fidelis Perform RAM Study, RCM and FEMA?
Yes, A user can do RAM Analysis on the Aspen Fidelis but for the FEMA, which is a supporting
document for the RCM, both the FEMA and RCM can’t be done except a few tasks related to them on
Fidelis.