Re-engineering transformer maintenance processes to improve customized service delivery

Abstract

The outage of a transformer in a power generation system will generally result in a shutdown of the entire system. Consequentially, large amounts of revenue are lost to the plant owner with a substantial negative impact on the civil community and industrial customers. This paper analyzes the current maintenance practices (i.e., an as-is process model) of a transformer manufacturing company, which provides maintenance services to power generation plants and reports the major weaknesses in current business practices. The maintenance weaknesses include isolated processes and paper based information communication. These inefficient processes result in service delays, cost increases, and inappropriate responses to customers' specific requests and complaints. To improve the efficiency and flexibility of the entire transformer maintenance service system, an e-integration approach is implemented with three key tasks. First, the current business processes are re-engineered to provide an improved (to-be) business model. Then, we replace paper based documentation methods with an electronic filing system for efficient and cost-effective information exchange. Afterward, the improved process model is implemented as an Internet based system to enhance the interactions among the transformer manufacturer, end-users, and service contractors for customized maintenance services. The case study demonstrates that implementing the e-integration approach increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the customized maintenance services.

Revisiting the whole systems approach: designing supply chains in a turbulent world

“…- Trappey et al (2011) -Optimisation is not a realistic proposition here although multi-attribute utility methods may be adopted.…”

“…But what we do find is that many of the applications in the other three domains are attempts at avoiding going into chaos by enhancing supply chain or operational resilience or related capabilities, including robustness, flexibility, agility or leanness (Purvis et al, 2016;Adobor and McMullen, 2018). Trappey et al (2011) study the role of the servitisation process of a transformer manufacturer in ensuring the ongoing preventative maintenance of its equipment in a power generation plant. Exploiting business process reengineering and digital technologies, the solution to ensuring that the plant does not suffer catastrophic failure is a combination of condition monitoring and standard operating procedures.…”

“…Trappey et al. (2011) study the role of the servitisation process of a transformer manufacturer in ensuring the ongoing preventative maintenance of its equipment in a power generation plant.…”

Enhance Mining System Reliability through System Integration Approach

“…Process integration is important as it can often significantly accelerate maintenance responses to prevent catastrophic failures and shorten repair time. An example of improving transformers after-sale maintenance service is given in (Trappey, Sun, Trappey, & Ma, 2011).…”