A service-oriented approach to e-maintenance of complex technical systems

In today's global business scenarios, an organization can strengthen its com-petitiveness by offering a spectrum of industrial services that range from tra-ditional customer support to turnkey solutions. To achieve this service spec-trum, it is necessary to manage information consumption and production at right quality level in right time. When dealing with complex technical systems, e.g. military aircraft, with long life cycles, the management of maintenance-related information is crucial to fulfil stringent dependability, Life Support Cost (LSC) and safety requirements. Today, there is available Information & Communication Technology (ICT) to realize an eMaintenance solution for the necessary information logistics. However, there is a lack of appropriate frameworks, methodologies and tools that enable a service-oriented approach to eMaintenance. Hence, the purpose of this research is to explore and describe how an eMaintenance solution can be developed to provide information services that support the maintenance of complex technical systems. To fulfil the purpose, a major case study within military aviation has been performed, supported by two minor case studies within the healthcare sector and the process industry. Empirical data has been collected through interviews, observations, archival records and workshops. The analysis is based on developed theoretical frameworks, Design of Experiment (DoE) principles and available interna-tional standards. The results of this research are: I) an exploration and definition of eMaintenance; II) a description of eMaintenance as support to maintenance of complex technical systems; III) an eMaintenance Management Framework (eMMF) for establishment of an eMaintenance platform; and IV) a methodology with a supporting toolbox that facilitates the identification of maintenance support information.Godkänd; 2008; 20081113 (ysko