Reliability & Maintenance

Comparative Performance Analyses

The International Study of Plant Reliability and Key Features

Maintenance Effectiveness (RAM Study) was
We use rigorous validation and a proven
developed in partnership with industry leaders to
methodology to normalize differences in scale,
help better identify and quantify areas for
complexity, and location, permitting realistic
improved maintenance performance. Clients have
comparisons. Our on-line data entry forms, the only
commented that this study provides the most
accepted method for inputting data, have
comprehensive set of reliability and maintenance
extensive built-in data checks to assist subscribers
performance benchmark targets and best practices
and ensure the consistency and quality of all
assessments in the industry. As such, our efforts
reported data.
have made us trusted industry advisors with a
reputation for providing tools that increase Additional study features that ensure data accuracy
company performance and maximize profits. and deliver increased value to participants include:
Participants have declared that Solomon's RAM • Absolute client confidentiality
Study provides significant contributions to • Common nomenclature and data validation by
their performance improvement initiatives and Solomon's industry experts
the results they achieve. • Performance comparison at unit and major
equipment component levels
• Overall participant and geographic averages
Benefits and comparisons
Clients rely on Solomon's biennial RAM Study to: • Market-based analysis of operations with plant
size and process type averages
• Determine competitive position using standard
• Gap analysis based on real data and
Solomon industry peer groups
identification with performance averages
• Develop customized peer groups to assess
specific performance needs
• Improve operational performance with regard
to reliability and maintenance
• Manage risk
• Minimize life-cycle cost
Major Areas of Interest Study Deliverables
Solomon continues to maintain and/or enhance all Each participant receives electronic data files
reliability and maintenance effectiveness factors. containing study and client-specific results, as well
The components that work together to measure as calculation details for all indicators. All
overall reliability and maintenance effectiveness deliverables are provided on the Internet in
are as follows: electronic format in Microsoft® PowerPoint®, Excel,
• Cost of production losses caused by or Word format:
maintenance outages • Data Collection Workbook
• Direct costs (labor, contracts, and materials) of • Study Report
maintenance work • Peer Group Benchmark Tables
• Indirect costs of maintenance support staff and • Participant Indices Tables
consumables
• Peer Group Range Graphs
• Operator time for maintenance work
• Participant Performance Gap Analysis
• Annual cost of capital tied up in inventories of
• Improvement Scenario Tools
spares
A final presentation is also provided at the location
The database framework now covers more than
of your choice.
7,500 process units.

Proven Success
Selection of a Analysis of Discovery of
Peer Group Cost Gaps Causal Factors RAM Study participant performance in both
mechanical availability and maintenance cost
Plant indices have improved by 10% on average between
CPA study cycles, compared to an average
improvement of less than 4% in most sectors. This
Factor Values

improvement confirms without any doubt that

Elements
Gap

Solomon’s confidential industry benchmarking of

the reliability and maintenance function helps
identify key performance improvement targets
Leaders
Gap (refer to Figure 1) and has become an essential tool
for continuous performance improvement of
Poor Best Poor Best reliability and maintenance in process industries.
Industry Data Costs, US $/yr MEI Performance
Halves
Our database shows performance improvement
PSR09-01

Figure 1. Target-setting process

for RAM Study participants in the fuels refining
industry to be two to three times greater than
that achieved by non-participants.

Contact
RAM Study Project Manager
Al Poling
Phone: 972.739.1731
Email: Al.Poling@SolomonOnline.com
HSB Solomon Associates LLC
13455 Noel Road, Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75240-6634