In the past, during the facility design/build phases, it was uncommon to devote substantial resources to life-cycle Operation and Maintenance (O&M) concerns. However, it is now widely recognized that O&M represents the greatest expense in owning and operating a facility over its life cycle. The accuracy, relevancy, and timeliness of well-developed, user-friendly O&M manuals are becoming increasingly important. Hence, it is becoming more common for detailed, facility-specific O&M manuals to be prepared prior to commissioning. The goal is to effectively and efficiently support the life cycle of the facility by eliminating unplanned shutdowns and realizing life-cycle cost savings.
This page presents a typical O&M manual development process. Based on as-built information, comprehensive facility O&M manuals should include:
- System-level O&M information:
- Physical Descriptions
- Functional Descriptions
- Troubleshooting
- Preventive Maintenance (Procedures and Schedules)
- Corrective Maintenance (Repair Requirements)
- Parts Lists
- Operation-/Maintenance-Significant Drawings
- Equipment-specific O&M information, organized into a vendor/manufacturer data library
