Status: Active
Timeframe: Near-term
Potential Funding: NCHRP Full Program
Background:
Equipment failures often force fleet managers to decide if equipment should be repaired or replaced. This may not be solely a financial decision; it is an operational decision as well. Operational impacts such as downtime, loss of function, mission criticality, etc., need to be included. Fleet managers need resources to evaluate the merits of handling both planned refurbish vs. replacement decisions and unplanned repair vs. replacement decisions for equipment that has not met the established life cycle. The repair, refurbish, or replace decision is a consideration for DOT fleets as a method to manage fleet expenditures and extend life cycle. Effective fleet management involves an evaluation of when is the correct time to repair, refurbish, or replace an asset.
Many factors are considered in making these analyses, including equipment and component condition, anticipated asset service life, costs for repair or replacement, equipment reliability, and time the equipment will be out of service for repair or arrival of the replacement. Availability of funds, whether repair or refurbishment, will be accomplished in house or outsourced; current workloads; and many other factors may affect the repair-or-replace decision.
Objectives:The objective of this research is to provide fleet managers with a methodology and an electronic tool to guide decisions to repair or replace equipment. The methodology and tool should be suitable for endorsement and distribution as an AASHTO guide. The target audience for this research would be state DOT fleet managers and maintenance engineers who rely upon availability of equipment to carry out day-to-day operations.
Research Plan:TBD
Duration: 12 months
Project Budget: $350,000
Topics: Guidance/Lessons Learned
Subjects: Maintenance and Preservation
