The Evolution of Engineering and Maintenance are taking another “Small Step for Man...”
Evolution... Since the “invention of the wheel”, engineering and maintenance have been evolving. From drafting boards and work orders using paper, to computerized tools and terminology such as “CAD” (Computer Aided Design) and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems).
The evolution continued to focus on engineering and maintenance functions at the enterprise level with CAD shifting from two dimensional to three dimensional designs and maintenance shift to EAM (Enterprise Asset Management), becoming functional elements in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions that attempt to centralize asset information (primarily for manufacturing type enterprises). While they have had their successes over the decades, they have also had their deficiencies as well...
They have been successful at supporting all of the aspects for an enterprise to manufacture assets/products. They have not been so successful integrating the business processes and information of the engineering and maintenance organizations related to the initial development and the maintenance of the asset/product after it leaves the factory.
Additionally, as technology has advanced, industry needs have changed. Engineering tools have advanced to CAD 3D Modeling. Maintenance needs and tools have evolved beyond those of EAM to ACM (Asset Configuration Management).
The differences between inherent principles of EAM and ACM solutions are that EAM solutions evolved to allow physical assets to be tied primarily locations/systems. While they also can be setup to reflect a physical assets components, they contain a lot of peripheral functionality related inventories, procurement, receiving processes etc. ACM Solutions have a deeper focus on the configuration of the physical assets themselves. They contain functionality to keep track of all of the various components that makeup the asset as well as audit them for accuracy within predefined rules related to the asset as a whole. They also contain a deeper set of information the various component levels of the asset.
Engineering and maintenance continued evolution is based on many industries beginning to realize that they require a deeper level of functionality and information, especially industries that rely on large physical assets as primary elements is their business models. As technology progresses, business critical assets are becoming more complex, relying on more modular type components, that are in themselves complex. Additionally, software has become an integral (and in some cases critical) element of the asset, often controlling and/or monitoring aspects of the asset. Ensuring the assets software is up to date and compatible with other software that may be a component of the asset is critical.
The initial “up front” design of the assets is now often done by engineering using 3D modeling software which, in essence, creates the asset and its configuration within the software. It only makes sense for processes and tools to evolve and transition the engineering information to a solution that allows the management/maintenance of the asset once it is in operation to its “as designed” purpose. Hence, the evolution to a/the Asset Configuration Management (ACM) solution.
While many industries are/have been driving forces to the evolution of Engineering and Maintenance, in our view, the recent evolution of the business of “space” will be looked at in the future as a/the catalyst that drove notable changes. . Traditional space agencies, such as NASA will be pointed to as a government agency that was able to quickly transform itself by embracing partnering with commercial companies, governments and other global parties. These key factors, along with working together on programs such as Artemis, it’s lofty goals and aggressive timelines, created a sense of urgency that produced an environment conducive to innovation, change and… evolution...