Condition based and predictive maintenance for Tapping vehicle used in the Norsk Hydro aluminium plant Sunndalsøra, Norway

Abstract

This thesis consists a theoretical background in general about different types of maintenance, predictive maintenance, approaches from industry 4.0, maintenance excellence, technical conditions and remaining useful lifetime of an equipment. All this knowledge was essential to perform a second, practical part of the project prepare recommendations for CbM and PdM plan for tapping vehicles in Norsk Hydro. In order to perform that, a data set was acquired from Norsk Hydro SAP database, which contained most of the information describing issues, affected parts and associated costs. The data set was filtered and explored, what enabled observations of trends and patterns, that exposed sub-systems, causes and effects, that generates high maintenance costs. The analysed data was cross checked against Norsk Hydro employees expertise, by conducting two surveys. In summary particular sub-systems, causes and effects were highlighted as candidates for predictive maintenance implementation and initial recommendations were proposed.