Words Matter: 'Assets,' 'Equipment', and 'Systems' in RCM and ISO 55001 Contexts
Let's dissect these three terms—assets, equipment, and systems—in the contexts of both RCM and ISO 55001.
In the dynamic world of organizational management, understanding and effectively handling the various components that drive operational functionality is crucial. Among these components, three terms frequently stand out: "assets," "equipment," and "systems." While these terms are often used interchangeably in general conversation, they carry specific connotations within the context of organizational management, particularly in scenarios involving maintenance strategies and asset management systems. Their definitions vary depending on the context, whether it's Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) or the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 55001 standard for asset management.
This discussion aims to dissect these three terms—assets, equipment, and systems—in the contexts of both RCM and ISO 55001. Both these contexts provide unique perspectives on the management and maintenance of organizational components, offering insights that can help drive efficiency, productivity, and ultimately, the success of the organization. By unpacking the definitions of these terms in each context, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of their roles in organizational operation and maintenance strategies, thereby equipping readers with the knowledge to better handle these crucial components in their respective organizations.
With that said, let's delve into how "assets," "equipment," and "systems" are defined and understood within the frameworks of Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and ISO 55001.
Assets:
RCM: In an RCM context, assets include all items, tangible or intangible, that require maintenance to perform optimally and contribute to the organization's function. Assets may encompass physical machinery (equipment), buildings, IT infrastructure, software systems, and proprietary processes.
ISO 55001: Under ISO 55001, an asset is defined more broadly as an "item, thing or entity that has potential or actual value to an organization". This could include physical assets like buildings and machinery, but also intangible assets such as software, knowledge, and even the organization's reputation or goodwill. Essentially, anything that could contribute to the organization's future economic benefit is considered an asset.
Equipment:
RCM: Equipment in RCM typically refers to the individual pieces of machinery or technology that require maintenance to ensure optimal functionality and reliability. This could include manufacturing machinery, vehicles, servers, etc.
ISO 55001: In ISO 55001, equipment is seen as a specific subset of physical assets that contribute to the operations of the organization. The standard focuses on managing these assets throughout their life cycle to maximize value, while balancing financial, environmental, and social costs, risk, quality of service, and performance related to assets.
Systems:
RCM: A system in the RCM context is a set of interconnected assets and/or pieces of equipment that work together to perform a specific function. A system requires maintenance as a whole to ensure smooth operations. For example, an HVAC system, a production line, or a computer network system could be considered systems under RCM.
ISO 55001: ISO 55001 views a system as a combination of interacting elements organized to achieve one or more stated purposes. In the asset management context, a system could be a combination of various assets that work together to provide value to the organization. Asset management itself is seen as a "system" within the organization that interacts with other systems (like financial management or human resources) to achieve the organization's objectives.
Overall, while all equipment can be considered assets in both RCM and ISO 55001, not all assets are equipment. A system might comprise multiple assets and pieces of equipment that work together to contribute to the organization's functioning.
Both RCM and ISO 55001 aim to improve the value that these assets, equipment, and systems provide to the organization, but they approach it from slightly different perspectives: RCM with a focus on maintenance strategies to improve reliability and performance, and ISO 55001 with a focus on managing assets over their entire life cycle to maximize value while balancing costs, risks, and performance.