This paper projects how Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) strategies can be optimized to the specific needs of end-users using Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies. AM can significantly reduce the design and production times for customized parts. This leads to key advantages for MRO strategies from the end-user perspective, as well as environmental and cost benefits. By enabling end-users to quickly adapt and manufacture spare parts themselves, the dependence on service providers, and parts and product manufacturers is disrupted. Therefore, end-users can better capitalize on their operational knowledge and experience. For MRO strategies, one standard process flow and four end-user optimized process flows are presented. All process flows are illustrated through an industrial case study example.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wits et al. (2016) studied this question.