Coast Guard Reliability‐Centered Maintenance

Abstract

Since 2001, the Coast Guard's surface fleet has had a condition-based maintenance (CBM) policy. The reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) process is used to implement the policy by identifying minimum system maintenance requirements. The Coast Guard's RCM program provides the standards and capabilities needed to develop preventive maintenance systems that satisfy operational requirements. RCM requirements are based on the industry standard SAE JA-1011, which provides evaluation criteria for RCM processes. Department of Defense (DoD) data-deliverable specifications, training programs, continuous improvement functions, information system requirements, and condition assessment programs complete the Coast Guard's RCM program. This paper discusses the genesis of the Coast Guard surface fleet's RCM program, how it is managed, and the benefits that it provides.