Reliability analysis focused on the primary failure mode of a fleet of Caterpillar 793D off-highway trucks

Abstract

This article presents a reliability analysis focused on the primary failure mode of the Caterpillar 793D off-highway truck fleet, focusing on reducing the probability of failures since these entail associated costs. The availability of the equipment assesses the effectiveness of corrective maintenance activities. In this context, the study used failure analysis techniques applied to the electrical system of the trucks to identify the priority mechanisms that most affected the operational availability of the fleet. In this aspect, essential concepts of corrective and preventive maintenance, maintenance indicators (MTBF, MTTR, physical availability, failure rate), and tools such as the Pareto diagram, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and the PDCA cycle as a management and continuous improvement methodology were used. The study provides a comprehensive view of the importance of maintenance, highlighting tools and methods to identify, analyze, and correct failures in industrial systems and equipment.