How To Calculate Mttr
“Mean Time to Repair: Understanding and Calculating this Important Maintenance Metric”
Maintenance is an essential part of any company’s operations, as it helps ensure that equipment is functioning correctly and efficiently. One key metric that is used to measure the effectiveness of a company’s maintenance efforts is Mean Time to Repair or MTTR. In this article, we will explore what MTTR is, how it is calculated, and how it can improve maintenance processes.
What is Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)?
Mean Time to Repair, or MTTR, is a measure of the average time it takes to repair a piece of equipment or system after it has failed. It is typically expressed in hours and is calculated by dividing the total repair time by the number of repairs that were performed. For example, if a company’s maintenance team repaired 10 failed systems over the course of a month, and the total repair time was 120 hours, the MTTR would be 12 hours (120 hours / 10 repairs = 12 hours).
MTTR is an important metric because it helps companies understand how long it takes to repair equipment when it fails, which can have significant impacts on productivity and profitability. A high MTTR can indicate that the equipment is not being repaired efficiently, which can lead to unplanned downtime and lost revenue. On the other hand, a low MTTR can indicate that the maintenance team is able to quickly and effectively repair equipment, which can help minimize disruption to operations and improve overall performance.
How to Calculate MTTR
Calculating MTTR is relatively simple, as it involves just a few basic steps:
- Identify the total number of repairs that were performed over a specific period of time. This could be a month, a quarter, or any other time frame that is relevant to your company.
- Add up the total repair time for all of the repairs that were performed. This should include the time it takes to diagnose the problem, order any necessary spare parts, and complete the repair itself.
- Divide the total repair time by the total number of repairs to get the MTTR.
For example, if a company’s maintenance team repaired 10 systems over the course of a month, and the total repair time was 120 hours, the MTTR would be 12 hours (120 hours / 10 repairs = 12 hours).
It’s important to note that MTTR should only include the time it takes to repair equipment after it has failed. It does not include the time it takes to perform scheduled maintenance or preventive maintenance, as these activities are planned in advance and are not considered failures.
Factors that Affect MTTR
There are a number of factors that can affect a company’s MTTR, including:
- The complexity of the equipment: More complex equipment may take longer to repair, leading to a higher MTTR.
- The availability of spare parts: If a company does not have the necessary spare parts on hand, it may take longer to repair equipment, leading to a higher MTTR.
- The skills and experience of the maintenance team: A more experienced and skilled maintenance team may be able to repair equipment more quickly, leading to a lower MTTR.
- The effectiveness of preventive maintenance: If a company has a strong preventive maintenance program in place, it may be able to identify and fix potential problems before they lead to failures, resulting in a lower MTTR.
- The age of the equipment: old equipment may be more prone to failures and may take longer to repair, leading to a higher MTTR.
How MTTR Can be Used to Improve Maintenance Processes?
There are several ways that companies can use MTTR to improve their maintenance processes:
- Identify equipment that is prone to frequent failures: By tracking the MTTR of different pieces of equipment, companies can identify those that are prone to frequent failures and take steps to address the underlying issues. This could involve replacing older equipment with newer, more reliable models, or implementing preventive maintenance practices to identify and fix potential problems before they lead to failures.
- Reduce unplanned downtime: High MTTR can lead to unplanned downtime, which can be costly for companies. By identifying equipment with high MTTR and taking steps to reduce repair times, companies can minimize the impact of equipment failures on operations and improve overall productivity.
- Improve maintenance team efficiency: If a company’s MTTR is consistently high, it could be a sign that the maintenance team is not working efficiently. By analyzing the repair process and identifying bottlenecks or areas for improvement, companies can help their maintenance team work more efficiently and reduce MTTR.
- Plan for equipment failures: By tracking MTTR over time, companies can develop a better understanding of the likelihood and impact of equipment failures. This can help them plan for and mitigate the effects of unplanned downtime, such as by having spare parts on hand or developing contingency plans.
- Track the effectiveness of maintenance efforts: By tracking MTTR over time, companies can see the impact of their maintenance efforts on equipment reliability. If MTTR decreases over time, it could be a sign that the maintenance team is doing a good job at identifying and fixing problems, while an increase in MTTR could indicate that there are underlying issues that need to be addressed.
Conclusion
Mean Time to Repair, or MTTR, is an important metric that measures the average time it takes to repair a piece of equipment or system after it has failed. It is typically expressed in hours and is calculated by dividing the total repair time by the number of repairs that were performed. By understanding and tracking MTTR, companies can identify equipment that is prone to frequent failures, reduce unplanned downtime, improve maintenance team efficiency, plan for equipment failures, and track the effectiveness of their maintenance efforts.
BQR offers software and professional services for MTTR and Maintainability analyses. For professional consultation, guidance and additional details, contact us on the website or by email at info@bqr.com and we will be happy to be at your service.