Order 6000.207, Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) Handbook

The objective of RCM is to maintain the inherent reliability of the system or equipment design, and to perform maintenance that is applicable (relevant) and effective (have value) in preventing failures.

Throughout the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s the military, NASA, and the airline industry adopted the RCM philosophy to increase maintenance efficiency.

All maintenance actions can be classified into one of the following categories: Corrective Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance, Alternative Maintenance.

RCM is the process used to determine the maintenance requirements for new and in-service equipment or systems. RCM development in structured phases ensures that every maintenance action specified in a maintenance handbook can be justified in accordance with the fundamental RCM principles defined in this Order. These principles are consistent with both Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial entities.

The initial maintenance package provides the baseline for system expectations. As operational experience is developed (failure data, performance data, inspection results, etc.), the SLE OPR will revalidate and improve the maintenance requirements as required. The SLE OPR must perform RCM Analysis and development of maintenance procedures as specified in this order. The phases of the RCM development process are: Functional Analysis Phase, Failure Analysis Phase, Decision Process Phase, Implementation Analysis Phase.

The most effective maintenance programs are dynamic: they are changing and improving regularly to make ever better use of resources the longer they are in operation. They regularly test and explore the boundaries of maintenance, obtaining increasing knowledge of the items being maintained as they proceed, while accepting unexpected failures as the price of progress.

The SLE OPR must publish PM tasks in the Remote Monitoring and Logging System (RMLS) PMTG IAW Order 6000.46, RMLS Software Operations & Management.

The objective of the RCM Revalidation process is to ensure we: Perform the right maintenance tasks, On the right systems, subsystems, and equipment, At the right intervals.

The FAA has assigned an engineering office for each NAS system responsible for monitoring lifecycle and resolving systemic issues within each system. The FAA requires RCM accreditation for most individuals who develop maintenance procedures.

Good Maintenance Provides Required Functionality for Highest Practicable Cost.