Corrective Maintenance Flashcards

What does RCFA stand for in maintenance terminology?

Answer: Root Cause Failure Analysis

RCFA stands for Root Cause Failure Analysis, a structured process used to identify the underlying cause of an equipment failure.

The Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram is used in corrective maintenance primarily to:

Answer: Identify potential causes contributing to a failure

The Ishikawa diagram visually maps categories of potential causes (man, machine, method, material, environment) that may contribute to a specific failure effect.

When conducting a 5-Why analysis, the analyst should continue asking 'why' until:

Answer: A physical or latent root cause is identified

The 5-Why technique stops when the team reaches a root cause—a physical or systemic factor that, if corrected, prevents recurrence.

Which failure pattern describes equipment that begins failing more frequently after many years of reliable service?

Answer: Wear-out failure

Wear-out failure occurs when accumulated fatigue, corrosion, or material degradation causes the failure rate to increase as the equipment ages.

After completing a corrective repair, the technician's FIRST action before releasing the equipment should be to:

Answer: Verify repair effectiveness through a functional test

Functional testing confirms the repair resolved the problem and that the equipment operates within design specifications before it is returned to service.

Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) is correctly calculated by:

Answer: Dividing total repair time by the number of repairs performed

MTTR = Total Repair Time ÷ Number of Repairs; it measures the average duration needed to restore a failed asset to operational status.

A recurring bearing failure on a conveyor drive is BEST addressed by:

Answer: Investigating root causes such as lubrication adequacy, alignment, or overloading

Recurring failures signal an unresolved root cause; investigating lubrication, alignment, and loading conditions addresses the source rather than just the symptom.