Chapter List

Chapter Aims and Outcomes

To model and describe the operation of a maintenance stores system and to explain the techniques, principles and concepts necessary for its cost effective performance.

On completion of this chapter you should be able to:

• model and describe the operation of the stores system and the rotable system;

• define the stores function and objective;

• understand how to set inventory levels for fast moving parts, slow-moving parts and rotables;

• model a stores documentation system and explain its operation;

• understand the alternative ways, with advantages and disadvantages, of allocating the responsibility for stores management;

• identify the main stores and rotable performance indices.

Chapter Route Map

Key Words

• Spare parts management

• Spares inventory policy

• Spares lead time

• Stock control

• Closed-stores policy

• Purchasing policy

• Consignment stock

• Rotables

• Insurance spares

• Required level of service

8.1 Introduction

Most companies tend to manage the purchasing, storage and supply of spare parts and materials as a separate department to the management of the maintenance department (see Figure 8.1). The management of spare parts and materials is a company level system (Level E of Figure 2.3), supplying the maintenance system with one of its essential resources. The maintenance department can be regarded as the main customer of the stores department that reports (with purchasing) to the commercial manager.

Figure 8.1: Administrative structure showing...