Using QFD to Conduct Performance Assessment for Turnaround Maintenance in Petrochemical Infrastructure

Abstract

This paper presents a state-of-the-practice of turnaround maintenance (TAM). It also develops an assessment tool for TAM projects based on quality function deployment (QFD). A modified QFD methodology was used in a case study to investigate how TAM projects can be implemented successfully. To build the QFD matrix, the research identified the technical and stakeholder requirements from three survey sources: literature, industry, and expert opinions. The findings presented three levels of technical requirements: phases (4), attributes (10), and detailed (32). It also defines nine stakeholders (internal and external) with a 24 requirements. In addition, the weights of the technical requirements are found by using the QFD framework. The weights are used to build an assessment matrix based on a Likert scaling. A case study is presented to demonstrate the assessment tool for a petrochemical facility in Saudi Arabia. The assessment found deficiencies in four TAM attributes. Finally, the research proposed actions to improve the deficient attributes. The implementation of this tool helped TAM management to improve their practices of TAM.