Abstract:
The objective of this research was to reduce breakdowns of a hot oil boiler in a factory
manufactures plastic film. According to data in 2008 the boiler had 38 breakdowns with the time
lost of 35 hours. Mean time between failure (MTBF) calculated was 226.5 hours. The expenditure
because of the breakdowns was ฿ 1.59 millions. The problems of this boiler was the burner. It
has no appropriate maintenance. To reduce the breakdown problems, preventive maintenance
(PM) program was set up. They were firstly, the inspection for each shift, the pressure and
temperature of the oil before entering the burner and secondly, the 2 month interval inspection:
the burner and the oil heater will be removed to be inspected and cleaned. Thirdly, the yearly
inspection: annual inspection for the whole system by a licensed mechanical engineer. After
practicing the first two out of three suggestions mentioned above, in 2009, the boiler had
16 breakdowns with the time lost of 14 hours. The mean time between failure was 539.1 hours.
The expenditure because of the breakdowns was ฿ 584,202. As the information received from the
factory presented, the number of breakdowns reduced by 19 times or 54.3% reduction, and the
time lost reduced by 21 hours or 60%. The mean time between failure increased by 312.6 hours
or 138%. The expenditure because of the breakdowns decreased by ฿ 1.01 million or 63.4%.