(6) the overall infrastructure network and service is reliable.
While the first three characteristics describe the aptness or functionality of the
infrastructure (i.e. capability for producing the required output, with the designed
inputs of materials, energy, and human effort), the next three features ensure safety
and profitability.
Safety or environmental incidents tend to be higher in infrastructure equipment
which is difficult to operate.
When such difficulties are present, operators will attempt work-around solutions
to their problems. These make-shift efforts can entail unwanted incidents or significant damage as they lack training or design experience. Likewise, repair times may
be excessive in infrastructure equipment which is difficult to maintain. Often, this
results in low availability of protective devices and production equipment, thus
adversely disturbing safety and profitability. Unreliable equipment is affected by
frequent trips or breakdowns, resulting in production losses and additional work for
the operators and the maintenance people.
Although the designers may strive hard to achieve these six requirements, they
might not necessarily always meet with success, with a less than optimal design
quality because:
(1) insufficient information related to the required functionality.
(2) the design team is facing resource and time constraints.
(3) the design team does not possess the required knowledge, experience, and skills.
(4) the infrastructure provider’s requirements have changed since the time the
equipment or infrastructure system was conceived.
A poor design will entail an infrastructure system problem throughout its lifetime.
When the equipment starts operating, the maintenance manager will attempt to find
solutions, but these will usually be short term, low-cost fixes. Only a properly
designed permanent solution which focuses on the root causes can eradicate the
problem. It is essential to develop the design correctly the first time, as the alternative
is a potentially unsafe or undersized equipment, with perennial problems. It is
therefore good practice to include, right from the inception of the project, the
relevant people in the organisation. The marketing, operations, and maintenance
staff can arrange for the corresponding inputs, as and when needed.
20.2 Infrastructure and its Operation Requirements
20.2.1 The Operating Conditions
The operating conditions of the equipment:
(1) the physical environment of operation,
(2) demands made on it,
(3) and the details of use,
20.2 Infrastructure and its Operation Requirements
571
While the first three characteristics describe the aptness or functionality of the
infrastructure (i.e. capability for producing the required output, with the designed
inputs of materials, energy, and human effort), the next three features ensure safety
and profitability.
Safety or environmental incidents tend to be higher in infrastructure equipment
which is difficult to operate.
When such difficulties are present, operators will attempt work-around solutions
to their problems. These make-shift efforts can entail unwanted incidents or significant damage as they lack training or design experience. Likewise, repair times may
be excessive in infrastructure equipment which is difficult to maintain. Often, this
results in low availability of protective devices and production equipment, thus
adversely disturbing safety and profitability. Unreliable equipment is affected by
frequent trips or breakdowns, resulting in production losses and additional work for
the operators and the maintenance people.
Although the designers may strive hard to achieve these six requirements, they
might not necessarily always meet with success, with a less than optimal design
quality because:
(1) insufficient information related to the required functionality.
(2) the design team is facing resource and time constraints.
(3) the design team does not possess the required knowledge, experience, and skills.
(4) the infrastructure provider’s requirements have changed since the time the
equipment or infrastructure system was conceived.
A poor design will entail an infrastructure system problem throughout its lifetime.
When the equipment starts operating, the maintenance manager will attempt to find
solutions, but these will usually be short term, low-cost fixes. Only a properly
designed permanent solution which focuses on the root causes can eradicate the
problem. It is essential to develop the design correctly the first time, as the alternative
is a potentially unsafe or undersized equipment, with perennial problems. It is
therefore good practice to include, right from the inception of the project, the
relevant people in the organisation. The marketing, operations, and maintenance
staff can arrange for the corresponding inputs, as and when needed.
20.2 Infrastructure and its Operation Requirements
20.2.1 The Operating Conditions
The operating conditions of the equipment:
(1) the physical environment of operation,
(2) demands made on it,
(3) and the details of use,
20.2 Infrastructure and its Operation Requirements
571